The Kinney family had its origins in the Hebrides of Scotland and came to Massachusetts in the early 1600's. They later moved to New Brunswick, Canada where they remained until the end of the 19th century. Successive generations of the family, active in the blacksmith trades and as pastors, met the challenges of the New World experience along the eastern seaboard. Moving west, they made Cincinnati their home in 1920, working in the spring steel business for the emerging automotive industry. In 1929, they began their journey into the engineering arena.
On February 4, 1929, a new engineering firm, Kinney & Ehlers, Inc., was started in downtown Cincinnati. A.M. Kinney, Sr. had attended Purdue University and learned the practical realities of his profession in various engineering offices in town. Confident in their abilities and in the nation's continuing growth and productivity, Kinney and his partner retained a young attorney named Robert A. Taft to draw up the papers of incorporation.
