Lawrence Kerney, of section 25, Hardin Township, came to this county in 1879. He was born in Andrews County, Missouri, November 4, 1849, the son of Caleb Kerney, who was born in Pennsylvania; and the latter the son of William Kerney, who was also born in Pennsylvania. Caleb Kerney was a prominent and well-known settler of Mills County, and was a relative of the Kerneys who were famous in history as statesmen and soldiers. He went to Andrews County, Missouri, in 1841, and in 1846 returned to Ohio, and was there married to Ruth Van Buskirk, who was born in Ohio, the daughter of Lawrence Van Buskirk, who was a native of Pennsylvania, of Dutch ancestry. They then returned to Andrews County, Missouri, where they were among the first settlers. In 1854 they removed to Mills County, Iowa, three miles north of Malvern, where he resided until 1878, excepting six years which were spent in Missouri, then went to Fremont County, Iowa, and died in 1880, at the age of sixty-two years; his wife died in the fall of 1864. By this marriage there were eight children. After the death of his wife he married the second time, by which union there were seven children, all of whom are now living. Politically Caleb Kerney was a Democrat, and religiously a Baptist, of which church his wife was also a member, and his children were reared in that doctrine.

Lawrence Kerney, our subject, was but five years of age when his parents moved to Mills County. Here he grew to manhood, having passed his youth upon the farm. He came to Pottawattamie County in 1879, and bought forty acres of land, to which he has added until he now owns 120 acres, all in one body. He was married in Henry County, Iowa, September 9, 1877, to Miss Louie Robinson, a woman of intelligence, who was born in Jefferson County, Iowa, where she was reared and educated; she was a successful teacher before her marriage. She is the daughter of Rev. George W. and Margaret (Gregg) Robinson; the former was a pioneer Methodist minister, and now resides at Osceola, Clarke County, Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. Kerney have two children: Everett and Roy Ernest. Politically Mr. Kerney is a Republican, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace for years. He is a man of intelligence, well-read on all the topics of the day, frank and cordial in his manner, and a popular citizen.