Kenneth M. Dean

Birth: He was born in 1921 at Smolen, Kansas.  

Family Information: Son of Anna and Bill Dean.  

Description: In 1942 he was 21 years of age; 5'7.5", 135 pounds with a light complexion, hazel eyes and red hair.  

Pre-Colony History: In 1925 he was living in Ottawa County, Kansas with his parents and siblings.  

Home in Colony: In 1935 he and his father were living in the Newllano Colony.  

Job in Colony: In July 1931 the "Busy Beavers" consisting of Vivian Busick, Irene Hewitt, Jeannette Wooley, Jane Lentz, Wanda Self, Iris Busick, Norman Bays, Phillip Lentz, Kenneth Dean, Archie Ogden, Ernest Ogden, Byron Busick, Jimmie Dix, George Maki and Lyle Layer, under the leadership of Mrs. Killian, gathered Himalayan berries at the orchard in the morning and in the afternoon picked blackberries out of the woods.

In June 1934 Agnes Hardy washed dishes for all three meals at the hotel dining room, while May Gosset dried at dinner and supper, ably assisted by Kenneth, Sylvester Watson and Loleta Murray.

In August 1935, he was part of a crew of boys putting together the crates and running the nailer as they worked to fill an order at the crate factory.

In 1936 he was an electrical apprentice, helping Ted Landrum overhaul and repair the pump.  

Other Info: In July 1934 Lloyd Potter took ten boys including Kenneth, Sylvester Watson, Byron Busick, Billy Busick, Phillip Lentz, Joe Lentz, Jimmy Dix, Quentin Quipp, Eugene Hewitt and Clarence Fread on a camping trip to Hadden's Ferry on the Sabine River. They swam for a while; borrowed the ferryman's rowboat and plowed up the river; ate fried potatoes and eggs, bread and jelly, and a fine icing cake. Come evening they set out trout lines and picked moss from the trees to make a bed. They played through the night, getting very little, if any, sleep.

In April 1937 he made a special "disappearing" cocoa cookie for a high school "studio party." Later that month he and Sylvester Watson went fishing one evening after they'd finished their school work. Kenneth reported a catch of thirteen fish and Sylvester 10.  

Post-Colony History: In 1940 he and his father were living in a home in the unincorporated New Llano, Louisiana (site of the old colony) while Kenneth worked as a laborer for a CCC Reforestation crew.

In February 1942 he was still living in New Llano and was unemployed at that time. In September 1942 he enlisted in the US Army as a Private for the duration of the war plus six months.  

Death: He died in 1996. His last residence was at Las Cruces, New Mexico.  

Sources: Kansas State Census: 1925; "Llano Colonist": July 11, 1931, June 30, 1934, July 7, 1934, August 24, 1935, November 7, 1936, April 17, 1937, April 24, 1937; US Census: 1940; US Draft Registration: WWII; US WWII Army Enlistment Records; US Social Security Applications and Claims Index; US SSDI