Kenna, John Edward (1848-1893), was an American statesman. He served as a Democrat from West Virginia in the United States House of Representatives from 1877 to 1883 and in the U.S. Senate from 1883 until his death. Kenna called for government funding to improve river navigation in West Virginia. He also supported legislation to regulate railroads.
Kenna was born on April 10, 1848, in St. Albans, West Virginia. He studied at St. Vincent’s College in Wheeling, and served as prosecuting attorney in Kanawha County, both in West Virginia. He died on Jan. 11, 1893. His statue represents West Virginia in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
