Kennedy, Kathryn (Mrs. James, Sr.) 1847-1912

KENNEDY, LEONARD

Posted By: Janet Brown - volunteer (email)
Date: 8/11/2013 at 13:25:17

This is from a bad microfilm of the first page of the Thursday, July 11, 1912 Hawarden Independent. I'll try to get as much of it as I can -- where words are illegible, I'll try to write it in a way that makes sense unless it is a really pertinent detail -- then I'll mark that.

Mrs. James Kennedy, one of the pioneer women of Sioux Valley, died at her home in this city last Saturday, after an illness of several months. The funeral was held Monday at the Catholic church, the Reverend F. Bradley conducting the last rites. There was a large attendance of good friends who came to pay their respects to the memory of a good woman.

Kathryn Leonard Kennedy was born in Quebec, Canada on August 20th, 1847. Her parents died when she was a mere child and her early training was left to her mother's sister, Mrs. Andrew Petry. At an early age she started out to make her own living. She later taught one (?) term of school. She considered no work too difficult and was accomplished whatever she undertook. She was a great sufferer during her late illness. but she bore her affliction with fortitude.

She was united in marriage to James Kennedy in Rutland, Vt.(?) April 8, 1864. They lived there for several years and in 1868 (?) they came to Clinton, Iowa. The following year Mr. Kennedy filed on his homestead in Union county, six miles southwest of Hawarden. He brought his wife and children to the homestead in 1870 and with the exception of a few years, continued to reside there since that time. On account of Mrs. Kennedy's failing health, they built a home in Hawarden about three years ago. She was the mother of ten children, seven of whom, together with the bereaved husband, are left to mourn his death.

Poster's note: the marriage date is clear and I think it says Rutland, Vt. (that would make some sense since that is where James Kennedy lived after coming to the U.S.) A few of the details about where they lived are slightly different than in James Kennedy's obituary. His obituary also spells her first name as Catherine instead of Kathryn but both use Leonard as her maiden name.