US Congressman, Lawyer. He was a United States Representative from the State of Indiana. He was born one of four children in Dayton, Ohio, to Stephen C. Kennedy (1785-1856), and his wife Mary McMann (or McMunn) Kennedy (1788-1817), on July 24, 1810, and was a member of the famous Broderick-Kennedy political family. He also had nine half-siblings, Oliver, Thomas, Arthur, Alva, William, Edith, Mariam, Minerva, and Eleanor who went by the nickname "Nellie." He was educated locally and attended the common public schools. He moved with his parents to a farm on the Indian Reservation near Lafayette, Indiana, and later relocated to Connersville, Indiana. He worked as a blacksmith's apprentice and then studied law, before being admitted to the bar in 1833. He then commenced his practice of law in Connersville, Indiana, before moving to Muncie, Indiana, where he continued with his law practice. He then decided to enter politics and he was elected as a Member of the Indiana State House of Representatives in 1835. He also served as a Member of the Indiana State Senate from 1836 to 1840, and was a Candidate for Presidential Elector from Indiana in 1840. He then decided to run for a seat in the United States Congress and was elected to succeed the outgoing United States Representative James Rariden (1795-1856), on March 4, 1841. A Member of the Democratic Party, he then served Indiana's 5th District and 10th District (Twenty-Seventh Congress, Twenty-Eighth Congress, and Twenty-Ninth Congress), in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1841, to March 3, 1847. After his term representing the 5th District in office expired he was succeeded in office by the incoming United States Representative William John Brown (1805-1857). After his term representing the 10th District he in office expired, he was succeeded in office by the incoming United States Representative William R. Rockhill (1793-1865). He was lastly the Democratic caucus nominee for United States Senator in 1847. He continued with his pursuits in political office but he returned to his practice of law until his sudden death. He passed away after being stricken with smallpox on the eve of the legislative joint convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, on December 31, 1847, at the age of 37. One of the publications of the time, the "State Indiana Sentinel" of Indianapolis, Indiana, said of him after his death, "He was emphatically one of "nature's noblemen," and, though born of poor parents, and his early youth deprived of even common advantages for the cultivation of his mind, he was so richly endowed in mental qualities, that he was able to overcome all obstacles, and ultimately to attain an elevated position among the most distinguished men of the State." He was buried in Greenlawn Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana, but was later moved to Beech Grove Cemetery in Muncie, Indiana. He was married to Miriam Weaver Kennedy (1816- ), in Fayette, Indiana, on March 1, 1835. The couple had five children together including, Cyrene Kennedy (1836-1886), Sarah N. Kennedy (1843- ), Phillip Andrew Kennedy (1845-1912), Martha M. Kennedy (1848- ), and Evander Chalane Kennedy (1842-1893), who served in the Union Army during the Civil War and who was a Member of the Kansas State Legislature, and a Member of the Indiana State House of Representatives in 1875. He was also the cousin of the United States Congressman David Colbreth Broderick (1820-1859), and United States Congressman Case Broderick (1839-1920).

US Congressman, Lawyer. He was a United States Representative from the State of Indiana. He was born one of four children in Dayton, Ohio, to Stephen C. Kennedy (1785-1856), and his wife Mary McMann (or McMunn) Kennedy (1788-1817), on July 24, 1810, and was a member of the famous Broderick-Kennedy political family. He also had nine half-siblings, Oliver, Thomas, Arthur, Alva, William, Edith, Mariam, Minerva, and Eleanor who went by the nickname "Nellie." He was educated locally and attended the common public schools. He moved with his parents to a farm on the Indian Reservation near Lafayette, Indiana, and later relocated to Connersville, Indiana. He worked as a blacksmith's apprentice and then studied law, before being admitted to the bar in 1833. He then commenced his practice of law in Connersville, Indiana, before moving to Muncie, Indiana, where he continued with his law practice. He then decided to enter politics and he was elected as a Member of the Indiana State House of Representatives in 1835. He also served as a Member of the Indiana State Senate from 1836 to 1840, and was a Candidate for Presidential Elector from Indiana in 1840. He then decided to run for a seat in the United States Congress and was elected to succeed the outgoing United States Representative James Rariden (1795-1856), on March 4, 1841. A Member of the Democratic Party, he then served Indiana's 5th District and 10th District (Twenty-Seventh Congress, Twenty-Eighth Congress, and Twenty-Ninth Congress), in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1841, to March 3, 1847. After his term representing the 5th District in office expired he was succeeded in office by the incoming United States Representative William John Brown (1805-1857). After his term representing the 10th District he in office expired, he was succeeded in office by the incoming United States Representative William R. Rockhill (1793-1865). He was lastly the Democratic caucus nominee for United States Senator in 1847. He continued with his pursuits in political office but he returned to his practice of law until his sudden death. He passed away after being stricken with smallpox on the eve of the legislative joint convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, on December 31, 1847, at the age of 37. One of the publications of the time, the "State Indiana Sentinel" of Indianapolis, Indiana, said of him after his death, "He was emphatically one of "nature's noblemen," and, though born of poor parents, and his early youth deprived of even common advantages for the cultivation of his mind, he was so richly endowed in mental qualities, that he was able to overcome all obstacles, and ultimately to attain an elevated position among the most distinguished men of the State." He was buried in Greenlawn Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana, but was later moved to Beech Grove Cemetery in Muncie, Indiana. He was married to Miriam Weaver Kennedy (1816- ), in Fayette, Indiana, on March 1, 1835. The couple had five children together including, Cyrene Kennedy (1836-1886), Sarah N. Kennedy (1843- ), Phillip Andrew Kennedy (1845-1912), Martha M. Kennedy (1848- ), and Evander Chalane Kennedy (1842-1893), who served in the Union Army during the Civil War and who was a Member of the Kansas State Legislature, and a Member of the Indiana State House of Representatives in 1875. He was also the cousin of the United States Congressman David Colbreth Broderick (1820-1859), and United States Congressman Case Broderick (1839-1920).

Bio by: Kris 'Peterborough K' Peterson