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Below is a family biography included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1898.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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THOMAS H. KENNEDY. Among the prominent, intelligent and prosperous agriculturists of Homer township, who have made a success of their calling and are in every way entitled to be termed representative citizens, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch deserves far more than passing notice. He is deservedly popular among his fellow-associates, and will always be found in the battle of life on the side of right and a sound morality, which alone will make our nation great and lasting. He is intensely American in his sentiments as befits one who saw nearly three years of service during the recent war against secession and its attendant brood of evils. It is. perhaps his extraordinary loyalty toward all American institutions that makes him so strong a Protectionist and a follower of the Republican party, and leads him to act and vote on the principle of American markets for American products.

Mr. Kennedy, who is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Price) Kennedy, was born in the town of Homer, April 26, 1835. The family is of Scotch origin, and Thomas H. Kennedy, the elder, grandfather of our subject, was born at Morton, Thorn Hill, Dumfrieshire, Scotland, February 8, 1758. In his boyhood days this young Scotch laddie was a playmate and schoolmate of “Bobby” Burns, the beloved Scotch poet and ballad-writer. This intimacy continued for many long years, and even after Mr. Kennedy came to this country they kept up a regular correspondence. Mr. Kennedy worked on the farm with Burns, the one holding the plow, and the other guiding the ox team, when a mouse was turned from under the sod. This gave Burns the inspiration to write “To a Mouse.” Mr. Kennedy was also the “Tam O’Shanter” of the poem of that name. Our subject’s grandfather took up the study of medicine, and was graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He then practiced his profession in his native town until his health failed, when he became what is known in England as a “rider,” a commercial traveler, continuing to support himself and family at that occupation until 1792, when he emigrated to the United States, landing in New York City on March 2. After traveling through Western New York and Canada, he returned to New York City, and engaged in the wholesale and retail grocery business until 1824, when he sold out and retired from trade. During the time he was in commercial life, he had purchased a soldier’s claim of Capt. Thomas Moody of New York City, who had served in the Revolution. This claim, No. 13 of Lot 3, was located in the north-western part of Homer township. Removing from New York City to Homer, he took up his residence on this farm, where he spent the remainder of his years, engaged in the tranquil and peaceful pursuits of agriculture, dying April 18, 1849, aged ninety-one years, two months and ten days. He was a Presbyterian, and gave his political support to the Whig party. A close student, and possessed of fine literary attainments, he was well versed in biblical lore, and also in all general literature. His memory was exceptionally good, far above the average, and he used to exercise it by quoting chapters of Scripture and poetry, especially verses from the pen of his intimate friend, the “Plow-Boy Poet.” Having become a Mason in Scotland, he became prominent in the Masonic circles of Homer, and assisted in organizing the first lodge in the county. He married, when a resident of Scotland, Margaret Carmichael, and they became the parents of eight children, four of whom were born in Scotland, and four in the United States. Only those born in this country survived childhood’s days, and they were named: Sarah; Mary L.; Thomas, our subject’s father; and Robert, who was born in New York City, April 20, 1806. Robert Kennedy has lived on the homestead in Homer ever since the family first moved there, and although he is close to ninety-two years of age, he is hale and hearty, his mind is clear and bright, and all appearances warrant the belief that he will enjoy life for a few more years to come He is an ardent Republican in politics, and voted for President McKinley in 1896.

Thomas Kennedy, our subject’s father, was born in New York City, May 2, 1802, and came with the family to Homer, where he lived until his death on the old homestead, October 4, 1890. He was a butcher by trade, but after coming to Homer he engaged exclusively in farming, operating the homestead of 180 acres in connection with his brother Robert. His political attachments were Republican. He was joined in marriage August 27, 1827, with Sarah Price, daughter of Timothy Price of Cortland County, N. Y. She was born March 9, 1809, and died January 13, 1888. Their family consisted of six children, namely: Mrs. Sarah H. Babcock, deceased; Mrs. Mary L. Scott, deceased; Thomas Homer; John H. of Cortland; Mrs. Rhoda A. Stoker; and Margaret M.

Our subject’s whole life has been spent on the homestead; his education was secured in the district school nearby. His main occupation has been farming, although he has also been engaged in milling. He served nearly three years in Co. D, 157th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf., enlisting in the fall of 1862, and continuing in the service till the close of the war. It is needless to say that his war record was excellent. In politics, he is a Republican, and he believes thoroughly that a system of protection to American producers will bring prosperity to all classes of industry and will especially benefit the agricultural class.

Mr. Kennedy was joined in marriage, December 27, 1860, to Charlotte M. Price of Homer, and they have two children. Mary M., the elder, married T. Dwight Keep, a farmer of Homer, who has been blessed with excellent success at his chosen industry. Belle, the younger daughter, lives at home with her parents. As one of the most representative and enterprising agriculturists of Cortland County, it gives us pleasure to present Mr. Kennedy’s portrait* on a preceding page.

*A portrait was included in the original printed volume.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published in 1898. 

View additional Cortland County, New York family biographies here: Cortland County, New York Biographies

View a map of 1897 Cortland County, New York here: Cortland County, New York Map

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