Henry Keney & Walter Keney

Grocery Business

Joseph Keney owned a wholesale grocery business on Main Street in Hartford. He and wife Rebecca Turner had two sons – Henry and Walter. In 1811, Joseph died leaving Rebecca to raise their two young boys alone.

Rebecca arranged for her brother, Robert, to run the family business until the boys were old enough. As agreed, in 1830 Robert stepped aside and Walter and Henry took over.

Philanthropists

Walter married Mary Jeanette Goodwin. They purchased a home on Main Street in which Henry, who never married, lived with them.

The brothers made charitable contributions to various institutions, including Trinity College. They donated land and funds to the city of Hartford for what is now Keney Park.

Keney Tower

They set aside funding to erect a large clock tower on the site of the family business and home. It was dedicated to their mother, Rebecca Turner Keney, in 1898.