John Kennedy was an early trader on Buffalo Bayou. He was a major supporter of building a Catholic community in the city and donated the land on which this cemetery, and the church beside it, rests. Two streets behind the cemetery is Kennedy Street, which was named for him. The oldest building in the city (now housing La Carafe) was built by Mr. Kennedy as his store.
Bio provided by KatieMac (46896687)
_____________
John Kennedy married Matilda Thorn on January 1, 1850 in Galveston.
_____________
The following was provided by Contributor: Sherry (47010546):
JOHN KENNEDY, the subject of this brief memoir, was a resident of Houston from 1842 to 1878, a period of thirty-six years. He never held any public position of consequence, and never sought to attract public notice. Yet he was one of the most active, and, with a large class of citizens, the most popular, and, in many ways, one of the most useful men that ever figured in the city's history. Mr. Kennedy was a native of Ireland, born in the village of Tallyoria, county Down, June 12, 1819. His ancestry on his father's side can be traced to Scotland, but by intermarriage there flowed in his veins both English and Irish blood. His people had lived for many generations before his birth on Irish soil, and had become identified in every way with Irish history. His paternal grandfather took part in the revolution of 1798, was seized and imprisoned upon the failure of the patriots' cause, his wife being shot by the hired soldiery of England, and his estate confiscated to the crown. On this account the family was greatly impoverished, and, in consequence, the early years of the subject of this sketch were passed under the most adverse conditions. He received practically no education, but at the age of twelve was apprenticed to the baker's trade in the village of Nuery, from which place he ran away in a short time, on account ill-treatment at the hands of his employer, and went to Liverpool, England. There he resumed work at the baker's trade, and mastered it. At the age of fifteen he left that place and sailed for America, landing at New York. Locating at Hoboken, New Jersey, he went to work at his trade there and made considerable money. He invested this in river-front property, and thus laid the foundation for what might have been a large fortune had he not met with financial reverses. During the great panic of 1837 he lost the savings of several years, by the failure of a bank in Hoboken. After this event he came West, and stopping at St. Louis, Missouri, he acquired an interest in a boat and engaged for the next three or four years in trading with the Indians along the Mississippi river. He succeeded well at this, and having heard a great deal of Texas, he decided to try his fortunes in the new country. He arrived at Houston in the fall of 1842, and here opened a small bakery on Franklin avenue between Main and Fannin streets, in the rear of the present First National Bank building. From this place he shortly afterward moved to Travis street, near where the Cotton Exchange now stands, and thence to the corner of Travis street and Congress avenue, always since known as Kennedy's Corner. Although he made considerable money during his four years' trading among the Indians, most or all of this was lost in an unfortunate business venture with his brother, so that at the date he settled in Houston, he was for the second time since coming to America, a penniless man. His industry, however, and strict business habits soon enabled him to re-establish himself, and in a few years he was again the possessor of some means with the prospect before him of a successful career. At the opening of the war he owned a steam bakery, a gristmill, and a retail grocery store, all of which were conducted as parts of one establishment, each yielding a good revenue to their owner. In addition to this he owned a large number of negroes, and had acquired title to several thousand acres of land in Harris and adjoining counties. The negroes were sold at a sacrifice during the war, and the lands were disposed of as being next to worthless after it became known that slavery would be abolished. Mr. Kennedy held on to his mercantile business, however, and out of this he made some money during the war. He had the contract to furnish the Confederate States government with its "hard tack," and, when occasion offered, he also engaged in the cotton business, running the blockade established by the Federal authorities. After the war he turned his attention more especially to the mercantile business, working into the wholesale trade, at which he met with his usual success. He was engaged in active business pursuits tip to the day of his death, and, as the result of his industry, good business management and judicious investments, he left a large estate. But, what was better, he left the record of a life well spent. While he accumulated considerable means, he did not bend his entire energies to the acquisition of wealth. He was willing to live and let live. He knew from observation that many of the inequalities of life are the result of accident, and he was always willing to help, even up, the chances of an honest, deserving fellowman. He invested his means, as they accumulated in real estate in this city, not to lie unoccupied and be enhanced in value by others improving their holdings around it, but he improved his own, thus furnishing employment for mechanics, as well as adding to the taxable wealth of the city and county. In addition to the business property, which he thus bought and improved, he owned, at the time of his death, no less than sixty thousand lots, residence property which he had thus purchased and improved.
Of plain ways himself, he always lived near the plain people; received from them a liberal patronage, and, in return, was ever solicitous for their prosperity and material welfare. Few men of this city ever possessed more fully the confidence of the people, or used so temperately and for less selfish purposes, the power so possessed. Even the red man of the forest looked upon him as their special friend, great numbers of them always flocking about his place of business in an early day, and giving him a patronage which they refused under assorts of inducements to extend to others. Old settlers still speak of "Kennedy's Indians," this being the name by which a large band of these aborigines were known who made Houston their trading place forty to fifty years ago. Mr. Kennedy also lent his assistance to public enterprises, such as in his judgment were calculated to stimulate industry and add to the prosperity of the community. He was a stockholder in numberless undertakings, and contributed much of his time and personal effort to the promotion of whatever measures were calculated to benefit the general public. His contributions to charity were large, and were always made from a sincere desire to do good, and not for self-glorification. Being the only Catholic of means in this city, for a number of years he was the chief support of the church. At his house he entertained the priests and visiting dignitaries. He contributed most of the funds for the erection of the first church building, donated the lots for the present Catholic cemetery, and assisted at all times in taking care of the indigent, infirm and sick of the church.
In 1850 Mr. Kennedy married Miss Matilda C. Thorne, of Galveston, she being a native of Brighton, England, where she was born February 3, 1829, and by this union he had three children: John, Mary F., and Daniel E., all of whom were born at the old homestead, on San Jacinto street. The daughter was married to William L. Foley, of Houston, and died December 22, 1886. The sons are numbered among the representative business men of the city of Houston, both being prosperous, popular gentlemen. John has served as Alderman of Houston six years, is the present representative of Harris county in the State Legislature, receiver of the Houston Belt & Magnolia Park Railway, and a prominent and successful real-estate dealer. Daniel E. is a member of the firm of J. C. Smith & Company, general merchants on Travis street, and is devoted chiefly to business pursuits.
On the 24th day of December, 1878, Mr. Kennedy died, followed seven years later, June 21, 1885, by his wife. Both are buried at Houston, where they spent the greater part of their lives, and to which place they were bound, not only by the memory of their early struggles, but by many ties of a social nature.
With the exception of the position of Alderman of the city, Mr. Kennedy never held any public place, but he was a man who always took a lively interest in public matters, and wielded a strong political influence when he chose to exert it.
Wonder is sometimes expressed nowadays that men of such widely different nationalities, and such wholly different tastes, and training as the first settlers of Texas, should have worked together so harmoniously, and successfully, for the upbuilding of their adopted country, and should have enjoyed so fully each other's confidence, and respect. We oftentimes hear the expression, "One of those old-time fellows, whose word is his bond." The explanation is to be found in the fact that the men who first settled this country and whose names have survived tons, were men in the true sense of the word. They differed widely in intelligence, in enterprise, in religion, and even in their ideas of government, but in their devotion to humanity, shown by acts of personal generosity, and by the customs of universal hospitality that prevailed throughout the Republic, in their strict compliance with every obligation, whether written or verbal, they were one. In other words, in the essentials of true manhood and good citizenship they agreed. Such was the subject of this brief memoir. On his tombstone appears this inscription, contributed by one who knew him long and intimately: "A friend to the poor, kind to those in distress, and faithful to every trust."
(Source: History of Texas Biographical History of the Cities of Houston and Galveston (1895) Transcribed by Tammy Clark.)
Bio provided by KatieMac (46896687)
_____________
John Kennedy married Matilda Thorn on January 1, 1850 in Galveston.
_____________
The following was provided by Contributor: Sherry (47010546):
JOHN KENNEDY, the subject of this brief memoir, was a resident of Houston from 1842 to 1878, a period of thirty-six years. He never held any public position of consequence, and never sought to attract public notice. Yet he was one of the most active, and, with a large class of citizens, the most popular, and, in many ways, one of the most useful men that ever figured in the city's history. Mr. Kennedy was a native of Ireland, born in the village of Tallyoria, county Down, June 12, 1819. His ancestry on his father's side can be traced to Scotland, but by intermarriage there flowed in his veins both English and Irish blood. His people had lived for many generations before his birth on Irish soil, and had become identified in every way with Irish history. His paternal grandfather took part in the revolution of 1798, was seized and imprisoned upon the failure of the patriots' cause, his wife being shot by the hired soldiery of England, and his estate confiscated to the crown. On this account the family was greatly impoverished, and, in consequence, the early years of the subject of this sketch were passed under the most adverse conditions. He received practically no education, but at the age of twelve was apprenticed to the baker's trade in the village of Nuery, from which place he ran away in a short time, on account ill-treatment at the hands of his employer, and went to Liverpool, England. There he resumed work at the baker's trade, and mastered it. At the age of fifteen he left that place and sailed for America, landing at New York. Locating at Hoboken, New Jersey, he went to work at his trade there and made considerable money. He invested this in river-front property, and thus laid the foundation for what might have been a large fortune had he not met with financial reverses. During the great panic of 1837 he lost the savings of several years, by the failure of a bank in Hoboken. After this event he came West, and stopping at St. Louis, Missouri, he acquired an interest in a boat and engaged for the next three or four years in trading with the Indians along the Mississippi river. He succeeded well at this, and having heard a great deal of Texas, he decided to try his fortunes in the new country. He arrived at Houston in the fall of 1842, and here opened a small bakery on Franklin avenue between Main and Fannin streets, in the rear of the present First National Bank building. From this place he shortly afterward moved to Travis street, near where the Cotton Exchange now stands, and thence to the corner of Travis street and Congress avenue, always since known as Kennedy's Corner. Although he made considerable money during his four years' trading among the Indians, most or all of this was lost in an unfortunate business venture with his brother, so that at the date he settled in Houston, he was for the second time since coming to America, a penniless man. His industry, however, and strict business habits soon enabled him to re-establish himself, and in a few years he was again the possessor of some means with the prospect before him of a successful career. At the opening of the war he owned a steam bakery, a gristmill, and a retail grocery store, all of which were conducted as parts of one establishment, each yielding a good revenue to their owner. In addition to this he owned a large number of negroes, and had acquired title to several thousand acres of land in Harris and adjoining counties. The negroes were sold at a sacrifice during the war, and the lands were disposed of as being next to worthless after it became known that slavery would be abolished. Mr. Kennedy held on to his mercantile business, however, and out of this he made some money during the war. He had the contract to furnish the Confederate States government with its "hard tack," and, when occasion offered, he also engaged in the cotton business, running the blockade established by the Federal authorities. After the war he turned his attention more especially to the mercantile business, working into the wholesale trade, at which he met with his usual success. He was engaged in active business pursuits tip to the day of his death, and, as the result of his industry, good business management and judicious investments, he left a large estate. But, what was better, he left the record of a life well spent. While he accumulated considerable means, he did not bend his entire energies to the acquisition of wealth. He was willing to live and let live. He knew from observation that many of the inequalities of life are the result of accident, and he was always willing to help, even up, the chances of an honest, deserving fellowman. He invested his means, as they accumulated in real estate in this city, not to lie unoccupied and be enhanced in value by others improving their holdings around it, but he improved his own, thus furnishing employment for mechanics, as well as adding to the taxable wealth of the city and county. In addition to the business property, which he thus bought and improved, he owned, at the time of his death, no less than sixty thousand lots, residence property which he had thus purchased and improved.
Of plain ways himself, he always lived near the plain people; received from them a liberal patronage, and, in return, was ever solicitous for their prosperity and material welfare. Few men of this city ever possessed more fully the confidence of the people, or used so temperately and for less selfish purposes, the power so possessed. Even the red man of the forest looked upon him as their special friend, great numbers of them always flocking about his place of business in an early day, and giving him a patronage which they refused under assorts of inducements to extend to others. Old settlers still speak of "Kennedy's Indians," this being the name by which a large band of these aborigines were known who made Houston their trading place forty to fifty years ago. Mr. Kennedy also lent his assistance to public enterprises, such as in his judgment were calculated to stimulate industry and add to the prosperity of the community. He was a stockholder in numberless undertakings, and contributed much of his time and personal effort to the promotion of whatever measures were calculated to benefit the general public. His contributions to charity were large, and were always made from a sincere desire to do good, and not for self-glorification. Being the only Catholic of means in this city, for a number of years he was the chief support of the church. At his house he entertained the priests and visiting dignitaries. He contributed most of the funds for the erection of the first church building, donated the lots for the present Catholic cemetery, and assisted at all times in taking care of the indigent, infirm and sick of the church.
In 1850 Mr. Kennedy married Miss Matilda C. Thorne, of Galveston, she being a native of Brighton, England, where she was born February 3, 1829, and by this union he had three children: John, Mary F., and Daniel E., all of whom were born at the old homestead, on San Jacinto street. The daughter was married to William L. Foley, of Houston, and died December 22, 1886. The sons are numbered among the representative business men of the city of Houston, both being prosperous, popular gentlemen. John has served as Alderman of Houston six years, is the present representative of Harris county in the State Legislature, receiver of the Houston Belt & Magnolia Park Railway, and a prominent and successful real-estate dealer. Daniel E. is a member of the firm of J. C. Smith & Company, general merchants on Travis street, and is devoted chiefly to business pursuits.
On the 24th day of December, 1878, Mr. Kennedy died, followed seven years later, June 21, 1885, by his wife. Both are buried at Houston, where they spent the greater part of their lives, and to which place they were bound, not only by the memory of their early struggles, but by many ties of a social nature.
With the exception of the position of Alderman of the city, Mr. Kennedy never held any public place, but he was a man who always took a lively interest in public matters, and wielded a strong political influence when he chose to exert it.
Wonder is sometimes expressed nowadays that men of such widely different nationalities, and such wholly different tastes, and training as the first settlers of Texas, should have worked together so harmoniously, and successfully, for the upbuilding of their adopted country, and should have enjoyed so fully each other's confidence, and respect. We oftentimes hear the expression, "One of those old-time fellows, whose word is his bond." The explanation is to be found in the fact that the men who first settled this country and whose names have survived tons, were men in the true sense of the word. They differed widely in intelligence, in enterprise, in religion, and even in their ideas of government, but in their devotion to humanity, shown by acts of personal generosity, and by the customs of universal hospitality that prevailed throughout the Republic, in their strict compliance with every obligation, whether written or verbal, they were one. In other words, in the essentials of true manhood and good citizenship they agreed. Such was the subject of this brief memoir. On his tombstone appears this inscription, contributed by one who knew him long and intimately: "A friend to the poor, kind to those in distress, and faithful to every trust."
(Source: History of Texas Biographical History of the Cities of Houston and Galveston (1895) Transcribed by Tammy Clark.)
John Kennedy was an early trader on Buffalo Bayou. He was a major supporter of building a Catholic community in the city and donated the land on which this cemetery, and the church beside it, rests. Two streets behind the cemetery is Kennedy Street, which was named for him. The oldest building in the city (now housing La Carafe) was built by Mr. Kennedy as his store.
Bio provided by KatieMac (46896687)
_____________
John Kennedy married Matilda Thorn on January 1, 1850 in Galveston.
_____________
The following was provided by Contributor: Sherry (47010546):
JOHN KENNEDY, the subject of this brief memoir, was a resident of Houston from 1842 to 1878, a period of thirty-six years. He never held any public position of consequence, and never sought to attract public notice. Yet he was one of the most active, and, with a large class of citizens, the most popular, and, in many ways, one of the most useful men that ever figured in the city's history. Mr. Kennedy was a native of Ireland, born in the village of Tallyoria, county Down, June 12, 1819. His ancestry on his father's side can be traced to Scotland, but by intermarriage there flowed in his veins both English and Irish blood. His people had lived for many generations before his birth on Irish soil, and had become identified in every way with Irish history. His paternal grandfather took part in the revolution of 1798, was seized and imprisoned upon the failure of the patriots' cause, his wife being shot by the hired soldiery of England, and his estate confiscated to the crown. On this account the family was greatly impoverished, and, in consequence, the early years of the subject of this sketch were passed under the most adverse conditions. He received practically no education, but at the age of twelve was apprenticed to the baker's trade in the village of Nuery, from which place he ran away in a short time, on account ill-treatment at the hands of his employer, and went to Liverpool, England. There he resumed work at the baker's trade, and mastered it. At the age of fifteen he left that place and sailed for America, landing at New York. Locating at Hoboken, New Jersey, he went to work at his trade there and made considerable money. He invested this in river-front property, and thus laid the foundation for what might have been a large fortune had he not met with financial reverses. During the great panic of 1837 he lost the savings of several years, by the failure of a bank in Hoboken. After this event he came West, and stopping at St. Louis, Missouri, he acquired an interest in a boat and engaged for the next three or four years in trading with the Indians along the Mississippi river. He succeeded well at this, and having heard a great deal of Texas, he decided to try his fortunes in the new country. He arrived at Houston in the fall of 1842, and here opened a small bakery on Franklin avenue between Main and Fannin streets, in the rear of the present First National Bank building. From this place he shortly afterward moved to Travis street, near where the Cotton Exchange now stands, and thence to the corner of Travis street and Congress avenue, always since known as Kennedy's Corner. Although he made considerable money during his four years' trading among the Indians, most or all of this was lost in an unfortunate business venture with his brother, so that at the date he settled in Houston, he was for the second time since coming to America, a penniless man. His industry, however, and strict business habits soon enabled him to re-establish himself, and in a few years he was again the possessor of some means with the prospect before him of a successful career. At the opening of the war he owned a steam bakery, a gristmill, and a retail grocery store, all of which were conducted as parts of one establishment, each yielding a good revenue to their owner. In addition to this he owned a large number of negroes, and had acquired title to several thousand acres of land in Harris and adjoining counties. The negroes were sold at a sacrifice during the war, and the lands were disposed of as being next to worthless after it became known that slavery would be abolished. Mr. Kennedy held on to his mercantile business, however, and out of this he made some money during the war. He had the contract to furnish the Confederate States government with its "hard tack," and, when occasion offered, he also engaged in the cotton business, running the blockade established by the Federal authorities. After the war he turned his attention more especially to the mercantile business, working into the wholesale trade, at which he met with his usual success. He was engaged in active business pursuits tip to the day of his death, and, as the result of his industry, good business management and judicious investments, he left a large estate. But, what was better, he left the record of a life well spent. While he accumulated considerable means, he did not bend his entire energies to the acquisition of wealth. He was willing to live and let live. He knew from observation that many of the inequalities of life are the result of accident, and he was always willing to help, even up, the chances of an honest, deserving fellowman. He invested his means, as they accumulated in real estate in this city, not to lie unoccupied and be enhanced in value by others improving their holdings around it, but he improved his own, thus furnishing employment for mechanics, as well as adding to the taxable wealth of the city and county. In addition to the business property, which he thus bought and improved, he owned, at the time of his death, no less than sixty thousand lots, residence property which he had thus purchased and improved.
Of plain ways himself, he always lived near the plain people; received from them a liberal patronage, and, in return, was ever solicitous for their prosperity and material welfare. Few men of this city ever possessed more fully the confidence of the people, or used so temperately and for less selfish purposes, the power so possessed. Even the red man of the forest looked upon him as their special friend, great numbers of them always flocking about his place of business in an early day, and giving him a patronage which they refused under assorts of inducements to extend to others. Old settlers still speak of "Kennedy's Indians," this being the name by which a large band of these aborigines were known who made Houston their trading place forty to fifty years ago. Mr. Kennedy also lent his assistance to public enterprises, such as in his judgment were calculated to stimulate industry and add to the prosperity of the community. He was a stockholder in numberless undertakings, and contributed much of his time and personal effort to the promotion of whatever measures were calculated to benefit the general public. His contributions to charity were large, and were always made from a sincere desire to do good, and not for self-glorification. Being the only Catholic of means in this city, for a number of years he was the chief support of the church. At his house he entertained the priests and visiting dignitaries. He contributed most of the funds for the erection of the first church building, donated the lots for the present Catholic cemetery, and assisted at all times in taking care of the indigent, infirm and sick of the church.
In 1850 Mr. Kennedy married Miss Matilda C. Thorne, of Galveston, she being a native of Brighton, England, where she was born February 3, 1829, and by this union he had three children: John, Mary F., and Daniel E., all of whom were born at the old homestead, on San Jacinto street. The daughter was married to William L. Foley, of Houston, and died December 22, 1886. The sons are numbered among the representative business men of the city of Houston, both being prosperous, popular gentlemen. John has served as Alderman of Houston six years, is the present representative of Harris county in the State Legislature, receiver of the Houston Belt & Magnolia Park Railway, and a prominent and successful real-estate dealer. Daniel E. is a member of the firm of J. C. Smith & Company, general merchants on Travis street, and is devoted chiefly to business pursuits.
On the 24th day of December, 1878, Mr. Kennedy died, followed seven years later, June 21, 1885, by his wife. Both are buried at Houston, where they spent the greater part of their lives, and to which place they were bound, not only by the memory of their early struggles, but by many ties of a social nature.
With the exception of the position of Alderman of the city, Mr. Kennedy never held any public place, but he was a man who always took a lively interest in public matters, and wielded a strong political influence when he chose to exert it.
Wonder is sometimes expressed nowadays that men of such widely different nationalities, and such wholly different tastes, and training as the first settlers of Texas, should have worked together so harmoniously, and successfully, for the upbuilding of their adopted country, and should have enjoyed so fully each other's confidence, and respect. We oftentimes hear the expression, "One of those old-time fellows, whose word is his bond." The explanation is to be found in the fact that the men who first settled this country and whose names have survived tons, were men in the true sense of the word. They differed widely in intelligence, in enterprise, in religion, and even in their ideas of government, but in their devotion to humanity, shown by acts of personal generosity, and by the customs of universal hospitality that prevailed throughout the Republic, in their strict compliance with every obligation, whether written or verbal, they were one. In other words, in the essentials of true manhood and good citizenship they agreed. Such was the subject of this brief memoir. On his tombstone appears this inscription, contributed by one who knew him long and intimately: "A friend to the poor, kind to those in distress, and faithful to every trust."
(Source: History of Texas Biographical History of the Cities of Houston and Galveston (1895) Transcribed by Tammy Clark.)
Bio provided by KatieMac (46896687)
_____________
John Kennedy married Matilda Thorn on January 1, 1850 in Galveston.
_____________
The following was provided by Contributor: Sherry (47010546):
JOHN KENNEDY, the subject of this brief memoir, was a resident of Houston from 1842 to 1878, a period of thirty-six years. He never held any public position of consequence, and never sought to attract public notice. Yet he was one of the most active, and, with a large class of citizens, the most popular, and, in many ways, one of the most useful men that ever figured in the city's history. Mr. Kennedy was a native of Ireland, born in the village of Tallyoria, county Down, June 12, 1819. His ancestry on his father's side can be traced to Scotland, but by intermarriage there flowed in his veins both English and Irish blood. His people had lived for many generations before his birth on Irish soil, and had become identified in every way with Irish history. His paternal grandfather took part in the revolution of 1798, was seized and imprisoned upon the failure of the patriots' cause, his wife being shot by the hired soldiery of England, and his estate confiscated to the crown. On this account the family was greatly impoverished, and, in consequence, the early years of the subject of this sketch were passed under the most adverse conditions. He received practically no education, but at the age of twelve was apprenticed to the baker's trade in the village of Nuery, from which place he ran away in a short time, on account ill-treatment at the hands of his employer, and went to Liverpool, England. There he resumed work at the baker's trade, and mastered it. At the age of fifteen he left that place and sailed for America, landing at New York. Locating at Hoboken, New Jersey, he went to work at his trade there and made considerable money. He invested this in river-front property, and thus laid the foundation for what might have been a large fortune had he not met with financial reverses. During the great panic of 1837 he lost the savings of several years, by the failure of a bank in Hoboken. After this event he came West, and stopping at St. Louis, Missouri, he acquired an interest in a boat and engaged for the next three or four years in trading with the Indians along the Mississippi river. He succeeded well at this, and having heard a great deal of Texas, he decided to try his fortunes in the new country. He arrived at Houston in the fall of 1842, and here opened a small bakery on Franklin avenue between Main and Fannin streets, in the rear of the present First National Bank building. From this place he shortly afterward moved to Travis street, near where the Cotton Exchange now stands, and thence to the corner of Travis street and Congress avenue, always since known as Kennedy's Corner. Although he made considerable money during his four years' trading among the Indians, most or all of this was lost in an unfortunate business venture with his brother, so that at the date he settled in Houston, he was for the second time since coming to America, a penniless man. His industry, however, and strict business habits soon enabled him to re-establish himself, and in a few years he was again the possessor of some means with the prospect before him of a successful career. At the opening of the war he owned a steam bakery, a gristmill, and a retail grocery store, all of which were conducted as parts of one establishment, each yielding a good revenue to their owner. In addition to this he owned a large number of negroes, and had acquired title to several thousand acres of land in Harris and adjoining counties. The negroes were sold at a sacrifice during the war, and the lands were disposed of as being next to worthless after it became known that slavery would be abolished. Mr. Kennedy held on to his mercantile business, however, and out of this he made some money during the war. He had the contract to furnish the Confederate States government with its "hard tack," and, when occasion offered, he also engaged in the cotton business, running the blockade established by the Federal authorities. After the war he turned his attention more especially to the mercantile business, working into the wholesale trade, at which he met with his usual success. He was engaged in active business pursuits tip to the day of his death, and, as the result of his industry, good business management and judicious investments, he left a large estate. But, what was better, he left the record of a life well spent. While he accumulated considerable means, he did not bend his entire energies to the acquisition of wealth. He was willing to live and let live. He knew from observation that many of the inequalities of life are the result of accident, and he was always willing to help, even up, the chances of an honest, deserving fellowman. He invested his means, as they accumulated in real estate in this city, not to lie unoccupied and be enhanced in value by others improving their holdings around it, but he improved his own, thus furnishing employment for mechanics, as well as adding to the taxable wealth of the city and county. In addition to the business property, which he thus bought and improved, he owned, at the time of his death, no less than sixty thousand lots, residence property which he had thus purchased and improved.
Of plain ways himself, he always lived near the plain people; received from them a liberal patronage, and, in return, was ever solicitous for their prosperity and material welfare. Few men of this city ever possessed more fully the confidence of the people, or used so temperately and for less selfish purposes, the power so possessed. Even the red man of the forest looked upon him as their special friend, great numbers of them always flocking about his place of business in an early day, and giving him a patronage which they refused under assorts of inducements to extend to others. Old settlers still speak of "Kennedy's Indians," this being the name by which a large band of these aborigines were known who made Houston their trading place forty to fifty years ago. Mr. Kennedy also lent his assistance to public enterprises, such as in his judgment were calculated to stimulate industry and add to the prosperity of the community. He was a stockholder in numberless undertakings, and contributed much of his time and personal effort to the promotion of whatever measures were calculated to benefit the general public. His contributions to charity were large, and were always made from a sincere desire to do good, and not for self-glorification. Being the only Catholic of means in this city, for a number of years he was the chief support of the church. At his house he entertained the priests and visiting dignitaries. He contributed most of the funds for the erection of the first church building, donated the lots for the present Catholic cemetery, and assisted at all times in taking care of the indigent, infirm and sick of the church.
In 1850 Mr. Kennedy married Miss Matilda C. Thorne, of Galveston, she being a native of Brighton, England, where she was born February 3, 1829, and by this union he had three children: John, Mary F., and Daniel E., all of whom were born at the old homestead, on San Jacinto street. The daughter was married to William L. Foley, of Houston, and died December 22, 1886. The sons are numbered among the representative business men of the city of Houston, both being prosperous, popular gentlemen. John has served as Alderman of Houston six years, is the present representative of Harris county in the State Legislature, receiver of the Houston Belt & Magnolia Park Railway, and a prominent and successful real-estate dealer. Daniel E. is a member of the firm of J. C. Smith & Company, general merchants on Travis street, and is devoted chiefly to business pursuits.
On the 24th day of December, 1878, Mr. Kennedy died, followed seven years later, June 21, 1885, by his wife. Both are buried at Houston, where they spent the greater part of their lives, and to which place they were bound, not only by the memory of their early struggles, but by many ties of a social nature.
With the exception of the position of Alderman of the city, Mr. Kennedy never held any public place, but he was a man who always took a lively interest in public matters, and wielded a strong political influence when he chose to exert it.
Wonder is sometimes expressed nowadays that men of such widely different nationalities, and such wholly different tastes, and training as the first settlers of Texas, should have worked together so harmoniously, and successfully, for the upbuilding of their adopted country, and should have enjoyed so fully each other's confidence, and respect. We oftentimes hear the expression, "One of those old-time fellows, whose word is his bond." The explanation is to be found in the fact that the men who first settled this country and whose names have survived tons, were men in the true sense of the word. They differed widely in intelligence, in enterprise, in religion, and even in their ideas of government, but in their devotion to humanity, shown by acts of personal generosity, and by the customs of universal hospitality that prevailed throughout the Republic, in their strict compliance with every obligation, whether written or verbal, they were one. In other words, in the essentials of true manhood and good citizenship they agreed. Such was the subject of this brief memoir. On his tombstone appears this inscription, contributed by one who knew him long and intimately: "A friend to the poor, kind to those in distress, and faithful to every trust."
(Source: History of Texas Biographical History of the Cities of Houston and Galveston (1895) Transcribed by Tammy Clark.)
Inscription
Aged 59 Years, 6 Months
Native Of Tallayorie Co. Down, Ireland
A Resident Of Houston Since 1842
Family Members
Advertisement
Advertisement
