Thomas Kennedy

As printed in 1905

THOMAS KENNEDY.

Thomas Kennedy, who is now residing on his highly improved farm of 160 acres on section 7, Jackson township, Lee county, was born June 6, 1849, in Birmingham, Pennsylvania, the son of Edward and Elizal)eth (Linnihan) Kennedy. Both parents were natives of Ireland, the father having been horn in County Tipperary, emigrating thence to the Kevstone state, where his

4IO marriage was celebrated, coming west in 1852 and locating temporarily in Lee county, and after a six months' residence here removing to Clark county. Missouri. Although a carpenter by trade, he engaged in farming in Clark county, where he purchased a tract of 640 acres of land, of which, however, he later sold all except 120 acres, on which he lived in the successful pursuit of his vocation until his death, which occurred in 1865. His wife survived him many years, the date of her demise being 1889. To them were born five sons and daughters, as follows: John, who is now a resident of Montana; James, who occupies the home farm in Clark county, Missouri; Thomas, our subject; Ellen, deceased; Mary, the wife of John Clark, of Clark county. Missouri.

In Clark county, Missouri, our subject received his early education in the public schools, and grew to manhood's estate in 1:he practice of the virtues imposed by the necessity of independent effort, for he was but fifteen years of age when the death of his father deprived the family of its head and left him as the main protector and support of its younger members. He met the duties thus cast upon his youthful shoulders with that ability and fortitude which have marked his wliolc career, applying himself to the task before him with energy, assiduity and careful, considerate judgment, and achieving a success of which any man might well be proud. For twelve years he devoted himself to the care of the family, remaining at home until his twenty-seventh year, and it was in 1877 that he came to Lee county. Avhere for the first two years he cultivated rented land and at the end of that time purchased his present large farm, on which he has since resided continuously. Here he has introduced many improvements, has brought the land to a high state of productivity, and has established a pleasant home in which he enjoys the fruits of his long life of worthy and honorable toil, having erected a substantial and handsome residence in 1898. He successfully carries on farming according to accepted.d modern theories, and makes a specialty of raising stock for the general market.

At St. Peter's church, Keokuk, No- Aember 19, 1877, Mr. Kennedy was united in marriage to Mrs. Kate Gorman, widow of John Gorman, who was born in Ireland, coming to Keokuk August 19, 1869, and was for a time employed as an engineer on the Rock Island Railway. At Santiago, California, whither he had gone for the benefit nf his health, Mr. Gorman died December 15. 1874, survived by one son and one daughter, the elder being Mary, now the wife of Edward Bevering, of Keokuk, and she has four children, Mary, Edward, Gorman and Margaret. John, the son, is now engaged in railroad work in California, and is a veteran of the Spanish-American War, having served as a soldier in the Philippine Islands as a member of the First Regiment of Idaho Volunteer InfantiT. Mrs. Kennedy was born at Zanesville, Ohio, December 26. 1846, and removed with her parents to Clark county, Missouri, in 1856. She is the daughter of Peter and Ann (Riley) Mc- Guire. who were married in the city of New York, whither the father had emigrated from his native country of Ireland, and the deaths of both parents occurred in Clark county, where they had always made their home since coming to the West. To Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy have been born six children. Edward Paul, Joseph T., Maude Ann, Wincent, Grace Catherine and Alice, and all the members of the family are members of St. Peter's Catholic church of Keokuk.

All his life Mr. Kennedy has shown himself the possessor of a civic virtue which is especially valuable in a country enjoying republican form of government, namely, public spirit, and he has ever displayed a lively interest in all matters affecting the welfare of the communities in which he has resided, taking part in political action as a member of the Democratic party and frequently serving that organization as delegate to the county conventions. In Lee county- he has been elected to the offices of road supervisor and school director, and in Clark county, Misosuri, he served a period of eight years as road overseer and four years as constable, exhibiting in these various positions the same attention and faithfulness to duty which have made him successful in private life and which have Avon him the good opinion of his acquaintances, neighbors and friends.

As printed in Biographical review of Lee County, Iowa; (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.