Representative John P. Kennedy View All Years

HONORABLE JOHN P. KENNEDY

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee appointed to prepare suitable resolutions commemorating the life and service of the Honorable John P. Kennedy, late of Lee county, Iowa, beg leave to submit the following memorial:

John P. Kennedy was born on September 8th, 1860 in Keokuk, Iowa, and died at Graham Hospital, Keokuk, Iowa on the 11th day of November, 1936. He had lived in Lee county all his life. He was born of Irish parentage. By reason of the death of his father when he was still a boy he was early confronted with the responsibility of supporting his mother and his brothers, he being the oldest of the children. His care of others made it impossible to procure for himself the college education that he longed for, although he assisted the other children in obtaining more than he had. Still his craving for knowledge stimulated in him fondness for reading in a wide and varied field and he early became one of the best informed men of his locality.

He studied law entering the Law Department of the State University of Iowa and from which he graduated in 1892. He never became active in the practice of law, although unusually well fitted for it, as he preferred to devote his time to educational work and to the care of a nursery business which had been acquired by him and his next younger brother C. A. Kennedy, the latter at one time a member of the Iowa Legislature and later for 14 years Congressman from the First District of Iowa.

John P. Kennedy early became interested in education and in politics and held important positions. He was for many years principal of the Montrose High school. He was Mayor of Montrose and later for years its postmaster.

He took great interest in all public questions and for long was an important factor in politics of his part of the State as well as in the politics of the First District, and was in all conferences among leaders in Republican Party conferences. He was generous and unselfish in helping others. Throughout his life he often gave up things that he had planned for himself that others might not be disappointed, or might have what he thought they needed. He had great goodness of heart. He loved children and was tender with old persons, and enjoyed the doing of kindly acts.

Innocent humor had a strong place in his makeup and his vast store of Irish anecdotes and jokes, mixed with a worldly wisdom, which he told in an inimitable way, made companionship with him delightful.

However, his nature was also of a serious turn and to the vital problems of the day he gave much time and serious study. The hard problems of his neighbors were brought to him often and received his careful thought and assistance from the sheer goodness of his heart and without thought of reward. In his family life he was a model of kindliness and he devoted himself with unswerving affection to those he loved.

Late in life he stood as a candidate for Representative from Lee County in the Forty-second General Assembly, was elected and served with honor.

On June 14th, 1894 he was united in marriage with Margaret Ballon who survived him as did also three daughters, Katharyn Kennedy, Mrs. Margaret King and Mrs. George Benner, and much of his life and constant effort was in the care of his family and the education of his daughters of whom he was very proud.

His death left a gap in his community that is not likely to be soon filled. His great good nature and uniform friendliness to people brings to a wide circle in Iowa a sense of personal loss.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Forty-seventh General Assembly, That the state has lost a valued and beloved citizen, and the House of Representatives would tender, by this Resolution, the sincere and heartfelt sympathy to his beloved wife in her sorrow.

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

PHIL F. ROAN,

JOHN R. IRWIN,

DEWEY E. GOODE,

Committee.

Unanimously adopted, April 19, 1937.