Orleans

KENISTON, Nathan

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 232-233

Nathan KENISTON, of Greensboro [Orleans County, Vermont], was born 05 
February 1816 in Cabot [Washington County, Vermont], son of Nathan and Grace 
(CURRIER) KENISTON. His father [Nathan KENISTON] was a native of Portsmouth 
[Rockingham County], New Hampshire, and was one of the earliest settlers of 
Cabot. The son received his scanty education in the district school and 
remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age, when he moved to 
Greensboro and was employed as a laborer on a farm in that vicinity, but 
being desirous to see something of the world outside the narrow circle to 
which his previous life had been limited, he walked with a companion to 
Boston, a distance of more than two hundred miles, where he engaged in the 
occupation of brick making in the summer season, while he drove a general 
delivery wagon between Dover [probably Dover in Norfolk County, 
Massachusetts, but could be Dover in Windham County, Vermont] and Boston 
[Suffolk County, Massachusetts] during the winter.

He remained in Boston and vicinity about five years, then returned to 
Greensboro, where he bought a small farm which he managed most successfully 
in spite of the serious apprehension of his friends that he would fail. He 
struggled on, bought adjoining land, in all five hundred acres, devoted a 
large part of his efforts to dairy products, brought this enterprise to a 
prosperous issue by his unflagging zeal and industry. In addition he plied 
the trade of brick mason and plasterer, and as he had no rival in the place, 
he did a remunerative business. In 1858 he bought the grist mill at 
Greensboro Village, made extensive repairs, and thus had another source of 
income; not content he added to his other properties a saw mill privilege, 
built and equipped the mill with the first circular saw used in the place, 
and took as a partner Hiram BLAISDELL. These mills they afterwards exchanged 
for a large agricultural property in Hardwick [Caledonia County, Vermont]. 
Having obtained some knowledge of the trade of carpenter and joiner, he 
abandoned his Greensboro farm and built the house where he now resides in 
Greenboro Village, and in addition erected other dwellings in that place and 
St. Johnsbury [Caledonia County].

On 04 May 1845 Mr. [Nathan] KENISTON was married to Abigail, daughter of 
Zaccheus and Jennet (ATWOOD) THOMPSON, who died 12 November 1866. Nathan 
KENISTON was a second time wedded, 19 August 1868, to Mary E. ELLSWORTH, 
daughter of Charles B. and Abigail (COBB) FIELD. [Submitter has made the 
assumption that ELLSWORTH is a surname.] No children have been the fruit of 
either union, but in 1848 he adopted Eliot F. ROLLINS, who lost his life in 
the War of the Rebellion, and in 1871 he adopted Myrtie THOMPSON, who died 
about two years later.

He has been a lifelong Democrat, yet has never desired or sought preferment. 
He has been elected justice of the peace, member of the school board and 
highway surveyor. In 1851 he united with the Congregational church and has 
ever been a generous donor to the society in Greensboro, as well as to home 
and foreign missions, with which he has especially identified himself by 
becoming an honorary member of the American board and making Mrs. KENISTON a 
life member of the American Home Missionary Society. Mr. KENISTON is the 
last survivor of a very large Bible class and has always taken a lively 
interest in church affairs, but his generosity is not confined to the outward 
forms of religion, for his kindly charity is extended to all in need or 
sorrow.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly