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Giles County, Tennessee
Kennedy Biographies
compiled and annotated by
Giles County, TNGenWeb Researcher Nancy B. Brown
John B. KENNEDY, clerk of the circuit and criminal courts of Lawrence County, Tenn., and a native of Giles County, of the same State, was born November 6, 1843, son of John and Patsy Kennedy, both natives of Kentucky. The father came to Tennessee in the twenties and located on a farm in Giles County, where he followed agricultural pursuits and stock raising successfully, being the first man to introduce the celebrated Kentucky blue grass in that region. He died there when are subject was about seven or eight years of age. John B. was reared on a farm in his native county, and secured a fair literary education, having just completed his sophomore year in Centre College, Danville, Ky., when the war broke out. He enlisted in the Southern Army, as private in Company A, Third Tennessee Infantry (Gov. John C. Brown's regiment), and served gallantly and faithfully in that sanguinary struggle until, at its close, he was seriously wounded at Chickamauga, and also at Jonesboro, Ga., having his musket shot from his hand at the latter place and losing a finger. At the close of the war he returned home and engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1868, when he repaired to his farm, in Giles County, where he remained until 1871, after which he removed to Lawrence County and soon after engaged in the mercantile business. At the end of four or five years he returned to Pulaski, and engaged in the same business at that place. In 1884 he returned to this county, and the same year was elected to fill the unexpired term of T. L. Bentley (deceased) in the circuit clerk's office, and has discharged the duties of this important office in a highly satisfactory manner, to the present time. November 17,1869, he wedded Alice L. McClain, a native of Lawrence County, Tenn. They have one son, named Joseph McClain. Mr. Kennedy is, and always has been an unswerving Democrat. On the 5th day of August, 1886, Mr. Kennedy was re-elected circuit court clerk by a handsome majority. (Goodspeeds' History of Lawrence County, Tennessee,1886)
NBB Notes: Alice McLain was the daughter of Dr. Ephraim and Annie CLENDENNIN McLain, and served in 1883-1885 as an engrossing clerk in the House of Representatives (Lawrence County Goodspeed Biography, Dr. Ephraim McClain, Lawrence County, TNGenWeb).
In 1850, John KENNEDY the elder is the head of Giles County District 5 HH193-193 (p. 381), a farmer, his real property valued at $17,590. He is 50 years of age, and his wife, Martha A. ("Patsy") is 30, both born in Kentucky. Their children are John (student), 10, Joseph (student), 8, Amanda H., 4, and Airamilder, 2, all born in Tennessee. Also in the household are Amanda Kennedy, 38, and Mitchael Forsyth, 17 ("Student at school"), both born in Kentucky.
In 1860, the children of John, Sr. and Martha, John and his younger siblings are all in the Giles County census household of John C. LEFTWITCH, age 49, born in Virginia, $6,180 real property, and $17,905, personal property. His name is followed by those of Amanda Leftwitch, 47, KY (Amanda Kennedy of 1850?) and Asinith Barnes, 30, TN, respectively. The Kennedy children are John, 20, Joseph, 17, Amanda, 14, and Airmelda, 12, all born in Tennessee, and all students. Each of the four children has a real property valuation of $10,000, and a personal property valuation of $10,000. On 4 Mar 1869, Amanda KENNEDY married A.J. BALLENTINE, and on 26 May 1869, Armilda KENNEDY married William VOORHIERS (Giles County marriage books).
In 1870, John and Amanda (KENNEDY) Leftwitch are on the Giles County census, Pulaski District, p. 147, HH402-402. John is 59, born in Virginia, a farmer, with a value of $7,000 (real) and $1,500 (personal), and Amanda is 57, born Kentucky, "keeping house." Also in the household are John KENNEDY, 26, and Alice KENNEDY, 20, both both born in Tennessee, and married Nov 1869 (within the census year). John is listed as a farmer with a valuation of $9,000 (real) and $,1000 (personal).
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Last Updated Tuesday, June 26, 2001
Copyright 2001 Nancy B. Brown (content) and TNGenNet, Inc. (format)
