Kennedy, James Thomas 1833-1913

KENNEDY, NEWTON

Posted By: Barbara Hug (email)
Date: 5/3/2005 at 11:54:29

Newton Daily News 8 Nov 1913
THOMAS KENNEDY PASSED AWAY AT 2 O'CLOCK THIS P.M.
James T. Kennedy

Thomas Kennedy, who has been very ill for some weeks, passed away at his home about 2 o'clock this afternoon. Uncle Tom, as he was generally known, was one of Jasper county's early settlers and a veteran of the civil war. When first coming to this county he followed farming as an occupation, but for many years now has lived in his property on West Mc Donald street. For the last few years his steadily failing health has been very evident to his many friends and some weeks ago he became noticeably worse and since that time declined rapidly until his death which occurred this afternoon. Mrs. Kennedy, his wife, and two sons, Albert and Henry, were with him when the end came, and the other son, Ray who lives in Oregon, has been notified and will be here probably for the funeral. No arrangements have been made as yet for the funeral service.

Originally submitted on Sun Mar 29 20:21:40 1998 by James T Kennedy, jtken@worldnet.att.net

=============================================

Another of Jasper County’s Pioneers Passes Away
Mr. Kennedy Died Saturday at the age of 79 years.
Came to This County In year 1852

A Member of 19th Iowa Vol. Infantry
James Thomas Kennedy was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, December 8th, 1834, the ? [possibly sixth] child of a family of twelve children. In the year 1852 aat the age of seventeen, he came with his family in ox wagons across the prairies to Newton, then but a small village. Owing to the scarcity of work, he left a short time later with his older brother and walked to St. Joseph, Mo., where they obtained employment in a saw mill. After two years in this job the two brothers proceed west and settling in eastern Nebraska began to break up the prairie and to farm. Then just as the farm begun to be nicely developed the civil war broke out. The Indians on the reservation near them went on the war path massacring the settlers, so that they were forced to flee for their lvies. They returned to Newton, where he enlisted in Company I, 10th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. During the war he saw hard service and was finally discharged at a field hospital and sent home supposedly to die.

When he had recovered, which required nearly two years, he began farming again, this time on what is known as the old Kennedy farm, which is south of town.

In April 1866 he married Lucinda Newton, a native of Indiana, his own county. To them were born three children, boys, the oldest of whom, Ray, lives in Oregon, and the others are Henry and Albert in Newton.

In 1882 the Kennedys moved from the farm into the house on West McDonald street where they have lived ever since.

“Uncle Tom” was one of the few remained to tell the present generation of Newton in the days of its infancy, who has watched and assisted its growth into a prosperous city of the second class. He was a member of the Christian church of this city, a thorough chirstian and a good citizen. The deceased is survived by his widow, Mrs. Lucinda Kennedy, and his three sons, his brothers and sisters all having preceded him.

The funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock tomorrow afternoon at the Christian church with Rev. F. F. Leake officiating. ~ The Newton Daily News, November 10, 1913, page 1.