In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1912) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1848, Tully township
From A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902), History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912)
THOMAS S. KENNEDY.
Thomas S. Kennedy, whose success in life results from earnest, indefatigable efforts, is numbered among the leading and influential farmers and stock raisers of Dallas township, Crawford county, his farm being on section
2. He was born in Tully township, Marion county, Ohio, October 23, 1848, and is of Irish lineage, for the name is of Irish origin. The family, however, was probably established in America at a very early day and the grandparents of our subject, Thomas and Nancy Kennedy, were both natives of Pennsylvania. In 1832 they left that state and coming to Ohio settled in Crawford county, where they spent their remaining days, passing away in Whetstone township. The journey to this state was made in a wagon, and during their early residence here they lived in true pioneer style. The grandfather died in the '40s, and the grandmother passed away in 1863. Their children were: William K., the father of our subject; Martha, who died in early womanhood; Margaretta, who is living in Marion county, Ohio; John, deceased; Nancy Jane, who has also passed away; Thomas, who died in Jasper county, Indiana, in 1900; Sarah, deceased; Samuel, who is living in Whetstone township; Mary E., who died in Marion county in 1901; and George Washington, who is living in Marion county.
William K. Kennedy was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, February 16, 18 1 8, and when a youth of fourteen accompanied his parents to this state, being reared here upon the home farm. He acquired a good common-school education and for a few terms engaged in teaching school. He had a strong mind, was a man of good judgment and was well informed. For five years he worked as a farm hand, at eleven dollars per month, being thus employed on the plains south of Bucyrus. For his first wife he married Miss Margaret Shank, who was born in Pennsylvania, and was of Pennsylvania-Dutch descent, her ancestors coming from Holland. Her parents, Jacob and Lydia (Bush) Shank, settled in Crawford county about 1832. By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy the following children were born: Nancy, who died at the age of three years; Lydia Jane, the wife of Samuel Baker, of Dallas township; Thomas S., of this review; Martha, who died after her marriage; James W., who is residing in Marion county, Ohio; Emma, wife of Madison Roberts, of Marion county; Anzilla, wife of George Watts, of Marion county; Margaret, wife of John R. Hill, of Marion county. The mother died in 1861 and a few years later the father married Mary Lance, a native of Pennsylvania, who still survives him and is living on the homestead farm in Marion county. By the second marriage there was one child, Samira, the wife of Elsworth Jones, of Marion county. Throughout his business career the father followed farming. He located on the boundary line between Crawford and Marion counties, his farm lying in both counties, but his residence in the latter, and there he remained until his life's labors were ended in death. He i/o CENTENNIAL prospered and gained a good estate. He engaged in dealing in and raised large flocks of sheep and also handled other stock. Being an excellent judge of domestic animals he was enabled to make judicious purchases and upon his investments he realized a handsome profit.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
After his marriage Mr. Kennedy began farming in WTetstone township, Crawford county, where he remained for seven years, after which he removed to his present place of residence. Here he owns two hundred and eighty acres of land, and in addition he has eighty acres a mile west, forty acres in Whestone township and one hundred and seventy-five acres in Marion county. In connection with general farming he raises cattle, sheep and hogs and also buys and sells others. His business interests are well conducted and directed along progressive and straightforward lines. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently called him to public office, and he has satisfactorily served in a number of minor positions,, but he has never been an aspirant for political office. In his political views he is a Democrat, and in religious faith is a Methodist. His life is honorable, his actions sincere, and his integrity unquestioned, and in Crawford county lie has gained many warm friends who esteem him highly for his sterling worth.
As printed in A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
THOMAS S. KENNEDY, who is one of Crawford county's leading citizens and substantial and representative men, resides on one of his farms in Dallas township, containing 280 acres, and owns a second one, comprising 80 acres. Additionally he has 175 acres in Marion county, and 139 acres in Trumbull county, and is one of the stockholders in the Farmers and Citizens Bank of Bucyrus. Mr. Kennedy was born in Tully township, Marion county, O., Oct. 23, 1848, and is a son of William and Margaret (Shank) Kennedy.
The parents of Mr. Kennedy were born in Pennsylvania and both died in Marion county, O. They came to Ohio when young and were reared and educated here and later married and settled down to an agricultural life in Marion county. The mother was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and they were respected and esteemed in the section which was their home for many years. They were parents of a large family. After the mother of Mr. Kennedy died the father married Mary A. Lance and they had one daughter born to them, Samira, who is the wife of Ellsworth J. Jones. Thomas S. Kennedy was the third born of his father's first family, the others being: Nancy, who died aged three years: Lydia Jane, who is the widow of Samuel Baker; Martha, deceased, who was the wife of George Watts; James William: Emma, who is the wife of Madison Roberts, Anzila, who is the wife of George Watts: and Margaret Ellen, who is the wife of John Hill. The paternal grandparents of the above children were Thomas and Nancy Kenedv, and the material were Jacob and Lydia Shank.
Thomas S. Kennedy attended the district schools in boyhood and improved his opportunities so that afterward he taught a term of school in Marion county. He found, however, that his natural inclinations led more in the direction of an agricultural life and there-. fore became a farmer, in which line of activity he has continued and has been exceedingly successful. In 1882 he bought the farm on which he lives, from J. George Heinlen, and this land as all the other that he owns has been improved and brought to a high productive, state.
In 1874 Mr. Kennedy was married to Miss Esther F. Monnette, a daughter of Thomas and Esther Ann (Gulp) Monnette. The parents of Mrs. Kennedy were early settlers and for many years prominent people of Marion county. Mrs. Kennedy has but one sister: Vansanelia, who is the wife of G. W. Sipe. To Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy the following children have been born: Mervin, assistant cashier of The Farmers & Citizens Bank, at Bucyrus, who married Juna Ethel Newland, and has had three children — Evelyn Lucile, Frances Bernice and an infant, deceased; William, a farmer in Marion county, O., who married Mary Mertie Heinlen, and the following children were born to them — Flossie Marie, an infant, deceased; Clarence Eugene, Harold Stephen, Melvin Oben, Mabel Mertie and an unnamed infant; Otho W., city solicitor of Bucyrus, O., who married Edna Burke; Orarige D., a farmer in Marion county, who married Blanche Fink, and has the following children — Milford, Almeda, Vancenella Catherine; Myron G., who is in the drug business at Niks, Trumbull county, 0., who married Daisy Knowles, and has the following children — James Thomas, Marion Elizabeth and Richard Knowles; Amy Elva, who married Samuel Stump, a farmer in Whetstone township; James Corbin, a farmer in Trumbull county, who married Eleanora Culler, of Indiana, and has three children — Myron Samuel, George William and Pauline Esther; Olive Edna, who is a member of the class of 19 13, at college, at Ada, O.; Ralph C, who is a student at Fort Wayne, Ind.; Myrtle Flossie, who is a student at Ada; Almet E., who lives at home; and Jay Monnette, who died at the age of two years. This is one of the representative families of Crawford county, not only in numbers but in intelligence and business capacity. Mr. Kennedy and his sons are Democrats in their political allegiance and are deeply interested in public affairs at the present time of writing (1912). Mr. Kennedy has served on the township school board, of which he has been clerk and has been land appraiser for one term and also trustee. Both he and wife were reared in the Methodist faith and in this church their children also have received their religious instruction.
As printed in History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Samuel Baker (b. 1845)
The printed record stops around 1902. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.