Nancy Kennedy
Kentucky Post, Tuesday, December 13, 1904 page 1
Miss Kennedy, the Grand-daughter of the
Man Who Founded Covington is Dead
Death of the Aged Woman Peaceful
She Had Seen the City Grow from a Tiny Settlement-Her Interesting Career
"Aunt Nancy" Kennedy is dead. Her passing is the breaking of a link that connected Covington with the dim past. She was almost a landmark in the community and was known by every resident of Covington who had lived in the city any length of time. She was 93 years of age and had lived here continuously since she was a year old.
Born on Nov. 24, 1811, just before the outbreak of the War of 1812, she had seen Covington grow from a tiny settlement into a city of 50,000. Possessed of a marvelous memory and with unimpaired faculties up to the time of her death, she was a directory to those seeking information about early inhabitants and if any one wanted to get the facts straight, they sought "Aunt Nancy" Kennedy.
Her death occurred at 5 o'clock Tuesday morning. Surrounded by relatives who loved her, this gentle old maid breathed her last. Her passing was very peaceful. She had been gradually sinking for some time, but pneumonia was the immediate cause of her death. Miss Nancy Kennedy was born a few miles from Hamilton O. and was the daughter of Samuel Kennedy and Jane Richardson. She was one in a family of 12 children.
FOUNDED THE CITY
Her father was the son of Thomas Kennedy, the founder of Covington. In 1780 Thomas Kennedy secured a grant of land from the Government, built himself a house, and in 1782 started a landing and ran a ferryboat across the Ohio River. He then built the first stone house ever erected in this part of the country near the foot of Garrard St. which is still standing and is acknowledged to be the oldest house in Covington. Covington was then only known as Kennedy's Landing, but in February 1815, 150 acres of Kennedy's land were transferred to Gen John S Gano, Richard M Gano and Thomas Davis Carneal. This tract was incorporated in 1845 and named Covington in honor of Gen. Leonard Covington.
It was to this old stone house that the infant Nancy Kennedy was brought by her father at the age of 1 year. Here the Kennedy family lived for many years and here Miss Nancy Kennedy met many distinguished men and women. In 1848 another house was built next door to the old stone one and in this house Miss Nancy Kennedy has lived ever since. She lived all alone, being absolutely fearless.
ENTERTAINED MRS. STOWE
There is a tradition which has never been verified, that while visiting in this vicinity shortly before the Civil War, Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe was a guest of Miss Kennedy and wrote several chapters of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in her home. Mrs. Drake the well known actress in the early days was a warm friend of Miss Kennedy. On Thanksgiving Day Miss Kennedy was 93 years of age and she was able to get out and take dinner at the home of her grandniece Dr. Louise Southgate at Third and Russell-sts. where there was quite a family gathering. The old lady enjoyed the day hugely.
On the day before her birthday, former Governor Porter of Tennessee, himself 80 years of age, stopped off in Covington en route to his home in Nashville. He saw Miss Kennedy and had a long stay with her. Just two weeks ago the old lady had her photograph taken and sent one to Governor Porter. When these photographs were taken relatives asked Miss Kennedy to wait until Christmas and then send them all one as a Christmas gift. The old lady's reply was almost prophetic:
PROPHETIC REPLY
"I don't like to wait so long. Something might happen before Christmas." So she gave them all a photograph and they are valued highly by the family as being the latest and best likeness of the aged woman. The living relatives of Miss Kennedy are: Dan Kennedy, Joseph Kennedy and Porter Kennedy of Hamilton O. who are nephews, and Thomas Fleming of Boone County and Robert Crout of Crawfordsville Ind. also nephews; Thomas Kennedy, of Covington, former City Engineer and Joseph Kennedy are cousins. Sam Long is a grand nephew. Miss Alice McGlasson, Dr. Louise Southgate and Mrs. Mary Brewster are grand nieces. Her nieces are Mrs. Meuiver Towsey and Mrs. Jane F Conner, of Covington; Mrs. Elisabeth Davis of Coffeyville, Kas. and Mrs. Hannah Bedinger, of Bakersville California.
The funeral will take place at the Kennedy house Thursday
morning at 10 o'clock and will be one of the largest attended that has ever
taken place in the city.
Kentucky Post, Wednesday, December 14, 1904, page 1 Funeral of Miss Kennedy
The funeral of Miss Nancy Kennedy, 93, one of the oldest residents of Covington, who died early Tuesday morning at her home, 124 Garrard-st. will take place Thursday morning at 10 o'clock from her late residence, and will be one of the largest ever held in the city. Many relatives from distant cities will be present to pay their last respects.
Miss Kennedy was a stanch member of the Presbyterian Church
and the services at the house will be conducted by Dr. J I Blackburn, pastor of
the First Presbyterian Church. The following, all grand nephews of Miss
Kennedy, will be the pallbearers; Dr. Harmon Hays of Bullittsville; Sam Long,
William Long, Alex Urmston, Thomas Urmston and John Harrison. The remains
will be interred in Linden Grove Cemetery.
Kentucky Post, January 21, 1905, page 3
Kennedy Will Found
Attorney Richard Gray, administrator to of the estate of
Miss Nancy Kennedy, who died in Covington several weeks ago, has discovered that
the old lady left a will, which is said to be in the hands of a man named
Williams in Indianapolis. It will be offered for probate within the next
few days. The estate is worth nearly $35,000.
Kentucky Post, Wednesday, January 25,
1905, page 1
Kennedy Will was Probated
Leaves a Good Sum to Wm F Hays, Whom She Reared
Other Bequests Made to Relatives
Her Financial Manager Was Not Allowed to Serve as Executor of Will
The will of Miss Nancy Kennedy, who died recently at an advanced age, was admitted to probate in the Kenton County Court his morning. The will leaves to Wm F Hays, "whom I reared and who has almost continually resided with me," $5000; to Mary J McClasson, $2000; to Anna Hayden, $200 and to her nephew Robt. H Krout, $5.
The rest of the estate is to be divided into six equal shares and given to the children of her deceased sisters-Dinah Fleming, Rebecca Urmston and Eliza Hays, and the children of her three deceased brothers, Thomas, Robert and Sam Kennedy. She named Chas N Williams of Indianapolis, as her executor. Williams was Miss Kennedy's confidential advisor and handled all her money affairs for her. Owing to the statues of a Kentucky he could not serve being a nonresident of the State.
Upon presentation of this fact by Attorney Richard Gray, counsel for some of the heirs, Judge Stephens appointed Attorney Gray himself as the executor. The estate is worth about $40,000.