Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 289 - 290  

JOHN KENNEDY, whose portrait appears on the opposite page, is prominently identified with the real estate interests of Wichita, being actively engaged in the sale and transfer of city property. He has substantially aided the growth of this metropolis, has built eight or nine houses, and probably owns $60,000 worth of realty here. Mr. Kennedy has achieved wealth by his own unaided exertions, and is, in fact, a self-made man, starting out in life with nothing but youth in his favor, and his endowments of fine health, a vigorous muscle, and a clear, cool brain. After all, a man possessing these need fear nothing; with a determination to succeed, success is his almost from the start, although it may be that years of patient waiting and hard toil are necessary before his endeavors are crowned with the full measure of success. Our subject, with the endowments before-mentioned, gaining experience and business ability as the years have passed, has become very prosperous while yet in the prime of life. 

     Mr. Kennedy was born in County Sligo, Ireland, May 11, 1842. His parents were Martin and Honora (Meehan) Kennedy, both natives of Sligo County, Ireland. They both lived and died in their native county. They were members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Kennedy was a farmer. 

     Our subject came to this country when but a boy of six years, with his older brother, Michael, now of Piedmont, N. Y. The boys went to Roundout, Ulster Co., N. Y., where John grew to manhood. When Lincoln made his first call for troops, the youth, who had grown up under the institutions of this country, and scarcely knew any other home, was prompt to enlist in defense of his adopted country and its institutions. He became a member of Company F, 20th New York Infantry, entering as a private for a term of three years. He was in the battles of Fredericksburg, Antietam, second battle of Bull Run, and Cedar Mountain. His courage in action gained him merited promotion, and he was made a Sergeant. He served his full term of enlistment and was honorably discharged at Washington. 

     After the war Mr. Kennedy again entered the service of the Government, being employed as a wagonmaster, and was transferred to Leavenworth, Kan. In 1866 he left there and went to Indiana, and in Jackson County, that State, was married to Miss Jane Rich, a lady of American parentage, but descended from German ancestry. To them has been born one son, John. They also have an adopted daughter, Mary. After remaining in Indiana a few years, Mr. Kennedy went to New Mexico, and was there employed by the Santa Fe Railway Company as section foreman. 

     At the end of a residence of seven years in New Mexico, Mr. Kennedy came to Kansas, in 1883, and established himself in the hotel business in Wichita, being the proprietor of the Kennedy House, on Fourth avenue. His urbanity, cheerfulness and careful consideration for the needs of his guests, made him very popular as a host. He subsequently sold the Kennedy House for $12,000, having bought it for $1,600, which is a good illustration of the marvelous increase in values in this city within the last few years. After abandoning the hotel business, Mr. Kennedy turned his attention altogether to real estate transactions, which he has conducted with great financial ability and success. 

     In politics Mr. Kennedy is identified with the Republican party and is a strong believer in its principles. Both himself and his amiable wife are members of the Catholic Church. They are honored and respected in this community for their sterling worth, generous hospitality, and unbounded liberality.

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