Buena Vista-Pocahontas County IA Archives Biographies.....Kennedy, John Francis December 12, 1856 - August 26, 1915
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Margaret Kennedy-Leitner leitner@ns.gemlink.com February 15, 2007, 11:37 am

Author: C. H. Wegerslev and Thomas Walpole. (History Book - Past & Present of Buena Vista County Iowa 1909

John F. Kennedy, who is extensively and successfully engaged in agricultural
pursuits in Lincoln Township, where he owns a highly improved and productive
tract of land of two hundred and fourteen acres, was born in Kentucky, December
12, 1855.  His parents, P.F. and Johanna (Egan) Kennedy, both of whom were
natives of Ireland, are now deceased.  The father, who emigrated to the United
States in early manhood, took up his abode in Kentucky, where he followed his
trade as a mechanic.  His children were but two in number, namely:  John F., of
this review; and Mary, who has passed away.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy were
devoted member of the Catholic church.  The former died when his son, John F.,
was but a year old and Mrs. Kennedy subsequently became the wife of P. Maloy,
who came to Iowa and here purchased a farm.

John F. Kennedy acquired his education in this state but was only able to attend
school for a few months each year, as his labors were needed on the home farm. 
When fourteen years of age, he put aside his text-books and devoted his entire
attention to the work of the fields, this assisting his father until he was
twenty years of age.  He then started out in business life on his own account as
a farm hand and later was employed at railroad construction, his unremitting
industry and careful expenditure at length bringing him sufficient capital to
purchase his present fine farm of two hundred and fourteen acres in Lincoln
Township, on which he has resided since 1904.  Depending entirely upon his own
resources for the success which he hoped to attain, he labored earnestly,
persistently and energetically and eventually gained the prosperity, which now
entitles him to recognition as one of the representative and progressive
agriculturalists of Buena Vista county.

Mr. Kennedy was united in marriage to Miss Celia Waldron, whose parents were
farming people, but are now deceased.  Unto this union have been born the
following children:  Mary C., the wife of P. Brown; Josie, who is the wife of
Richard Smith; Patrick, at home; Burdith, who is the wife of William Krout, an
agriculturalist of Buena Vista county; Alice, who became the wife of Elia Krout;
and Veronica, John J., Gertrude, Winnifred and Leo, who are at home.

In his political views Mr. Kennedy is a stalwart republican, while in religious
faith he is a Catholic.  He is a man of charitable disposition and broad viewd,
whose honorable life commends him to the confidence and esteem of his fellowmen,
gaining him warm admiration and many friends.  

Additional Comments:
There is a discrepancy in John F. Kennedy's birth date.  The date on his tomb
stone is 1856, whereas the biography lists it as 1855.  John F. Kennedy and
Celia Waldron Kennedy are my grandparents.  They are both buried in Mt. Zion
Catholic Cemetery in Pocahontas County, where JFK and his family later moved.
The P. Maloy who was his stepfather, was Patrick Maloy (also spelled Molloy). 
He and Johanna are buried in St. John's Cemetery in Emmetsburg, Iowa.  John F.
Kennedy was born in Maysville, Kentucky.  

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/buenavista/bios/kennedy65gbs.txt

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