John Kinney House

This Greek Revival-style farmhouse was built by Avon Township pioneer John Kinney soon after he purchased the property in June 1839. The 1840 federal census enumerated Kinney as living near others who were property owners in the same part of Avon Township, so the house is presumed to have been built immediately after the purchase of the property.

Kinney and his wife had migrated to Michigan from their native home of Warren County, New Jersey in 1837.

The 1877 History of Oakland County described John Kinney as follows: [begin quote]

He was a native of the town of Oxford, Warren county, New Jersey, being born January 5, 1811, and was the youngest in a family of seven children, all of whom are now deceased. He received a good common-school education in his native town, and in 1833 was united in marriage to Miss Eliza S. McCracken, of his native State, and daughter of the late John McCracken, of Macon county, Michigan. Shortly after their marriage, the young couple bought a farm in their native town, whereon they remained until 1837, when they came to Michigan to hew out for themselves a home amid the charming lakes of Oakland. They made the journey with their own conveyance to Buffalo, thence by lake to Detroit, from which latter point they drove again to Avon township their own team. On his arrival, Mr. Kinney purchased one hundred and eighty-six acres on section 25, upon which farm he resided the remainder of his earthly career. This homestead (a view of which, together with portraits of its master and mistress, we present to our readers on another page of our work) well attests the industry of its proprietor, as no better or more highly cultivated one can be found in the county. The worthy pair of whom we write by frugality and industry accumulated a goodly store of worldly wealth, insomuch that later in life they were independent of hard labor and anxiety touching the future " rainy days." This competency was enjoyed not only by those who had gained it, but by all who were so fortunate as to be numbered among, their numerous and frequent guests. In politics Mr. Kinney was a Jacksonian Democrat, and was called upon by his fellow-townsmen to fill many positions of trust in their gift. He united in his youth with the Methodist Episcopal church, and his whole life adorned the profession of his boyhood. He fell asleep in the full expectancy of the realization of his hopes, January 9, 1877.

Mrs. Kinney was born December 6, 1812, and received what was considered in those days a good education, and, although now in her sixty-sixth year, retains her mental vigor and bodily health in a marked degree of superiority. She is a genial and affable lady, and pleasing conversationalist. [end quote]

The Kinneys resided on their farm until their respective deaths in 1877 and 1881. In their later years, their farm was operated by Enos Weaver, the husband of John Kinney's niece, the former Elizabeth K. Davis. Kinney's probate record described Elizabeth K. Davis Weaver as being among "the persons whom he had raised as his children." (He had apparently reared some of his sister's children after the early death of their father.) John Kinney's will directed that after the death of his wife, his property should go to Elizabeth K. Davis Weaver and Samuel Davis, Elizabeth's brother. Samuel Davis sold his interest in the property to Enos Weaver in 1881.

It appears from plat maps that while farming the Kinney land, the Weavers may have lived in a second house that was built on the Kinney property. The Weavers continued to reside on the Kinney farm after the older couple's deaths.

Enos Weaver was born October 26, 1834 in Pennsylvania and came with his parents to Michigan in 1857. He died April 19, 1904 in Avon Township.

Following the deaths of Enos and Elizabeth Weaver, the property was owned by their son, Fred Weaver.

Samuel F. Chipman to John Kinney, 22 June 1839, consideration $1900, the west half of the southeast quarter of section 25, Avon Township, and the east half of the southwest quarter of section 25, Avon Township, Oakland County Record of Deeds, liber 17, p.328.

"Death of John Kinney," Rochester Era, January 11, 1877, p.3.

Probate record of John Kinney, probate file number #3714, Oakland County Record of Probate, liber 51, pp.373-377.

Samuel Davis and Drusilla Davis his wife to Enos Weaver, 1 March 1881, west half of the southeast quarter and east half of the southwest quarter of section 25, Avon Township, Oakland County Record of Deeds, liber 135, p.171.

Durant, Samuel W. History of Oakland County, Michigan. Philadelphia: L. H. Everts & co., 1877, p.152.

"Enos Weaver," in Portrait And Biographical Album of Oakland County, Michigan. Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1891 pp. 842-845.

"Another Pioneer Gone [obituary of Eliza McCracken Kinney]," Rochester Era, February 17, 1881, p.3.

"United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHYX-354 : 19 May 2020), John Kenny, Avon Twp, Oakland, Michigan, United States; citing p. 100, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm.

"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF8K-JSJ : 4 April 2020), John Kinny, Avon, Oakland, Michigan, United States; citing family 768, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWDK-5XN : 11 November 2020), John Kinney, 1860.

"United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHCC-8SG : 19 March 2020), John Kinney, 1870.

"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MW3Q-SWB : 13 November 2020), Eliza Kinney, Oakland, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district ED 248, sheet 15D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,598.

"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS9K-6F7 : accessed 12 December 2020), Enos Weaver, Avon township Rochester village, Oakland, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 81, sheet 17B, family 399, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,735.

"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQ1V-FQH : accessed 12 December 2020), Fred Weaver, Avon, Oakland, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 5, sheet 16A, line 21, family 349, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1016; FHL microfilm 2,340,751. 

"United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4GB-76Y : 29 February 2020), Fred Weaver, Avon Township, Oakland, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 63-6A, sheet 9B, line 78, family 186, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1798.