KENNEDY, W.A., Dr. 1840-1939

KENNEDY, WILLETT, WEBER, ROBESON, EARNIST

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 8/16/2009 at 22:10:16

KENNEDY, CIVIL WAR VET, DIES

Funeral to Be Held Friday for Last Old Soldier at Rudd

RUDD, IOWA — Dr. W. A. Kennedy, 98, Rudd's only Civil war veteran, died at his home Wednesday night of infirmities o£ old age. Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the home.

He was preceded in death by his wife, three daughters and a son. Dr. Kennedy had been bedfast only Tuesday and Wednesday.

He was born in Covetown, Md., November 1840, one of a family of eight children. His early days were spent with his parents, Mr, and Mrs. R. J. Kennedy, who pioneered in Ohio, Maryland and Illinois.

When the Civil war began, he enlisted in Company H, thirty-fourth Illinois infantry and was mustered into service under Generals W. T. Sherman. George H. Thomas, and Ulysses S. Grant.

Wounded Three Times

He saw active service in the iambus battles of Missionary Ridge, Look-Out Mountain, Chickamauga, Shlloh, and in the battle of Bentonville, N.C. Dr. Kennedy was wounded three times during service. He was nearly killed in the Battle of Shiloh, but was saved by a tintype [photograph], which he carried in his vest pocket. He was in General Sherman's great army, which marched from Atlanta to the sea, and was in command of 30 picked men called ''Sherman's Bummers,'' whose purpose it was to scout ahead of the main body.

On August 15, 1865, he was given an honorable discharge from the army in Chicago and from there he returned to his home in Ogle county, Illinois, where he helped with the farming until 1871. He then took up the study of veterinary medicine. He practiced for over 50 years.

Was Wed in 1870

Dr. Kennedy was married to Miss Mary Willett, Sept. 30, 1370. and they came to Poweshiek county, and made their home until 1872, when they traveled overland by covered wagon to Floyd county.

The town of Rudd was called Flood Creek and consisted of post office, depot, and store and two or three houses, when Dr. Kennedy first came here. Dr. and Mrs. Kennedy pioneered in this vicinity and made this their home ever since.

Mrs. Kennedy died in November, 1925. Four of his children, Mrs. Ida Earnist, Mrs. Oliver Robeson, Otho and Fred, live in Rudd. Mrs. Bill Weber of Mason City is a granddaughter,

MASON CITY GLOBE-GAZETTE
Thursday, May 25, 1939