Archives West Finding Aid

Christian Kenck was born February 27, 1835, at Philipsburg, Baden, Germany. He attended school and served an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's bench before leaving for the U.S. at the age of 14. There he worked at his trade in various places including New York, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Leavenworth and Doniphan, Kansas. In 1862, Kenck journeyed further west and came into the Helena, Montana Territory, area in 1866. He successfully operated a restaurant in Helena and a boarding house in Washington Gulch near Avon. In 1872, he bought the Magnolia Hotel in Helena and managed it for ten years. His expanding business interests included a saloon, stone quarry, stock sales, and four ranches. He was involved in several partnerships including Flick and Kenck, Hummel and Kenck, and Kenck and Ernst. Kenck belonged to the Masonic order, Odd Fellows, and the A.O.U.W. He served as Alderman of Helena's third ward from 1881 to 1882. Christian married Theresa Odenwald of Philipsburg, Baden, Germany, on March 10, 1859, in Doniphan, Kansas. They had four children: Joseph N., Amelia C., Anna, and Rose. Christian Kenck died in Lewis and Clark County on July 29, 1914 Joseph N. Kenck was born in Doniphan, Kansas, February 27, 1862. He spent his early years in Diamond and Washington Gulches, and Helena. After completing his education, he traveled in the East and South, returning to Helena in 1885. He accepted a position as bookkeeper in the Second National Bank. He was elected alderman from the seventh ward in 1893 and also appointed public administrator of Lewis and Clark County. He married Agnes Kaiser July 29, 1886. They had three sons and a daughter. Joseph N. Kenck died in Hamilton, Montana, on July 14, 1943.