Wood County, West Virginia Biography of CORNELIUS KENNEDY This file was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 537-538 Wood CORNELIUS KENNEDY. The record of a life of sturdy integ- rity and steady industry, and of even notable business success, may be told in a few words, but its value to family and com- munity requires much greater space and even then may fall far short of'doing justice. The life of the late Cornelius Kennedy, the original founder of the great business corpor- ation known as the Kennedy Construction Company at Parkersburg, West Virginia, illustrated the value of persistent industry, honorable business methods, and proper recognition and appreciation of the duties of pood citizenship. Cornelius Kennedy was born in County Limerick, Ireland, May 1, 1837, and died at his home in Parkersburg, West Virginia, December 7, 1919. He was fourteen years old when he accompanied his parents, John and Margaret (O'Neil) Kennedy, to the United States, one of a family of five chil- dren. They first resided at Wytheville, Virginia, and while living there both John and Cornelius helped in the building of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad through that section. John Kennedy died in Virginia, and subsequently his widow and children came to Parkersburg, where her death occurred. Such educational privileges as Cornelius Kennedy ever en- joyed were afforded in his native land, but no lack of necessary knowledge was ever apparent throughout his long association with some of the keenest business men of the country. He grew to strong and robust manhood, and when the war be- tween the states was precipitated he served for a time in the Confederate Army as a teamster, and afterward was engaged as watchman at the wharf boat landing, Parkersburg, then engaged in teaming for the boat owner, and still later em- barked in the teaming business on his own account. Mr. Kennedy continued his teaming business until about 1889. In the meanwhile public improvements were in prog- ress at Parkersburg and the first paving done was one square on Market between Sixth and Seventh streets. The con- tractor for this work engaged Mr. Kennedy to do the teaming. When the next paving contract was let by the city it was se- cured by Cornelius Kennedy, and from that time on his importance in this line of work increased until he was recog- nized as one of the leading contractors in this section and a large employer of labor. His reputation as a street paving contractor extended beyond Parkersburg, and he was called to Buckhannon, Clarksburg, Fairmont, Grafton and many other cities and satisfactorily filled paving contracts. He carried on his business under the style of Con. Kennedy, contractor, until 1911, when his son, John R. Kennedy; be- came his partner and the firm name of C. Kennedy & Son was retained until August, 1919, when Mr. Kennedy sold his interest to his son, John R., who organized the present firm operating as the Kennedy Construction Company and carry- ing on the same line of work established by Cornelius Ken- nedy. Cornelius Kennedy married Mary Kane, and a family of eleven children was born to them, John R. Kennedy being the fifth in order of birth, which took place at Parkersburg, April 3, 1878. He spent two years at St. Vincent's College, Beatty, Pennsylvania, and two years at Pittsburgh College, now Duquesne University. On June 13, 1898, he enlisted for service in the Spanish-American war, served eight months in Cuba and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. His business interests have been practically confined to street paving contracting, and it has been his proud ambi- tion to maintain the same high class, dependable methods and standards that have been associated with the name of Ken- nedy for so many years. He married Miss Ella A. Martin, of Oakland, Maryland, in 1900, and they have three children: Dorothea, Mary and Margaret. In his rise to ample fortune and public esteem, Cornelius Kennedy largely remained the unpretending man of other days, careful about his own business affairs but taking com- paratively little part in politics, although at one time he served usefully in the City Council. Respected by his fellow citizens, he was very generally esteemed by his employes, who always found him generous as well as just. The cause of charity in him found a willing ear and an open purse. Mr. Kennedy and his family were of the Roman Catholic faith.