Kennedy, William D.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: KENN.W005
• _FGRAVE: 207662230

Notes:

William Denbow Kennedy (Kenedy/Kannaday) was born in Maryland on 6 April 1819 according to the details on his death record. He was a Tailor by trade. It is listed in an 1880 Census Schedule for others with disabilities that he is blind at this point in his life.

We know at this time that William was married at least twice.

His first marriage was to Laura Van Tassel. Her last name is spelled a variety of ways over the years, too. Some records say she was born in New York and others say Michigan. It appears that she and most her siblings were born in NY and then migrated to Michigan when she was a child. They were married in 1842.

William and Laura's early life together started in Michigan and they have at least two children identified in the 1850 Census. William's occupation is Tailor. They live very close to Laura's Van Tassel family and they are identified in the well documented Van Tassel genealogy that goes back to the early Dutch settlements in the 1620s.

At this time I can identify two children from the 1850 Census. Charles A. Kennedy (abt 1844) and Sarah Kennedy (abt 1846). Both born in Michigan. I pick up the family again in Indiana by 1858 as they had at least two daughters, Alice Elvira Kennedy Wells (1858-1927), and Laura Belle Kennedy Neff (1862-1949), both born in Indiana. They are found living in Vincennes, Knox County, Indiana and some records list Perrysville, Indiana.

Laura died in 1867 but I haven't found her details at this time.

William's second wife was Miriam Kiddy. Their marriage was recorded in 1868 and they were together for 26 years. She was born Sep 1841 in Carroll County, Ohio and died 8 Aug 1928 in St. Louis Missouri but is buried here at Clay City Cemetery, as well.

William and Miriam's children include: Florence "Flora" May Kennedy Davidson (1868-1917), Jacob Franklin Kennedy (1871-1939), Bertha Jeanette Kennedy Bradford McCauley (1877-1948), and Fred Alfred Kennedy (1881-1954). All born in Clay County, Illinois.

William's death record gives the following information:
William D Kennedy
Sex: Male Color: White
At time of death he was Year: 75 Month: 3 Days 16
Occupation: Tailor
Date and Time of Death: 22 July 1894 at 4 a.m.
Married, American, Born in Maryland
Resident of Illinois: 30 Years
Place of Death: Clay City, Illinois
Cause of Death: Tuberculosis
Duration of Disease: 1 Year
Burial Place and Date: Clay City Cemetery on 23 July 1894
Undertaker: TN Pearce in Clay City
Physician Returning Certificate: OW and JW Boyles of Clay City, Illinois

Info from Kaylen Wells Cirillo
3rd Great Granddaughter via William's daughter Alice Elvira Kennedy Wells

Family/Spouse: Kiddy, Miriam. Miriam was born in Sep 1841 in Carroll County, Ohio; died on 8 Aug 1928 in St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri; was buried in Clay City Cemetery, Clay City, Clay County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: KENN.A002
• _FGRAVE: 57149163

Notes:

From The Evening Republican dated Tuesday 18 Oct 1927:

ALICE E. WELLS PASSES BEYOND

Widow of Simpson Wells Had Lived Here 45 Years

Following more than a ayear's illness of a complication of diseases, Mrs. alice E. Wells, 69, widow of Simpson Wells and for 45 years a resident of this city, passed away this morning at 10:30 o'clock at the home of her daughter, Mrs. V.B. Ailstock, in the Rost-Meyer building, Fifth and Washington streets. Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the Methodist church conducted by the Rev. E. Robb Zaring. Burial in Garland Brook cemetery.

Mrs. Wells was a spendid woman, deeply religious, and had scores of friends throughout the county by all of whom she was most highly esteemed. She was regarded as an ideal mother, greatly devoted to her home and family and her death, although not unexpected, came as a severe shock to her children and brought grief and madness to many homes.

Mrs. Wells was born in Vincennes, Ind. January 25, 1858, and spent her firlhood there. Early in life she was united in marriage to Mr. Wells and shortly after their marriage they came to this city to live. Mr. Wells passed away in 1910. For a number of years, Mrs. Wells lived with her son Kenneth Wells in the Pope property at sixth and Pearl streets, but for the past two years had made her home with her daughters. She was taken ill about 18 months ago and a year ago underwent a surgical operation at the May Bros. hospital at Rochester, Minn. She apparently recovered from her illness and the operation, but later she again was stricken and although everything possible was done to relieve her suffering and restore her to heatlh, all efforts failed and for the past few weeks death had been expected.

Mrs. Wells was a member of the Methodist church and of the various church societies, including the Ladies Aid Society and the Berean Bible class. She was also a member of the Bartholomew county chapter of War Mothers and in each of these organizations was an active and tireless worker as long as her health permitted.

Surviving are eleven children; William Wells, Charles Wells, Kenneth Wells, and Mrs. Ailstock, all of this city; John Wells, Simpson Wells and Frank Wells, of Bedford, Ind.; Mrs. Edna Kyte, south of the city; Mrs. John Seele of Connersville; Oscar Wells of Peru, and Walter Wells, of Texas; twenty grandchildren, three great grandchildren, two sisters; Mrs. Bell Neff of Arizona, Mrs. Bertha Bradford of Indianapolis, and three brothers; Frank Kennedy, of Big Springs, Texas, Fred Kennedy, of St. Louis, and Charles Kennedy of Arkansas.

Family/Spouse: Wells, Hiram Simpson. Hiram was born on 4 Jan 1849 in Indiana; died on 1 Mar 1910 in Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana; was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Garden City, Bartholomew County, Indiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: KENN.L005
• _FGRAVE: 186425312

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: KENN.F003
• _FGRAVE: 24070906

Family/Spouse: DAVIDSON, Samuel D.. Samuel was born in 1863 in Indiana; died on 9 Feb 1923 in Richland County, Illinois; was buried in Clay City Cemetery, Clay City, Clay County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: KENN.B002
• _FGRAVE: 14831773

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: KENN.F004
• _FGRAVE: 32534027