1. 1860 census of Mercer Co., Missouri. Page 23 in the census book printed by Elizabeth Prather Ellsberry, Box 206 Chillicothe, Missouri 64601 Household 384, Ravanna Township KENNEDY, J. A. 32 m VA Rebecca 32 f IN M. E. 6 f IN W. E. 1 m MO 2. The 1870 census of Morgan Township, Mercer Co., Missouri. Page 233 in the census book printed by the Mercer Co., Miaaouri Gen. Soc. Household 58/54, Ravanna Township KENNEDY, Joseph 42 m VA Rebecca 42 f IN Mary E. 16 f IN William E. 11 m MO Elma J. 7 f MO 3. Source: "History of Missouri Illustrated, History of Harrison & Mercer Counties", page 712-13 Biographical Appendix Mercer County. This book was re-printed in May-2000 by the Mercer and Harrison Co. Gen. Soc. Capt, J. A. Kennedy is of Scotch descent, born in Hardy County, Va., June 9, 1828, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Arnold) Kennedy, natives of Ireland and Hardy County, Va,, respectively. The father came from Ireland to Virginia when a young man, where he engaged in farming. When the subject of this sketch was about sis years old his parents moved to Franklin County, Ohio, at which time they were very poor, owning but a horse and wagon when they started to seek a home in the west. After stopping in Franklin County twc years they continued the journey, and finally located in La Porte County, Ind., in the fall of 1836, which was then in a wild and unsettled condition, and inhabited by Indians and wild animals. Some time wae spent in clearing a home, and at the expiration of two years the father died (January, 1838), leaving his widow and seven children in destitute circumstances. The mother afterward married Myron Phelps, whc died in Indiana in 1857. Mrs. Phelps died in Iowa County, Iowa, about 1809. Joseph A. Kennedy was the third child of a family oj seven, four of whom are now living. He received a limited educatior at the common schools of Indiana, bat his information has been chiefly gained by hard study and reading when alone. He early imbibed a taste for knowledge, and borrowed all books available which he read with avidity during his spare moments. In 1840 he worked during the summer for $ 4 per month, and by hard work and economy accumulated enough money to purchase the needed books and furnish him means to attend school. At the age of twenty he began to teach, and from that time until 1852 taught and attended school alternately. October 19, 1852, he married Rebecca Morrell, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Bowman) Morrell, born in Dearborn County, Ind., February 14, 1828. She was a teacher in St. Joseph County, Ind., and bore Mr. Kennedy five children, of whom three are living: Mary E. (wife of Seely Mapel), Willram E. (railroader) and Elma J. (wife of E. W. Jewell, furniture dealer and farmer of Mount Hope, Kas.). Those deceased are Martha J. and Eliza. Six years after his marriage Mr. Kennedy moved with his wife and family of two children to Mercel County, Mo., and located near Bavanna, where he resumed teaching during school months until 1872, with the exception of the time speni in the Lesislature and while in. service. The summer months were spent in improving his land. In 1870 he engaged in the nursery business with S. M. Wayman, who afterward, moved to Georgia, and with whom he was quite succesaful in business. Since 1882 Mr. Kennedy has been engaged in the nursery business only upon a light scale, his principal occupation being farming. Mr. Kennedy, until ten years, was a Republican, since which time he has been independent in politicts, voting principally with the Greenback and Prohibition party but always for pure principles, and good and competent men, in preference to party. At the age of sixteen he espoused the temporal cause, for the advancement of which he has ever contended a labored, opposing the whisky traffic in any and all forms, unable to see any half-way grounds or compromise with evil. He was alwsy opposed to slavery from principle cannot sanction it in any for whether of body or mind, church or State. In 1860 he was elected justice of the peace. His ambition was to become school commission but his desire was never gratified, and his life for the most part has been spent in the school-room and upon the farm. At the comencement of the war he enlisted, and was elected second lieutenant of Company C, of the Seventh Regiment six months' militia. In 1862 was commissioned captain of Company I, of the Forty-fourth Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia, until the close of the war, never going into any active engagements. With him military service was only a necessity and not a choice, for like the poet-Burns He murder hates, by field or flood, Though glory's name may screen us. In 1862 he waa elected to represent Mercer Colinty in the Legislature and served during the winters of 1862-63 and 1863-64. He was afterward a candidate for nomination to the same office, but was defeated and has since filled but minor offices. He has been an active member of the Baptist Church since the age of twenty, and the greate part of the past thirty years has officiated as Sunday-school super intendent. For several years he has been occupying much of hi time in the work of the ministry of the Church of God, laborinj freely for the glory of God, and the advancement of this cause in the community, and has for a number of years been the clerk and i the present moderator of the North Grand Biver Association of Baptist Churches. He is a man of positive character, true to his convictions, and a hearty supporter and promoter of the educational and religious welfare of his county. Much of his success he attributes to his good and faithful wife, who has ever proved a true helpmate. He has no higher aspirations for the future than to have a pleasant home blessed, with books and friends, surrounded by fruits and flowers, and all that tends to make life lovely and pleasant; and to be a useful member of society, striving to promote the best interests of mankind, and to build up the cause of education, temperance and religion until the final call from labor to reward. Mr. Kennedy is secretary of a tomological and horticultural society whose history is as follows: A preliminary meeting to arrange for the organization of a tomological and horticultural society was held at the residence of W. V. King, one and one-half miles north of Princeton, October 6, 1887. Fifteen names were obtained, committee appointed to prepare rules and regulations, and on the first day of November, 1887, the members met in Princeton, adopted a constitution, regulations, etc., and completed the organization by selecting the following officers: B, J. Lewis, president; J. L. Wood, vice-president; W. V. King, treasurer; J. A. Kennedy, secretary.