Abbot Kinney (1850 - 1920)

Industrialist and Real Estate Baron. An important figure in Los Angeles history, Abbot Kinney founded the nearby city of Venice, California. Convinced that the area’s mild climate would attract artists from around the world, Kinney decided to provide the setting for this cultural renaissance by re-creating Venice,  Italy,  just south of Santa Monica.  In 1902 […]

John Ellis Kimberly (1970 - 1928)

Businessman. A Paper Magnate, he was one of the co-founders of the Kimberly-Clark Corporation. Kimberly-Clark is famous for such products as Kleenex, Kotex, Huggies, and Depends.  Family links:  Spouse:  Helen Cheney Kimberly (1845 – 1932)*  Children:  John A Kimberly (1867 – 1954)*  James Cheney Kimberly (1871 – 1961)*  Mary Emma Kimberly Shirk (1881 – 1979)* […]

William Smith Kimball (1837 - 1895)

Businessman. He was founder of the Kimball Tobacco Factory in Rochester, New York, which he built around a handful of small tobacco-related devices invented by one of his employees. Kimball became one of the world’s largest tobacco product companies; the cigarette division alone supplied the world with 750 million cigarettes each year. His family home, […]

William Wallace Kimball (1828 - 1904)

Businessman. William Wallace Kimball was the founder of the W.W. Kimball and Company that manufactured pianos and organs from the late 19th century until February 1996. He moved from Maine to Decorah, Iowa while in his mid-20s and became a real estate broker. He liquidated his investments just before the Panic of 1857 and moved […]

Byron Kilbourn (1801 - 1870)

Business Magnate, Milwaukee Founder and Mayor. The son of US Congressman James Kilbourne, he worked in Ohio as a surveyor and state engineer, and moved to Wisconsin in 1834. In 1837 he established Kilbourntown on 160 acres west of the Milwaukee River. There were already two new settlements in the region, Solomon Juneau’s Juneautown (east […]

Peter Kiewit (1900 - 1979)

Peter Kiewit took over the small Omaha, Nebraska construction company, Keiwit Construction Co., from his father (also Peter Kiewit) and grew it into one of the largest major construction companies in the world. His company built the Eisenhower Tunnel in Colorado, subways in New York City, and many major world-class projects throughout the world.

Kirk Kerkorian (1917 - 2015)

American Financier, Investor, Industrialist and Philantropist. Kirk Kerkorian was a high-school dropout and onetime welterweight boxer who rose from working as a civilian transport pilot in World War II, to building a financial empire that included investments in the casinos, hotels, as well as Chrysler, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors. Kerkorian was a skilled […]

Joseph Patrick Kennedy (1888 - 1969)

Businessman, US Political Figure. Best known as Patriarch of the Kennedy Family and the father of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of a saloonkeeper, Joseph Patrick Kennedy was a hardworking, ambitious boy who got into Harvard, was popular and did well academically, but was […]

John F Kennedy Jr (1960 - 1999)

John F Kennedy Jr Environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. kept secret diaries that were found by his wife, Mary, who committed suicide last year in the midst of a contentious divorce. The Post, which was provided copies of the journals by a source, previously reported how the volumes detailed RFK’s “lust demons” while chronicling his […]

Carolyn Bessette Kennedy (1966 - 1999)

Socialite and wife of John F. Kennedy, Jr. She gained a certain notoriety herself due to public interest and attention to her husband. Born in White Plains, New York, she was the youngest daughter of Dr. William J. and Ann Messina Bessette.  Her father was a surgeon and her mother an administrator in the New […]

Mifflin Kenedy (1818 - 1895)

While in Pittsburgh awaiting repairs on The Champion, Miffin Kenedy met John Saunders, a United States Army major and engineer who was seeking craft for use on the Rio Grande River during the Mexican War. Hired to assist Saunders, Kenedy commanded The Corvette to New Orleans, Louisiana. His experience in navigation proved invaluable in the […]

James Scott Kemper (1886 - 1981)

Businessman. He established the Lumberman’s Mutual Casualty Company, which was the predecessor of the today’s Kemper Insurance Companies. He was politically active, serving as an Illinois delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1936, 1940, 1944, 1948, and 1952, as the treasurer of the Republican National Committee from 1944 to 1946, and as the United […]

John Brendan “Jack” Kelly, Sr (1889 - 1960)

Businessman, Olympic Athlete. He accumulated wealth as a successful Philadelphia, Pennsylvania building contractor. He was also an athlete, winning an Olympic Gold Medal as part of the 1920 United States Sculling team. He was the father of the movie actress and later Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly.  Family links:  Spouse:  Margaret Katherine Majer Kelly (1898 […]

Will Keith Kellogg (1860 - 1951)

Business Entrepreneur.  Inventor of corn flakes, he founded the Kellogg Cereal Company and the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. Born in Battle Creek, Michigan, he was the younger son of John Preston Kellogg and Ann Janette Stanley Kellogg.  Just before he was born in 1860, the family moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, where his father, John […]

Ransom Leslie “Les” Kelley (1897 - 1990)

Born Ransom Leslie Kelley, he originated the “Kelley Blue Book,” the guide for setting resale values on used automobiles. First published in 1926, the Kelley Blue Book is still in use today. (bio by: A.J. Marik)  Family links:  Children:  Gloria Beatrice Kelley (1922 – 1990)* *Calculated relationship

Alexander Keith (1795 - 1873)

He was the founder of Alexander Keith’s Brewery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He was born at Halkirk, Caithness Highland, Scotland and at the age of 17, his father sent him to an uncle in northern England to learn the brewery business. Around 1817 he relocated to Halifax where he became the sole brewer and […]

William M. Keck (1880 - 1964)

Philanthropist and founder of Superior Oil.  Family links:  Children:  Willametta Keck Day (1915 – 1985)*  Alice Bertha Keck Park (1918 – 1977)* *Calculated relationship

Martin Theodore Kearney (1842 - 1970)

Was one of Fresno’s most significant pioneer land developers. Known as the “Raisin King of California,” he was one of the most prosperous and powerful agricultural leaders in the state. Among his achievements are the establishment of the colony farm system in Fresno County; the development of his 5,400-acre Fruit Vale Estate that focused on […]

Koichiro Kawada (1836 - 1896)

Financier. Served as governor of the Bank of Japan. (bio by: Warrick L. Barrett)

Lewis Katz (1942 - 2014)

Businessman, Sports Team Owner. At the time of his death, he was co-proprietor of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News. He was the former principal owner of the New Jersey Devils and New Jersey Nets. Born into a Jewish family, his father died while Lewis was a child. He attained his bachelor’s degree in Business […]

Carl N. Karcher (1917 - 2008)

Entrepreneur. In 1941, he made a $326 investment in a hot dog stand and turned it into the multimillion-dollar fast food empire known as Carl Jr.’s restaurants. CKE Restaurants Inc., the company Karcher founded, operates 3,052 restaurants in 42 states and 13 countries, employees 62,000 people and has annual sales in excess of $1 billion. […]

Henry John Kaiser (1882 - 1967)

Industrialist. A native of Canajoharie, N.Y. He left school at age 13 and became a photographer’s apprentice and later bought the business at age 20. In 1907 he worked for a construction company in Spokane, Wash., in 1914 started his own construction company in Vancouver, Canada and began a career of government funded projects, including […]

Otto Hermann Kahn (1867 - 1934)

Financier, Investment Banker, and Philanthropist. Born Otto Hermann Kahn, the 5th of eight children to Jewish parents in Mannheim, Germany, he desired to become a musician, and learned to play several instruments before graduating from his secondary education in Mannheim. His father had set plans for him to become a banker and at the age […]

Arthur Judson (1881 - 1975)

Businessman. He was co-founder of the Columbia Broadcasting System and founder and manager of the Columbia Artists Management. In 1915 he was manager of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Theodore Dehone Judah (1826 - 1863)

Industrialist. A railroad surveyer and engineer, he help to start the Central Pacific Railroad and was one of the founders of the Transcontinental Railroad. (bio by: Tom Cummings)  Family links:  Spouse:  Anna Feron Pierce Judah (1828 – 1895)* *Calculated relationship

James J. Jordan, Jr (1930 - 1970)

Businesman. Well known advertising excutive remembered for his slogans “Ring around the collar, Ring around the collar” for Wisk laundry soap and “Schaefer is the one beer to have when your having more than one” and “Your not clean until you’re Zestfully clean” for Zest soap and other memorable slogans. He was also a counselor […]

Warner La Valle Jones, Jr (1916 - 1994)

Businessman. Served as director and chairman of Churchill Downs, home to the Kentucky Derby for over 50 years. Owned 1953 Derby winner, Dark Star, bred at his throrougbred operation, Hermitage Farm in Goshen, Kentucky.  (bio by: Mike Maloney)  Family links:  Spouse:  Harriet Seelbach Jones (1918 – 2003)* *Calculated relationship

Edward Franc Jones (1828 - 1913)

Military and political leader and Business Magnate. He was raised in Leicester, Massachusetts and entered the dry goods business. In 1854 he joined the militia as a Lieutenant. In 1861 he joined the Sixth Massachusetts Infantry as a Major, soon assuming command and receiving promotion to Colonel. He led the organization on its famed march […]

Carlos Jones (1827 - 1897)

A successful and wealthy farm equipment manufacturer. Retiring from business in the early 1880’s, Jones invested in real estate and became mayor of Brooklyn, Ohio.  Jones purchased 52 acres and built a 160-acre dairy farm. He and his second wife, Mary Branch, opened their farm to 12 children to live and learn for a few […]

Columbus Marion “Dad” Joiner (1860 - 1947)

Oil Man.  He was a rogue wildcatter who at age 70 discovered the East Texas Oilfield,  the largest in the United States at that time.  Born near Center Star,  Alabama,  he studied law and in 1883 set up practice in Tennessee.  From 1889 to 1891 he served in the State Legislature.  Enticed by the bourgeoning […]