“Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County,” published:  
Chicago;  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892.

JAMES M. KENNEDY, a prominent and highly respected citizen of Dallas county, 
Texas, was born in Fairfield district, South Carolina, March 14, 1830.  When he 
was eight years old he moved with his parents to Alabama and settled in 
Tallapoosa county, and two years later his father died at that place, leaving a 
wife and eight children in fair circumstances.  The settling up of the estate, 
however, consumed all the means, and the widow found herself almost 
penniless.  In the meantime some of her children had married and settled into 
life.  Not content to remain where she had lost her fortune, she with three of the 
youngest children moved to Arkansas.  This was in 1843.  In 1845 they again 
changed their location, settling in Dallas county in May of that year, James M. 
being then fifteen years of age.   There were few settlers here at that time.  Mrs. 
Kennedy’s capital consisted of only $55, and it was with difficulty that she 
managed to support her family and get a start on the frontier.  The year following 
her arrival she took a homestead claim of 820 acres under the Peters colony, 
and James M. secured 160 acres.  He was a good hunter and kept the family 
well supplied with meat, and as time rolled on the prospect brightened.  
Opportunities for schooling were beyond his reach and his education was limited, 
but he picked up enough learning to enable him to transact business and to carry 
him successfully through life.

Mr. Kennedy remained with his mother and assisted her until 1853, when he 
married and began life for himself.  He progressed rapidly, and in 1860 was a full 
partner with Mr. Witt in the Trinity mills and had a good store in connection with 
them.  In the meantime he had some misfortunes, namely sickness in his family 
and the death of his wife.  In 1858 he married again.  When the war came on he 
was the possessor of a snug little fortune.  He cut loose from everything, sold 
out, took slaves and Confederate money as payment, and when the war was 
over he found his hard-earned fortune swept away.

In 1861 he joined the Confederate army, Witt’s Company, Darnell’s Regiment, 
and soon after entering the field his company was transferred to Scantlan’s 
squadron, in which he remained until the war closed.  After the exemption law 
William Jackson was made Captain of their company and Mr. Kennedy was 
promoted to First Lieutenant.  He participated in many skirmishes and a number 
of battles; was mustered out at Hempstead, Texas.

Returning home, he found himself without anything save the 160 acres of land 
which he had kept.  He rented it and turned his attention to trading, which he 
followed successfully three years.  He then settled down to farming and stock-
raising, and has since met with prosperity.  He now has an estate consisting of 
800 acres of fine land, well stocked with horses, cattle, hogs, etc., and improved 
with substantial buildings.

Mr. Kennedy first married Miss Prudence Rowe, daughter of W. B. Rowe.  Her 
father, an Englishman by birth, and a farmer, came to Texas in 1848 and settled 
in Dallas county, where he died in June 1871.  He was a man of high standing, 
his family being one of the leading ones in the county.  By this happy union one 
child was born, October 29, 1854, and was named William.

The young wife and mother departed this life September 29, 1855.  October 3, 
1858, Mr. Kennedy wedded Miss Charlotte Drake, daughter of George D. and 
Rachel (Tompkins) Drake.  Her parents went from New York to Ohio and from 
there to Illinois, where, in Marshall county, she was born, September 17, 1839, 
and in 1855 they emigrated to Texas.  Her father was a brick mason by trade, but 
after coming to Texas was engaged in farming.  He died at Fort Scott, Kansas, in 
1883.  By his second marriage Mr. Kennedy has had nine children, two dying in 
infancy.  Six are still living, viz:  George, born September 14, 1868; James M. 
and Samuel M. (twins), July 19, 1871; Emma, September 29, 1873; Mattie, 
September 10, 1875; and Marsh, March 27, 1877.  Ella Prudence, the oldest, 
born March 3, 1866, married George F. Myers, August 20, 1885, and died 
February 4, 1890, leaving three children, - Amy, Willie and Jay.  George F. Myers 
is the son of Rev. J. M. Myers and grandson of Rev. David Myers, an old pioneer 
who organized the First Baptist Church in Dallas.

Politically, Mr. Kennedy is a Democrat; socially, a member of the Masonic 
fraternity; and religiously, he and his family are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, South, he having been a leader in church work for many 
years.

It should be further stated in connection with the family history of Mr. Kennedy 
that his father, Samuel Kennedy, was born in South Carolina, and that his 
grandfather, William Kennedy, a native of Ireland, came to America with five 
brothers, served through the Revolutionary war, and afterward settled in South 
Carolina.  Samuel Kennedy married Miss Mary Murf, daughter of Samuel Murf, 
who was of German extraction, and of their four sons and four daughters the 
subject of this sketch was the seventh born.  Mrs. Kennedy died in Texas, April 8, 
1861.

Such is an epitome of the life of one of Dallas county’s best citizens and Christian 
men.

Submitted by: L. Pingel