Hugh Carlton Kennedy Family

By Lorena Kennedy Miracle

Hugh and his parents moved from Kansas during the dust bowl in 1933. They lived in an old store until they bought their land and built a house. Hugh paid for half of the eighty acres that they purchased. After Hugh and Delphia were married, they lived in the house with Amos, Anna, Basil, Stephen and Roberta. The bedrooms were partitioned off with sheets. October 6, 1934, Hugh Carlton Kennedy and Delphia Delories Moss were united in marriage in Salem, Arkansas. Mack Caruthers performed the marriage at his home. Mack was Delphia's grandfather. Grandma Caruthers and two aunts, Lois Short and Louise Caruthers, were there. Mack was Justice of the Peace of Salem, Arkansas. The couple resided with Amos and Amma Kennedy when they were first married. To this union were born three daughters and one son. Hugh and Delphia came to Kansas in a truck with some friends. Hugh paid the way, it cost him $10.00. Delphia and the other woman and her children rode in the back of the truck all the way. They arrived in Kansas on July 4, 1935. Hugh and Delphia lived on couple of farms. Hugh did his farming with a pair of horses. When it was time to pick corn a wagon pulled by the horses was pulled down the rows. The children rode on the wagon as the corn was picked. They also lived in Severy and Piedmont. Then they moved to Coats, Kansas. Hugh worked at the Moore Garage as a mechanic, and they lived on the old Moore farm. They bought a small one-bedroom house in Coats and the children went to school there from 1947 until 1950. Hugh then worked on the farm for Robert (Pat) Howell, until he retired. At retirement Hugh and Delphia moved back to Salem, Arkansas on the old Kennedy Place. They built their house by themselves. Hugh and Delphia moved from Salem, Arkansas to Argonia, Kansas in 1982 and lived there until 1986 when the moved to Pratt, Kansas. When Hugh's children were sick he always put his hand on them and prayed for them. We also always had bible reading and family prayer each night. I can remember Mama singing Hymns as she cooked or sewed. Mama made all our clothes. If we saw a dress we liked, Mama would make a pattern and make our dresses. Mama baked wonderful cinnamon rolls, made her own noodles and always raised a big garden, enough to feed us through the winter. Mama made sure we always had a Christmas tree with presents under it. Daddy was against the tree and all, but Mama made it special for us kids. Mama pieced quilts and quilted them. She taught us girls how to sew on a treadle machine and made sure we had three or four quilts done by the time we were married. Mama also taught us how to crochet.

Contributed by Russell Miracle