John Y. Kennedy/son of Andrew S. Kennedy and Mary Favers

Born - September 29, 1792

Married - 1812 - Mary McKinney

Died - July 10, 1882

Buried Shelbyville City Cemetery with his wife and two grandchildren

Contents from Chadwicks History of Shelby County Indiana

Pages 203 & 204

John Y. Kennedy, MD., was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1792. He received his early education in the public schools of his native county, and later attended the Lewisburg Academy, from which he graduated.

He first studied medicine under Doctor Priestly, of Sunberry, Pennsylvania, who was the discoverer of oxygen, and was one of the original investigators of that day. He then studied for a time under Dr. John Syng Dorsey, of Philadelphia. Doctor Dorsey was one among the most celebrated surgeons of America at that time.

After his preliminary study in medicine, he entered a medical college in Philadelphia, and after completing the prescribed course, graduated. He was a surgeon in the War of 1812, and after the close of the war returned to Pennsylvania, where he practiced medicine and surgery for several years.

He first came to Shelby county in 1828, and located on a farm near Noah (Marion) and soon after moved to Noah, where he opened an office and continued in the practice until a few years before his death, when he retired from practice and moved to Acton, Indiana, where he lived until he was almost ninety years old.

Doctor Kennedy was a man of uncommon vigor of intellect, a good physician and an excellent surgeon for that early day, and an influential citizen. He was married to Mary McKinney, also a native of Pennsylvania, about the close of the War of 1812, and they were the parents of a large family of children. He died at Acton, Indiana, July 10, 1882.

John Y. Kennedy

Contents from: Washington Sketches page 791 reference to Samuel A. his son

His parents, John Y. and Mary (Mackinney) Kennedy, came to Shelbyville in 1834. John Kennedy was a fine scholar, and began the study of medicine when he was seventeen years old. He graduated from the Pennsylvania Medical School when he was twenty. Shortly after this he enlisted in the War of 1812, going out as a surgeon, and remaining until the close of the war. In his profession he was a success, enjoying a large practice, mostly surgery. He died in 1882, July 10, at the age of ninety, and his wife in the same year, in November, at the age of eighty seven. They were fine citizens and were honored by all who knew them.

Obituary from: THE SHELBY REPUBLICIAN

VOLUME XVII. NUMBER 20

JULY 13, 1882

Dr. J.Y. Kennedy

Was born in Northumberland county, Penn., Sept. 29, 1792, and died at his home in Acton, Ind., July 10, 1882.

The doctor was educated at the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, one of the oldest institutions of the country. Among his classmates was John R. Walker, of Mississippi, who afterwards served as governor and U.S. Senator of his state; and Judge Greer of Pennsylvania. The doctor served as a regimental surgeon in the War of 1812. Ex-senator Simon Cameron served an apprenticeship at the printer's trade, under the father of Dr. Kennedy, and he and the doctor were as brothers, and have always remained so. Senator Cameron has paid the doctor two visits in the last few years to renew his formed friendship.

Dr. Kennedy came to Shelby county in 1832, and practiced medicine for a long series of years, when he moved to his farm near Marion, continuing his practice until the year 1864, when he removed to Acton, since when he has not been regularly engaged in practice.

The remains will arrive here on the 9:14 train, and the funeral will take place at the city cemetery immediately, conducted by Rev. J.R. Williams, of Acton.

In many respects Dr. Kennedy was one of the most remarkable men who have ever lived in Shelby County; of a robust constitution, small of stature, full of energy, honest and upright; in his extreme age, for years he has seemed a connecting link between the present and the past ages. He leaves four children, among the most prominent and respected of our citizens, who have seen their father live to an unusually ripe age, and then gathered to the "fathers" full of years and good works.

Submitted by:  dianne.justice@wcom.com