Kepple Disney
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Kepple Disney (2 November 1832-May 1891) is the father of Elias Disney and Thomas Disney and the grandfather of Walt Disney. He is the son of Arundel Elias Disney and Maria Swan.
In 1801, Arundel Elias Disney, great-grandfather of Walt Disney was born in Kilkenny, Ireland. He is a descendant of Hughes and Robert d'Isigny who settled in England with William the Conquereor in 1066. In the Primary Valuation of Tenements from May 1849, one Kepple Disney is listed as renting property of 4 acres comprising "House, offices, and land", and valued at £5 10s in the parish of Rathbeagh, Kilkenny. Also listed is one Henry Disney with over 34 acres.
In 1832 Arundel married Maria Swan and gave birth 2 November of that year to Kepple Disney. They would have a total of 16 children, including Kepple.
In 1834 Arundel and his brother Robert left Liverpool with their families intending to settle in the United States. They reached this destination on 3 October after spending a month crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
Once on American soil, the two brothers separated, with Robert settling on a farm in the Midwest while Arundel proceeded to Goderich Township in Ontario, Canada. Arundel built a windmill near the Maitland River, and made his living selling corn and wood. But his fortune was temporary and he was soon in debt.
In 1858, Kepple married Mary Richardson (20 March 1838-10 March 1909) who was an Irish immigrant.
In 1859, after settling in Bluevale, Ontario, Elias was the first of their 11 children. Kepple attempted various jobs such as work drilling oil or mining salt.
In 1878, Kepple and his two sons, Elias and Robert, soon joined the rest of the family and settled in Ellis, Kansas where they purchased 80 hectares of land from the Union Pacific Railroad. They did not have the means to buy wood, so the family built a cob house before embarking on a career that would allow them to build a stone house. During this time, the Disneys farmed cattle and corn.
Kepple Disney died in 1891 at the age of 59.
