Bibb County AlArchives Biographies.....Kennedy, Ann Eliza September 30 1812 - after 1893
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Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 13, 2004, 12:04 pm

Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
   MRS. ANN ELIZA (MCNEILL) KENNEDY (widow of the late Josiah S. Kennedy), of
Centreville, Ala., was born in North Carolina, September 30, 1812. She is a
daughter of Archibald and Mary (Waddell) McNeill, natives of North Carolina and
of Scotch extraction. Her paternal grandparents were Daniel and Sarah McNeill,
natives of Scotland. Daniel McNeill in an early day emigrated to North Carolina,
where he spent the remainder of his life in farming. Her maternal grandparents
were Edward and Lucy (Birdsong) Waddell, who were natives of Virginia and
emigrated to North Carolina and engaged in farming. Archibald McNeill, the
father of Mrs. Ann Eliza Kennedy, was a farmer and merchant. In early life he
taught school; later, he filled several county offices in Moore county, N. C.,
and was also a representative in congress from the same county for two terms. He
was the father of twelve, children, ten of whom lived to man and womanhood, viz:
Thomas, Sarah, Lydia, Lucy, Mary, Ann Eliza, Margaret, John, Daniel, and William
W. These have all died since reaching maturity, excepting Ann Eliza and William
W., the latter a resident of Stephensville, Texas. Archibald McNeill was
identified with the whig party, was an active politician, and. filled various
places of public trust. He died in 1838; his wife in 1843, both members of the
Baptist church. Ann Eliza was married to her late husband, June 6, 1833. He was
a native of Moore county, N. C., born March 29, 1807, a son of Alexander
Kennedy. His paternal grandfather was a native of Scotland (of Irish descent),
and a pioneer emigrant to North Carolina, who, being shipwrecked on his voyage
to America, was rescued, but lost his two brothers, who embarked with him and
never knew whether or not they were saved. J. S. Kennedy's maternal grand-father
was a Williamson, who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and who died
at the age of one hundred and thirteen years. Alexander Kennedy reared a large
family of children, but one of whom is now living-Thomas S., a resident of
Springdale, Texas. He was a gunsmith and carried on an extensive manufacturing
establishment at Mechanic's Hill, N. C., and at his death was succeeded by
Josiah S. Kennedy and two brothers, who conducted the business successfully for
several years. J. S. Kennedy emigrated from North Carolina to west Tennessee,
thence, coming to Bibb county, Ala., in 1837, to visit his brother Lewis, who
was a practicing lawyer at Centreville, he decided to remain, and engaged in the
grocery business and farming, and was also proprietor of a large blacksmith shop
until 1865, when he formed a partnership with J. P. Taylor in the mercantile
business. In 1868 he bought out this partner's interest and formed a partnership
with his son, Edward Kennedy. This firm (J. S. & E. Kennedy) is one of the
oldest in the state of Alabama, having carried on the business at the same old
stand successfully and continuously until the present time-Mrs. Ann E. Kennedy
now con-trolling the interest of her late husband in said firm. Josiah S.
Kennedy was for many years postmaster and a member of the town council of
Centreville. He was an old-line whig and opposed to secession, believing that
the rights claimed should be contended for, at any cost, under the flag of the
union; but when Alabama seceded he was true to his state, and sent four sons to
battle for its cause. After the death of the whig party he was a stanch
democrat, and while he never aspired to public office he was always devoted to
his party principles. He was for many years proprietor of a hotel in the town of
Centreville. He died June 25, 1891, in the eighty-fifth year of his age - a man
sadly missed in his community, and his noble deeds of charity and hospitality
will long be remembered in the hearts of his friends and fellow-citizens. He was
a man full of energy and a co-worker in every good cause, both educational and
religious. He and his wife were consistent members of the Baptist church. To
Josiah S. Kennedy and wife were born eleven children, viz.: Louise E., a member
of the Presbyterian church; William L., book-keeper and accountant, residing in
Mobile, Ala.; he enlisted in an Alabama regiment of infantry from Mobile in
1862, and served until the close of the war. He was married, in 1869, to Miss
Annie Lombard of Mobile. Archibald E. enlisted in company C, Fourth Alabama
infantry, was severely wounded in the first battle of Manassas and disabled for
further service; he is a merchant of Arcadia, La., and a leader in the church
and school work of the town; he married Miss Ella Creary of Milton, Fla., in
1872. Margaret E., wife of James Lotspeich, a cotton broker of Corsicana, Texas.
Josiah M., who enlisted in the late war in company F, Eleventh Alabama infantry,
and was killed in the seven days' fight near Richmond in 1862. Edward (of J. S.
& E. Kennedy), who enlisted in the latter part of 1863, in company I,
Fifty-first Alabama, cavalry, under Gen. Morgan and served as special scout of
Gen. Wheeler under Capt. Shannon of the Eighth Texas, until the close of the war
in 1865; he was married in 1878 to Mary, daughter of Dr. James W. and Rebecca
Crawford; his wife died in 1880. Lydia F., who died in childhood; Mary C., widow
of J. N. Suttle, who was a prominent lawyer of Centreville and a leading
politician; Annie E., a cultured and refined lady, who has for several years
been teaching English and history in the high schools of Knoxville, Tenn.; David
A., a wholesale grocery merchant of Selma; he married Leila, daughter of Dr. T.
P. Gary of Selma, in 1882; John P., a prominent citizen of Centreville, Ala.,
who has held the office of register in chancery of Bibb county since 1886 to
date. All of these sons are members and officers of the Presbyterian church
(except William L., a member of the Methodist church). Three daughters are
members of the Baptist church.



Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 488-490

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