Tim Kinney, from portrait in hanging
in Rock Springs Bank building

Timothy Kinney, Wyoming rancher and businessman

When Mary Ann Jim Pattison and Bernard, Peg and Greg Kinney traveled to Ireland in 1981, Mary Ann had just learned (through Carole and Tom Kinney) about a distant relative who had moved to Wyoming and become a successful rancher. Much to their surprise, many of the "cousins" in Ireland knew all about the "sheep king of Wyoming."

Over the years we learned a bit more about Tim and around eventually Mary Ann was contacted by some of Tim's descendants and obtained a copy of his autobiography, written in 1920. It tells an interesting story and fills in lots of family history, and you can now read it online.

Timothy Kinney, An Autobiography, 1920 (pdf format)

Images photos of the farm in Ireland where Tim was born and a photo of a portrait if Tim. (pdf format)

Family Chart of Tim Kinney's line (prepared by Greg Kinney)

Timothy Kinney was born in Derryronane, County Mayo, Ireland, 9/24/1846. His parents were James Kenny and Mary Stanton. He was a nephew (through his mother) of Tim Kinney who owned a hotel in Madison, woh in turn was the son of Timothy Kenny and Mary Early who remained in Ireland.

The senior Timothy is believed to be a brother to Michael and Andrew Kenny who left County Mayo for Canada ca. 1831 and settled in Fitchburg Wisconsin (near Madison) in 1944. Michael and Andrew founded the branch of the Kinney family that remains in the Madison area and another branch that moved to St. Croix County, Wisconsin.

The senior Timothy's son Timothy (married to Mary O'Malley) arrived in Madison in the 1850s where he operated a hotel and livery, was involved in a variety of other commercial activities and served on the Madison city council.

In 1863 the younger Tim Kinney, his friend Frank Blake, and his cousin Catherine (who we have not positively identified) arrived in Madison after a journey from Sligo to Liverpool to New York City by boat and then by train to Madison and Tim's Hotel. The younger Tim worked for his uncle for several years before taking a job the Union Pacific Railroad and eventually becoming a rancher.

Tim made two trips back to Ireland, which explains why all the relatives there knew about "the sheep king." He also assisted his brother Michael and sister Ann in migrating to the U.S. Both eventually settled in Clinton, Iowa.

Send any comments or additional information about Tim to [email protected].