WILLIAM HENRY KENNEDY
Evening Kansan-Republican, Wednesday,
Dec. 27, 1922, Pg. 2
Vol. XXXVIII, No. 278
William
Henry Kennedy
William Henry Kennedy was born in
Toronto, Canada, July 30, 1840, and died in Newton, Kansas, December 22, 1922.
At an early age the deceased moved with his parents from Canada to
Litchfield, Medina county, Ohio, where he remained on the farm until called to
the colors to fight for the preservation of the Union. He enlisted in the
103rd Ohio Infantry in 1862, was made a corporal, served in the Army for three
years during which time he was engaged in the Battle of the Wilderness and other
important engagements in Virginia and North Carolina. He was honorably
discharged from service at Raleigh, North Carolina, at the close of the Civil
War in 1865.
Soon after returning to Ohio, he
moved to Dale, Wisconsin, where he followed farming and carpentry. On
October 28, 1867, he was married to Miss Amelia Royer, who had also come with
her family from Ohio to Wisconsin in a covered wagon. To this union was
born six children during their residence in Wisconsin after which the family
made its final move to Newton, Kansas, in 1878. Their first residence was
four miles northwest of Newton, but soon they purchased the site of their
present residence at 312 West Eleventh street, which was so much prairie then
that they could watch from the front porch the trains pass in and out of the
depot with unobstructed view. Four more children were born in the Kansas
home.
Mr. Kennedy was bridge and car
carpenter for the Santa Fe continually until retired on pension, fifteen years
ago. He was also a pensioner of the United States government. Living
here during the early days of the development of Kansas made him one of the
pioneers and trail blazers in railway construction which made possible our
wonderful transportation facilities of the present. The deceased is
survived by his aged companion, who resides at the old home, and who
unfortunately is now suffering from a broken arm at the age of 76. Of the
ten children, seven daughters, and three sons, seven survive. The
daughters, Ada and Fannie, died in childhood. One son, Prosper, died from
injuries received as a trainmen. Another son, Alladin, died some years
ago. The surviving children are Charles of 219 West Twelfth St., Newton;
Miss Kathryn, who resides with her mother; Mrs. John Reno of Los Angeles,
Calif.; Mrs. W. D. Robinson, of El Dorado; Mrs. B. H. Graham of Newton; Mrs. Lon
S. Blakley of Wichita.
Mr. Kennedy was a modest,
unassuming citizen who loved his home and sought not after earthly honors.
He was a member of the Presbyterian church.
Funeral services for Mr. Kennedy
were conducted by Rev. Arthur Brooks at Duff & Son Funeral parlors, Tuesday
afternoon, 2:30, December 26. Interment was made in Greenwood cemetery.