Kennedy
Michael Kennedy and M.T. Kennedy
Michael
Kennedy. For about forty years the subject of this
sketch has been intimately connected with the growth and
development of Clayton County, as he settled on a farm in
Volga Township in the early days of its history, the land
being then but little broken and there being few
settlements within its limits. For ten years he engaged
in improving and cultivating his farm, making it one of
the valuable ones of the township; he never spared his
energy in any direction when he believed it might be
directed to the advantage of his place. In 1866 he
retired to some extent from active cares, removing his
family to Elkader, where he resided for three years. |
source: Portrait and
Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties;
Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894; pgs. 372-373
-transcribed by Becky Teubner
~~~
M.T. Kennedy is a
dealer in wholesale and retail drugs, books and
stationery in McGregor, and is one of the leading
business men of the place. He has ever been interested
and active in all local public affairs, and is a man of
wide reading and information, which he has extended by
his frequent and lengthy journeys in different parts of
the northwest. The paternal ancestors of Mr. Kennedy were natives of Scotland, who settled in New England at an early day. His father, John Kennedy, was born in Erie County, Pa., and followed agricultural pursuits in order to obtain a livelihood. His wife, Eliza (Deitz) Kennedy, was also born in the Keystone State and is still living, her home being in Erie County, Pa., she having attained the good old age of eighty-two years. A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Kennedy of this sketch was born in Erie County in 1836, and passed his early years on his father's farm, becoming thoroughly acquainted by actual experience with the workings of the same. His primary education was obtained in the common schools, which was supplemented by further study in the academy of his native county. In 1861 Mr. Kennedy came to Iowa, settling the same year in McGregor, and at the expiration of about one year commenced clerking in a drug store, where he laid the foundation of his knowledge as a pharmacist. He became thoroughly conversant with the business during his clerkship of three years and this has been of great use to him in his later years. In the spring of 1864, on account of poor health, he went across the plains on horseback to Montana, traveling in that state and the other northwestern states, Utah, Idaho and Colorado. This trip proved of great benefit to him and at the same time expanded and widened his knowledge of men and the beauties of nature. On his return to this city our subject entered into partnership with S.J. Case & Co., and together they continued in business for about one year, at the end of which time their connection was dissolved by mutual agreement. For two years thereafter, O.M. Buck was a partner of Mr. Kennedy, after which time he carried on his business alone until the spring of 1894. His trade is extensive and continually increasing, and he keeps a full line of wholesale and retail drugs, stationery, books, wall paper, etc. The present partner of Mr. Kennedy is his son-in-law, and the name of the firm is now M.T. Kennedy & Co. In 1864 Mr. Kennedy married Miss Louisa Bowen. She is a native of the Bay State, and is a daughter of Liberty Bowen. Two daughters were born to this couple, the elder of whom, Mabel E., is the wife of C.W. Bliss, an enterprising young business man of this place, and the partner of Mr. Kennedy; the other, Grace E., is a well educated young lady and lives with her parents. In religious belief our subject and his wife are Methodists, holding membership with the methodist Episcopal church of McGregor, in which they are active and efficient workers. Mr. Kennedy is a member of Beezer Lodge No. 137, A.F. & A.M., of Clayton Chapter No. 108, R.A.M., and Honorious Commandery No. 8, K.T. Prominent in the ranks of the Democratic party, he has often been solicited to serve in a public capacity but has always declined, preferring to tend strictly to his business interests; nevertheless he has twice been prevailed upon to serve as Mayor of the city, in which capacity he acquitted himself most commendably. |
source: Portrait and
Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties;
Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894; pgs. 540-541
-transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall