WILLIAM A. KENNEDY
William A. Kennedy was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, December 4, 1842, his parents being William and Rachel (Carson) Kennedy. He was reared and educated in his native State, and on the 25th of March, 1869, was married to Maria Case, from Lee county, Iowa. They have two children--W. Homer and M. Ethelwyn. A daughter, Bessie, died when two years old. Mr. Kennedy enlisted in the army raised for the preservation of the Union during the "great American conflict," in May, 1861, in the Twelfth Pennsylvania Infantry. September 3, 1861, he re-enlisted in company K, First Pennsylvania Cavalry, and by Governor Curtin was commissioned first lieutenant. They were assigned duty in the army of the Potomac, and he was under Pleasanton and Sherman, also with the Cavalry Corps under Sheridan when they almost reached the gates of Richmond. He was wounded just before the battle of Cold Harbor, by a gunshot wound through the head, just between two arteries, which was a narrow escape from almost instant death. Notwithstanding this disability he was able to rejoin his command, and was honorably discharged in September, 1864, at Philadelphia, He is a member of the I. O. O. F., having passed through the chairs of that organization, and is now secretary of the Legion of Honor. He is also a member of the G. A. R., and has been quartermaster of the post, ever since its organization. He came to this county with his brother, D. C, in October, 1865, settled in Cass township, and was engaged in farming until entering into business in the village of Lewis.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 536.
