Member of Tennessee House, 5th and 6th General Assemblies, 1803-07; representing Hawkins County; Democrat. Born c. 1759, in Northumberland County, Virginia; son of Francis and Elizabeth (Howard) Kenner. Removed to the Watauga area with his father, both of them having served in the American Revolution; Rodham having been at the Battle of King’s Mountain. Farmer; lived near Rogersville for the rest of his life. Married c. 1786 to Malinda Payne; children–Howsen, Ruth, Elizabeth (Mrs. George Savage), Sally Anne (Mrs. Daniel Carmichael), James, Francis, Louisa, William Rodham, Matilda (Mrs. Alexander Shields), and Polly Kenner (Mrs. William Shields). Killed in a fall from his horse in Hawkins County on October 14 (or 18), 1814; buried in Rodham Kenner Cemetery on the north side of the Holston River, Hawkins County. Father of Dr. William Rodham Kenner, grandfather of John Houston Savage and of Abram Monroe Savage, all sometime members Tennessee General Assembly.

Sources: Worley, Records of the Savage and Kenner Families, 13-15; Rosters and Soldiers, 960; Hawkins County Will Book, 1797-1886, Pt. 1, p. 291; Bible Records of Families of East Tennessee, 274; Northumberland County, Virginia, Records, passim.

From Biographical Directory: Tennessee General Assembly, 1796-1967, Issue 3