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Marriages and Children
James Lemuel Kennedy
1837 - 1906

   

 
Father Birth Death  
Joseph Kennedy Feb 10, 1806, PA  Aug 24,1889,
Jennings, Van Wert Co., OH
Married about 1835 in PA
 
Mother Birth Death  
Mary Jane Coder 1815, PA 1886, OH Buried New Salem Cemetery, Auglaize Co., OH
 

Siblings of James Lemuel Kennedy
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James Lemuel Kennedy Elizabeth Lindsey Kennedy John B Kennedy Thomas Howard Kennedy William L Kennedy Claudius M Kennedy Mary Jane Kennedy Joseph P H Kennedy Albert M Kennedy Eliza Ann Kennedy
 
  Birth Death Notes
James Lemuel Kennedy Nov 16, 1837, Juniata Co., PA Dec 1, 1906, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co, PA

Buried with wives at Harrisburg Cemetery, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA
m1 Martha Ann Barnard (b. 1840, PA, daughter of Robert Barnard and Susan Forrey;  d. 1874, Dauphin Co., PA) -- ca 1863

m2  Sarah "Celie" Duncan  (b. Nov 13, 1849, Hummelstown, Dauphin Co., PA, daughter of James Duncan and Eliza Books;  d. Apr 18, 1916, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co, PA)  -- June 1, 1875, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA
 

Children of James Lemuel Kennedy
Select a name below to jump to the section of the page with their information

 Martha Ann Barnard Sarah "Celie" Duncan
George G Kennedy Harry T Kennedy Mary Martha "Maude" Kennedy Minerva Kennedy Joseph A Kennedy Grace M Kennedy
 
James Lemuel Kennedy
   
  None of the family trees on ancestry or familysearch had this child of Joseph Kennedy and Mary Jane Coder in their trees as of April 2017.  I came across James Lemuel when doing a broad search asking for any child with a father Kennedy and a mother Coder.  This is when the PA death certificate for J Lemuel Kennedy popped up in ancestry.  The PA death certificates were not available when I created these web pages back in 2007.

The first name of "James" only appears twice in the historical records. First in the 1860 Census and again in a biographical sketch on his son George G Kennedy in the Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  The rest of the time, the documents have J L Kennedy, J Lemuel Kennedy, or Lemuel J Kennedy.  It appears that most knew him by the name Lemuel and not by James.  The use of J Lemuel Kennedy was the most common.

Some records have his first name indexed as Samuel.  These are transcription errors.  This has occurred because of the "S" and "L" similarities in older handwriting.  And when it gets down to it....Samuel is a more common name than Lemuel. A transcriber would make this mistake easily.  I have added "alternative information" when I came across the name Samuel, instead of Lemuel, on ancestry.
 
  1850 - Census - This is the first census where Lemuel appears by name.  However, he is living with the family of George W and Sarah Stroup.  He is only 13 years old.  George W Stroup was a tailor.  According to a bio written about his son and Lemuel's obituary,   Lemuel was living here to learn the trade of being a tailor.  Which he does until he is 21 years old.
 
 
1850 U. S. Census, Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pennsylvania    See Census
Name   Race Gender Age Occupation Birth Place
Stroup Geo W W M 27 Tailor PA
  Sarah W F 18   PA
Goss Ina W F 18 Tailor PA
Kennedy J L W M 13   PA
 
1860
- Census - Lemuel is still living with the Stroup family.  According to his son's bio, at age 21 he stopped being a tailor and went to work for the Pennsylvania Rail Road.  Of note...Martha Barnard, who is also living at this home, becomes Lemuel's wife.
 
 
1860 U. S. Census, Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pennsylvania    See Census
Name   Race Gender Age Occupation Birth Place
Stroup George W W M 40 Merch Tailor PA
  Sarah W F 32   PA
  Mary M W F 9   PA
  Elizabeth W F 3   PA
  Infant W F 7/12   PA
Wise Hetty W F 40 Seamstress PA
Barnard Martha W F 17 Seamstress PA
Kennedy James L W M 22 ? PRR PA
   
James Lemuel Kennedy and Martha Ann Barnard
 
1860 - 1864
- Lemuel marries Martha Ann Barnard and they move to Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA.  According to the son's bio, they moved in 1859 which is not correct because they are still in Juniata Co. in the 1860 Census.  See bio below under George's name.
 
 
1870 U. S. Census, Harrisburg Ward 8, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania  See Census and pt 2
Name   Race Gender Age Occupation Birth Place
Kennedy J L W M 33 Loco Engineer PA
  Martha W F 30 Keep House PA
  George W M 6   PA
  Mary W F 1   PA
 
1874
- Martha Ann Barnard Kennedy passes away.  Buried at Harrisburg Cemetery, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA
 
James Lemuel Kennedy and Sarah "Celie" Duncan
 
 1875 - Marries Sarah "Celie" Duncan, June 1, 1875, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA

Marriage register for J Lemuel Kennedy and Celia S Duncan Westminster Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg, Harrisburg Co., PA, "U. S. Presbyterian Records, 1743-1970"

Select the image to see a larger version
  1877 - City Directory - Harrisburg - J L Kennedy living at 508 Calder
 
  1880 - Census - Daughter Minnie (b. Oct 10, 1969)  listed in the census below was Lemuel's step-daughter.  The daughter of  his second wife Sarah Duncan.  The father of Minnie is unknown, even on her death certificate.  In the 1870 Census, Sarah "Celie" and Minnie are living with Sarah's parents.  More information about Minnie below.
 
 
1880 U. S. Census, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania     See Census
Name   Relation Race Gender Age Occupation Birth Place Birth Place
Father
Birth Place
Mother
Kennedy Lemuel Head W M 43 Engineer PA PA PA
  Celie [Sarah] Wife W F 30 Keeping house PA PA PA
  George Son W M 16 At school PA PA PA
  Maud [Mary] Dau W F 11 At school PA PA PA
  Minnie Dau W F 10 At school PA PA PA
  Menervia Dau W F 9 At school PA PA PA
 
1900
- Census - The "years married" is not correct for the couple.  It should actually be something around 25 years.  If first wife Martha had lived and they were still married, then yes it would be 37 years.  In the number of children column.  Sarah had two children.  One being Minnie and the second was Grace, listed below, who was born and died in 1876.
 
 
1900 U. S. Census, Second Precinct, Ward 6, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania   See Census
Name   Relation Race Gen Birth
Month
Birth
Year
Age Yrs
Marr.
# Child #Child
living
Occupation Birth Place Birth Place
Father
Birth Place
Mother
Kenedy Lemuel Head W M Nov 1837 62 M-37     R R Engineer PA PA PA
  Sarah Wife W F Nov 1849 50 M-37 2 1   PA PA PA
  Mary Dau W F Jun 1869 30 S     School teacher PA PA PA
  Merva Dau W F May 1871 29 S       PA PA PA
 
1905 - 1906
- The family moves into their brand new home at
1929 N Second Street (N 2nd St).  This home stays in the family until at least 1953 when daughter Mary dies.  The only family members left in 1953 were Sarah's daughter Minnie's children.  Mrs Ralph D Sanderson signs Mary's death certificate in 1953. 

Of note:  The house still exists but appears to have had some extensive damage. A 2016 Google street view photo showed a blue tarp covering half of the roof and a construction debris slide in the front of the house.
 
 
1906 - James Lemuel Kennedy passes away, Dec 1, 1906, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co, PA

Death Certificate for J Lemuel Kennedy

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Obituary for J Lemuel Kennedy
Daily News-Democrat from Huntington, Indiana · December 5, 1906, Page 3
[my notes]
Mr and Mrs. Ed Woolery received a message Saturday evening telling of the death of J. Lemuel Kennedy, Mrs. Woolery's father residing In Harrisburg, Pa. The Harrisburg Press Saturday evening had the following account of aged man's death:

J. Lemuel Kennedy, a well-known retired Pennsylvania railroad passenger engineer, former councilman and a prominent republican of the Sixth ward, died at his home, 1929 North Second Street, shortly after 8 o'clock this morning. Death was due to an acute attack of kidney trouble. Mr. Kennedy was about Wednesday and did not complain of feeling badly until Thursday at noon. He took his bed and his condition was not considered serious until last evening. He passed the best part of the night comfortably but grew worse this morning and passed peacefully away.

A wife and the following - children survive: George O., superintendent of the water department; Miss Maude [daughter Mary Martha Kennedy], teacher in Cameron building; Mrs. E. E. Woolery [daughter Minerva], Huntington, Ind., and Mrs. H. E. Sanderson [step-daughter Minnie Duncan]; also the following brothers and sisters, all residents of Ohio, John, Lima; Thomas, Columbus; Claude, Spencerville; Joseph, Delphi, and Mrs. Kate Pierce and Mrs. Eliza Parrott of near Lima. The funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Mr. Kennedy was identified with the Pennsylvania railroad in its early history and his experiences have been told
identified with the Pennsylvania railroad in its early history and his experiences have been told over and over again with much interest. He was one of the few employees who could tell of the old wood engines, the times when trains were shifted about the yards with mule teams.

J. L. Kennedy was born in Juniata county, near Mifflin, and was in his seventieth year at the time of his death.
In his boyhood days after he went through all the schools available and gave himself as an apprentice to a tailor,
and when he finished his trade be thought he had enough and became a brakeman on the Pennsylvania railroad, running from Mifflin to Columbia.  His attention to duty earned him rapid promotions and he soon became a flagman
and then a conductor. He showed an inclination to learn much about the engines came into use at that time and was given a position as fireman, which; he held before being promoted to engineer. When the divisions were changed he came to this city and was given a run from this city to Altoona. Later when freight was more desired than passenger fairs he took charge of a train. After serving the required number of years he was given a passenger run, which he held until his retirement in May 1905. During the war Mr. Kennedy was identified with the engines which were doing business in the local yards. His service with the Pennsylvania railroad dated from 1857 and ended after a record of forty - eight years. As an engineer there was none better. During his career he ran all the important fast trains
and had many narrow escapes and thrilling experiences.

[Brother Albert was not included, perhaps by accident. He was still alive.  Brother William and sister Elizabeth predeceased him.]
 
1910 U. S. Census, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania   See Census
Name   Relation Race Gender Age Yrs
Marr.
# Child #Child
living
Occupation Birth Place Birth Place
Father
Birth Place
Mother
Kennedy Sarah D Head W M 60 Wd 2 1 None PA PA PA
  Martha M Step Dau W F 36 S     Teacher public school PA PA PA
 
1916 - Sarah Duncan Kennedy passes away, Apr 18, 1916, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co, PA

Death Certificate for Sarah Duncan Kennedy

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Grave marker for J Lemuel Kennedy, Martha Barnard, and Sarah Duncan at Harrisburg Cemetery, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA

Photo taken by Brenda & Pete
 a volunteer at Find A Grave

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Back of the grave marker shown above that lists the three infant children that died young and are listed below.

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Information about Sarah's daughter Minnie Duncan:

Minnie Duncan  (b. Oct 10, 1869, PA, daughter of Sarah Duncan (father unknown);  d. May 22, 1941, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA;  m. Harvey E Sanderson (b. 1867;  d. 1933).  Buried with husband at Hummelstown Cemetery, Dauphin Co., PA.  Had three sons; James Duncan Sanderson, Ralph Deamer Sanderson, and Harry Guiles Sanderson)
Children of James Lemuel Kennedy and Martha Ann Barnard
   
 
George G Kennedy
- b. Nov 12, 1864, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA;  d. Jul 3, 1915, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA.

m. Flora C Van Ormer  (b.  Jun 1, 1869, Juniata Co., PA, daughter of Joseph Van Ormer and Elizabeth Waldensmith;  d. Sep 15, 1943, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA ) -- June 6, 1894, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA

George and Flora did not have any children.  Both buried together
at Harrisburg Cemetery, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA
 
George G Kennedy and Flora C Van Ormer
  1870 - 1880 - Census living with parents
 
1894 - Marries Flora C Van Ormer, June 6, 1894, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA

Marriage license for George G Kennedy and Flora C Van Ormer

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From the Commemorative biographical encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania : containing sketches of prominent and representative citizens and many of the early Scotch-Irish and German settlers. by J.M. Runk & Company; Egle, William Henry, 1830-1901; Dudley, A. S. (Adolphus S.); Huber, Harry I; Schively, R. H. (Rebecca H.)  1896. Page 331
 
 
1900 U. S. Census, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania    See Census
Name   Relation Race Gen Birth
Month
Birth
Year
Age Yrs
Marr.
# Child #Child
living
Occupation Birth Place Birth Place
Father
Birth Place
Mother
Kennedy George G Head W M Nov 1965 34 M-6     Clerk PA PA PA
  Flora C Wife W F Jun 1869 30 M-6 0 0   PA PA PA
 
1910 U. S. Census,  Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania    See Census
Name   Relation Race Gender Age Yrs
Marr.
# Child #Child
living
Occupation Birth Place Birth Place
Father
Birth Place
Mother
Kennedy George G Head W M 45 M1-15     Superintendent Water Dept PA PA PA
  Flora Wife W F 40 M1-15 0 0   PA PA PA
 
1915 - George G Kennedy passes away, Jul 3, 1915, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA

Death Certificate for George G Kennedy

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1920 - 1940
- Census - Flora continues to live in Harrisburg and does not re-marry.  Her sister Maude Van Ormer is living with her.  Sister Maude Van Ormer is buried with Flora and George.
 
1943 - Flora C Van Ormer Kennedy passes away, Sep 15, 1943, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA

Death Certificate for Flora Kennedy

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Grave marker for George G Kennedy, wife Flora Van Ormer, sister Mary Martha Kennedy, and sister-in-law Maude Van Ormer

Photo taken by Brenda & Pete
 a volunteer at Find A Grave

Select the image to see a larger version
 

Photo from front page of Harrison Telegraph
Saturday, July 3, 1915


 

Obituary for George G Kennedy

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  Harry T Kennedy - b. 1867, PA;  d. 1868, PA.  Buried at Harrisburg Cemetery, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA.  See marker photo above.
 
  Mary Martha "Maud or Maude" Kennedy - b. June 23, 1868, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA;  d. Apr 27, 1953, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA.  Mary never married.

Buried with brother George in J Lemuel Kennedy plot at
Harrisburg Cemetery, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA.  See photo above.
 
Mary Martha "Maud or Maude" Kennedy
  Mary's nickname of Maude leads to a little confusion because her brother's wife Flora has a sister by the name of Maude.  On her grave marker, the name Mary M Kennedy is used.  On the same grave marker is the name Maude Van Ormer.  This was Flora's sister who did not marry.

The use of the nickname Maude is used in all of the obituaries and some census records.
 
  1870 - 1910 - Census living with parents
  1905 - City Directory - Harrisburg - Maude Kennedy living at 508 Calder with parents
  1906 - City Directory - Harrisburg - Maude Kennedy living at 1929 N 2nd St with parents
  1920 - Census - Mary continues to live in the family home at 1929 North Second Street that the family had lived in since it was built in 1905.  However, it is a 5 bedroom home. Mary rents out part of it to a young family. Mary is listed as the owner of the home, free of a mortgage.

Also living with Mary is her partner Emily Elzeda Wilcox Miller.  Mary and Emily shared their lives together until they both died in 1953.
 
1920 U. S. Census,  Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania   See Census
Name   Relation Race Gender Age Marr? Occupation Birth Place Birth Place
Father
Birth Place
Mother
Kennedy Mary M Head W F 45 S Principal school PA PA PA
Hardy John D Head W M 39 M Clerk Railway mail service NY NY NY
  Eliza A Wife W F 37 M None NY NY NY
  Florence G Daughter W F 16 S None NY NY NY
Miller Emily E Wife W F 54 Wd None PA NJ NY
 
1930 U. S. Census, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania   See Census
Name   Rel. Race Gen Age Marr? Age
first Marr
Occup. Birth Place Birth Place
Father
Birth Place
Mother
Kennedy Mary M Head W F 60 S Teacher public school PA PA PA
Miller Emily E Roomer W F 64 Wd None PA NJ NY
 
1940 U. S. Census, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania   See Census
Name   Rel. Race Gen Age Marr? Highest grade of school completed Occup. Birth Place
Kennedy Mary M Head W M 70 S C-2   PA
Miller Emily E Partner W F 74 Wd H-4   PA
 
Because Emily spent over 30 years of her life with Mary, I am including her vital information here:

Emily Elzeda Wilcox  (b. Jun 16, 1865, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA, daughter of Isaac Jackson Wilcox and Mary Elizabeth Dean;  d. Jan 9, 1953, Elizabethville, Dauphin Co., PA.  m. Alfred C Miller  (b. Jun 12, 1862;  d. Aug 21, 1898)  Buried with husband at East Harrisburg Cemetery, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA.  Had one daughter Ethel Wilcox Miller (b. Jun 9,1889, PA;  d. Jul 14, 1971, FL;  m. Dean W Hoffman))
 
 
1953 -  Emily Elzeda Wilcox Miller passes away, Jan 9, 1953, Elizabethville, Dauphin Co., PA

Death Certificate for Emily Elzeda Miller

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1953 -  Mary Martha Kennedy passes away, Apr 27, 1953, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co, PA

Death Certificate for Mary Martha Kennedy

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  Minerva Kennedy - b. May 31, 1871, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA;  d. Sep 10, 1942, Huntington, Huntington Co., IN.

m. Edwin Elverda  Woolery  (b. Apr 24, 1870, Warsaw, Kosciusko Co., IN, son of Jackson H Woolery and Matilda M Rummel;  d. Sep 16, 1954, Huntington, Huntington Co., IN;  Edwin married again to Cozett Patton Snyder, Sep 17, 1944, IN) -- June 23, 1903, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA

Minerva and Edwin did not have any children.  Both buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Huntington, Huntington Co., IN
 
Minerva Kennedy and Edwin Elverda Woolery
  1880 -1900 - Census - Minerva living with parents
 
1903 - Married Edwin Elverda Woolery, June 23, 1903, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA

Marriage license for Edwin W Woolery and Minerva Kennedy

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1910 U. S. Census, Huntington, Huntington County, Indiana   See Census
Name   Relation Race Gender Age Yrs
Marr.
# Child #Child
living
Occupation Birth Place Birth Place
Father
Birth Place
Mother
Woolery Edwin E Head W M 39 M     Dispatcher Railroad IN OH OH
  Minerva K Wife W F 38 M       PA PA PA
 
1920 U. S. Census, Huntington, Huntington County, Indiana   See Census
Name   Relation Race Gender Age Marr? Occupation Birth Place Birth Place
Father
Birth Place
Mother
Woolery Edwin E Head W M 49 M Train master ? RR IN USA USA
  Minerva Wife W F 45 M None PA PA PA
 
1930 U. S. Census, Huntington, Huntington County, Indiana   See Census
Name   Rel. Race Gen Age Marr? Age
first Marr
Occup. Birth Place Birth Place
Father
Birth Place
Mother
Woolery Edwin E Head W M 59 M 33 Dispatcher Railroad IN OH OH
Minerva K Wife W F 58 M 32 None PA PA PA
Jackson H Father W M 90 Wd 28 None OH KY OH
Meszaros Elizabeth Maid W F 21 S Maif private family OH Hungary Hungary
 
1940 U. S. Census, Huntington, Huntington County, Indiana   See Census
Name   Rel. Race Gen Age Marr? Highest grade of school completed Occup. Birth Place
Woolery Edwin E Head W M 69 M 8 Dispatcher railroad IN
  Minerva K Wife W F 68 M H-4   PA
 
1942 -  Minerva Kennedy Woolery passes away, Sep 10, 1942, Huntington, Huntington Co., IN

Death Certificate for Minerva Kennedy Woolery

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  1944 - Widower Edwin married again to Cozett Patton Snyder, Sep 17, 1944, IN
 
1954 -  Edwin E Woolery passes away, Sep 16, 1954, Huntington, Huntington Co., IN

Death Certificate for Edwin E Woolery

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Grave marker for Minerva K and Edwin E Woolery

Photo taken by Tombstoner & Family
 a volunteer at Find A Grave

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  Joseph A Kennedy - b. 1874, PA;  d. 1874, PA.  Buried at Harrisburg Cemetery, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA.  See marker photo above.
 
Children of James Lemuel Kennedy and Sarah Duncan
  Grace M Kennedy - b. 1876, PA;  d. 1876, PA.  Buried at Harrisburg Cemetery, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA.  See marker photo above. 
   
 
 
 
 


April 19, 2017