Biographies of Whiteside County, IL 1885
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Biographies Whiteside Co 1885 > William A. Kennedy

Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Published 1885, Chapman Bros.
1 Apr 2008

Transcribed by D. Thormahlen

p. 227

            William A. Kennedy, farmer, located on section 27, Clyde Township, was born Oct. 10, 1828, in Washington Co., N.Y.  His parents, Alexander and Sarah A. (Tice) Kennedy, were natives of New York, and descended from ancestors of New England birth and Scotch origin.  They were farmers and came West when their son was 20 years old-in 1848.  They located at first in Whiteside County , but later the father went to Buffalo County, Neb., where he died in Kearney City, in the fall of 1883.  The mother is living in Clyde Township, and is 78 years of age.  She is still in unbroken health and strength. 

            Mr. Kennedy, in company with his brother, became the proprietor of 320 acres of land in Clyde Township, all of it being unimproved.  He was then not 23 years of age.  He was married April 10, 1856, in the township of Mt. Pleasant, to Emmeline, daughter of Aaron and Amy (Havens) Bailey.  Her father was born in Vermont, and her mother was a native of Essex Co., N.Y.  Mrs. Kennedy was born Aug. 14, 1840, in Jefferson Co., N.Y.  Her parents came to Mt. Pleasant Township, in 1855, where they were farmers.  Her father died of a cancer, Oct. 20, 1874, in the township of Delhi, when he was 77 years of age.  The mother is 84 years of age and is vigorous, mentally and physically.

            At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy settled on the property he owned, on which he made rapid improvements.  The farm is now (1885) in the best of conditions and fenced and stocked. Mr. Kennedy is a Democrat, and both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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