Sylvanus was sent to live with his cousin Richard who lived nearby when he was 8. His mother had died when he was a toddler. Sylvanus stayed with his cousin until he was about 8 or 10 years old, and at that time, he was bonded into service of Mr. Joshua Phillips, of Richmond County, NY. This was not uncommon for the time when a family had many children. He was treated poorly by Mr. Philips, but the man was a father to him, and Sylvanus would later name one of his children after him. When he reached the age of twenty-one, he received $100, and took his leave of Mr. Phillips. In 1833, he traveled to Michigan, and purchased 160 acres of forestland from the government within the town of Cambridge, Michigan. He returned to New York shortly, and continued to reside in Richmond County, until he married his childhood friend Hannah Crane in April 1835. She was born in Massachusetts, but came to New York with her family when a young child.

Later that year, Sylvanus and his wife moved back to their land in Cambridge, Lenawee County, Michigan. Sylvanus continued to be successful in real estate in Michigan and also in Illinois. When he and his family moved to Michigan, it was not yet a State, and there were no roads for many miles. Pretty much everything had to be built from scratch, and it was truly frontier land. Some years later, at his funeral oration, given by his good friend Judge Geddes, he speaks of Sylvanus as a strict moral man who never used tobacco, and never drank liquor. He tells a story about how in those days, when you were to raise the frame of your new house, you invited all the neighbors for miles around to help you. It was the custom to provide whiskey to all those who came to help. Because of Sylvanus's strict stance against alcohol, and deep Methodist's beliefs, he said to them that, "If my barn cannot be raised without whiskey it will never be raised at all, and the timbers may rot upon the ground before I will consent to, or become a party to such an infernal custom." He did eventually have his home raised thanks to the help of some kinder neighbors, and at the reward of a full dinner provided by the Kinney's.

Shortly after a year from their move, a son was born to them, John Cleveland Kinney. Six sons were born to Sylvanus and Hannah in all before she passed away in April, 1849. Julius lived until he was twenty-one, when he died in Tennessee, but all the rest were married later. After his wife's death, he married Sara Crane, the half-sister of his first wife. She passed away two and a half years later, in 1851, having no children. In May, 1852, Sylvanus married a third time, to Abigail Briggs in Medina, Ohio. They had three children together. Vernon Clinton, (b. 1853), Dewitt (b. 1856), and Clara (b.1858). Clara was more than twenty years younger than her oldest half-brother. Sylvanus's third wife unfortunately passed away in August 1867. He had recently retired from working on his farm, and moved to nearby Adrian Township, where he spent the rest of his long life. Sylvanus hadn't given up on marriage though, as later in 1867, Sylvanus married a fourth time to Abigail Foote, a widow of Mr. Alonzo Moore. She was the first to outlive him, when he died on October 28, 1897.

At the time of Sylvanus's death at eighty-eight years old, his children were living in five different states, but six of his seven sons served came to the funeral and served as the pall-bearers. The only exception was one of his sons who was living in Washington State. Sylvanus is buried in Oakwood cemetery, Adrian, Michigan.
-Three of Sylvanus's children served in the Civil War, and one of them, Joel F., would have a daughter Martha, who would become the first lady of Ohio after marrying the future governor of Ohio, Myers Young Cooper.
-The Last Will and Testament of Sylvanus Kinney of the City of Adrian, Lenawee County, Michigan.

I Sylvanus Kinney above named of the age of seventy-six years, being of sane mind and memory do make publish and declare this instrument in writing to be my last will and testament and I do hereby expressly revoke and annul all other wills by me here so far made. First, I give desire and bequeath unto my wife, Abbie Kinney the use and enjoyment of my real and personal property, including notes, mortgages, and moneys during her natural life and in case she shall deem it necessary for her support or for the purpose of keeping the real estate in repair, she may use and dispose of the principle of said notes, mortgages, and moneys. Second, After the decease of my said wife, I give bequeath and devise the remainder of said personal estate, including notes, mortgages and moneys and the whole of the real estate to my children to be divided amoung them share and share alike, excepting to my son Joel F. Kinney whose share under this will I will and bequeath to this children, Franklin H. Kinney, Jms. W. Kinney, Emma Kinney, and Mattie Kinney or to their heirs, to be divided in the following manner. I hold notes against all my children but my daughter Clara Kinney which notes may not be paid before my decease and so remain as part of my estate. I will and direct that simple interest at seven per cent be computed on all notes I may hold against any of my children, and that the amount of each of said notes and interest be distributed and assigned and delivered to the maker thereof as part of his or her share of the said remainder of my personal estate and real estate. and the principal and interest of any note I may hold against my son Joel F. Kinney is to be charged against the share which is herin devised to him. I hereby nominate and appoint Adolph Wheeler of the city of Adrian aforesaid executer of this may last will and testament. With my hand and seal this 30th day of July 1885, Sylvanus Kinney.
-Religion: Methodist

Sources:
-Birth Source: American Compendium of Genealogy Vol IV., "History of the 93rd Regiment", Obituary, Father's obituary.
-Marriage Source: Marriage Records of Davidson, TN / Early Settlers of NY
-Death Source: Obituaries, Death Certificate
-1880 US Census : Adrian, Michigan
-1870 US Census : Michigan
-1860 US Census : Cambridge, Michigan
-1850 US Census : Cambridge, Michigan
-1840 US Census : Cambridge, Michigan
-Granted 160 Acres in Michigan Oct 6, 1835
-"Portrait and Biographical Album of Lenawee County, Michigan"
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-Obituary Adrian Daily Times
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----Picture of gravestone (Large)
E-mail Joe C. for any additions/questions!