In 1880 the family was living at 1814 Washington St, Peoria IL. John was working as a teamster (wagon driver).

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1 MARGARET CLEARY KENNEDY Pieced together by Mary Stack 2011 Our first Kennedy connection was identified by Sister Catherine Cleary (Thomas) line in Through that connection we found the James Kennedy line. Our second connection found us! Joan Cleary was contacted by Pat Cain Kruetzer, a descendant of the John Kennedy line in Our third connection from the Martin Cleary line, Gene Kennedy, contacted Mary Stack thru Ancestry.com. Further information has come from Gerry Kennedy Gifford. Additional information comes from research on ancestry.com and the Peoria Public library. Margaret Cleary Kennedy was born 1826 in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland. She was one of nine children of Mary Quigley Cleary ( ) and Michael Cleary (1800 to between 1847 and 1857). Margaret was married to John Kennedy of County Tipperary Ireland according to the Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County John was born in 1821 in Cork County Ireland according to his son Edward s death certificate OR in County Tipperary according to the History of Peoria County Margaret, her mother, five brothers and one sister, all immigrated at separate times to America 1850 thru (Byron and Loyola Cleary are two other brothers that may have died before immigration or have gone to Australia.) Margaret and her husband John may have been the first immigrants of the Cleary family or may have come with two of her brothers Patrick and Michael. (Margaret s first child was born in 1851 in New York.) (Update 9/2012: There may have been a first child, Richard, born in Ireland) While the rest of the Cleary family moved on to central Illinois after a brief stay in New York earning money, Margaret and her husband John Kennedy stayed in New York. Here their first five children were born: James in 1851, Bridget (Mary) in 1853, Annie in 1857, John E. in 1859, and Thomas in After living in New York for a time, the family moved to Flushing, Long Island. As the rest of Margaret s family immigrated by small groups, they may well have found welcome lodging after their long voyage at Margaret s home before they pushed on for central Illinois. Around 1864 the Kennedy family left Flushing and located in Bloomington Illinois. Soon after, they moved to Peoria IL. John worked at Barker s Distillery for many years. Their last three children were born in Illinois: Martin in 1864, Patrick in 1868, Edward in In 1870 the family was living in Peoria, IL, ward 6. John and eldest son James were working at the distillery. Margaret is listed as being unable to write, but could read. In 1880 the family was living at 1814 Washington St, Peoria IL. John was working as a teamster (wagon driver). John died before In 1885 Margaret is listed as living with her two youngest sons at 3222 S. Adams, Peoria IL. The date of her death is Feb 17, Her burial site is unknown. 1

2 CHILDREN OF MARGARET CLEARY AND JOHN KENNEDY: JAMES B 1851 New York D Peoria IL M Bridget Doyle James became a successful citizen of Peoria IL. He rose through the ranks of working in the distilleries, water works, and streets. In 1901 was elected to be Supt. of Highways on the Democratic ticket. His home at 700 Millman, Peoria, IL was described as a handsome residence. HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS AND HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY 1902 KENNEDY, JAMES: Superintendent of Highways ; was born in the city of New York, and received his education in the common schools. His parents, John and Margaret (Clary) Kennedy, were both natives of County Tipperary, Ireland, where they were married, and came to the United States some years prior to the birth of James. After living in New York for a time the family moved to Flushing, Long Island. When James was eleven years old the family left Flushing, and located in Bloomington, Illinois, soon after coming to Peoria. Here the father worked in Barker's Distillery for many years, and here both father and mother died. While still a young man James entered into the employment of the Street Car Company, where he was engaged for five years, and for four years drove a transfer team. He worked in the distilleries for the same length of time, and was then foreman of the repairing crew for the water-works, being employed in replacing street paving. For a year and a half he was Assistant Superintendent of Streets, and foreman at Glen Oak Park three years ; also held the same position one year at Bradley Park. During these four years he also carried on a grocery and drug business at No South Adams Street. For about two years he was in the employ of the Gas Company, and during the season of 1899 he held a city position as sidewalk inspector, and in the spring election of 1901 was chosen Superintendent of Highways on the Democratic ticket. Mr. Kennedy was married in Peoria June 11, 1872, to Bridget Doyle, They have five children : Thomas J., John D., Edward, Mary and Agnes. Mrs. Kennedy is the daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Malone) Doyle, both natives of Ireland, but residents of Peoria for forty-five years. They are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Kennedy owns his handsome residence at No. 700 Milman Street. Children: Thomas James m Harriet Helm became supt of railroad terminal service in Peoria. His son Francis-moved to Fairbury IL 1940s His grandson James moved back to Peoria in 1970s His grt grandson Chris lives in Indiana John D never married. Became a mortician and turned his father s home at 700 Millman into Kennedy Funeral Home in the 1930s. Mary Elizabeth m George Greenwald (sons Eugene, Kenneth, Edward, James, Daniel. Daughters Mrs Merle Fulton, Mrs Frances Nauman, Mrs Thomas J. Williams, Mrs Florence Sweeney, Mrs Lawrence Boos) Note: George Greenwald s sister, Eva, married Patrick Cleary, son of Michael Cleary) Edward G

3 Agnes 1891 In 1930 she was unmarried and living with her brother John at the family home. Lucy 1909 BRIDGET (MARY) b 1855 New York At age 25 she was living with her parents and single. She does not appear in later city directories so probably had married. ANNIE B 1857 New York D 1895 Nebraska City, Nebraska of heart failure M Thomas James Moran in Peoria IL. Children: Martin, Maggie, Jack, Tom, William, Bridget, Patrick With her husband and brother Martin moved to Nebraska to join brother Tom. JOHN E. B Dec 24, 1859 New York d July Paxton IL M Josephine Bridget Barrett Children: Matthew John m Mary Frances Farrell Thomas Bernard single, lived in Montana Florence Bridget m Bert Myers Francis Barrett Second marriage: Margaret (Maggie) Scanlan (her sister married Jack Penn, son of Mary Cleary Penn Children: Mary Estelle Anna 1898 Helen 1901 Blanche 1904 Maurice from John s descendant Pat Cain Kreutzer: John E. Kennedy was born in New York on Dec 24, His parents were John Kennedy and Margaret Cleary Kennedy, both born in Ireland. Since their oldest child, Bridget, was born in New York in 1855, it seems likely that they immigrated to the U.S. around John and Margaret Kennedy had 7 children at the time of the 1880 Illinois census. Their fifth child, Martin, born in 1864, is the first child born in Illinois so it seems likely that they moved to Illinois between the time of John s birth in Dec 1859 and Martin s birth in It appears that Margret Cleary had relatives already living near Bloomington Illinois. On the 1880 Illinois census John Kennedy (59 yrs) is living in Peoria IL. He is working as a teamster. Their son, John E. (age 22) is a farmer. On Feb 14, 1882 John E. Kennedy married Josephine Bridget Barrett in El Paso IL. Josephine Bridget Barrett was the daughter of Thomas and Bridget Carroll Barrett. Thomas and Bridget were both born in Ireland. They were married in Peoria IL on Oct 19, They lived in Washington IL for several years farming on rented land. While living in Washington they had 7 children. Josephine Bridget Barrett was born in Thomas and Bridget Barrett Kennedy moved to Gridley IL sometime prior to Josephine Bridget s marriage to John E. Kennedy in John and Josephine Bridget lived in the Gridley/El Paso IL area. Their first child, Matthew John Kennedy, was born on Dec 30, Three more children followed Thomas Bernard (Bert), Florence Bridget, and Francis Barrett (Frank). In Dec 1893 Josephine Bridget Barrett Kennedy died of T.B. at the age of 31. She is buried in St. Mary s Cemetery, El Paso, IL. 3

4 Her mother, Bridget Carroll Barrett, had died in Her sister s Mary E. Barrett had died of T.B. in 1893 just prior (2 months earlier) to Josephine Bridget s death. She is also buried in St. Mary s Cemetery, El Paso IL. Mary E. Barrett left a will naming John Kennedy as her executor. She was listed on an earlier census as unmarried and a domestic servant. However, she somehow had come to own two lots (houses?) in the center of El Paso. She left the use of these properties to her father until his death, at which time they were to be sold and the proceeds divided between her sisters Anna (Nancy) Barrett Hankey, Catherine (Kate) Barrett Phillips, Josephine Bridget Barrett Kennedy and her only brother, Thomas Barrett Jr. The father, Thomas Barrett Sr. died in 1899 and is buried at St. Mary s, El Paso IL. Within eight years of her death all of her siblings died of T.B. with the exception of Anna. So it would seem that the inheritance probably assisted John Kennedy in the purchase of his home (farm) in Loda IL. Sometime between John E. Kennedy moved to the Loda IL area. His Cleary relatives (who lived south of Paxton IL) took care of Frank and Florence, the two youngest children. On Feb 6, 1895 John E. Kennedy married Margaret (Maggie) Scanlon. Maggie was a recent Irish immigrant from Listowel, Ireland. Her sister, Minnie Scanlon, had come to the U.S. several years earlier and was married to Jack (John E.) Penn. Jack Penn was a cousin of John E. Kennedy. Their mothers were sisters Mary Cleary Penn and Margaret Cleary Kennedy. Maggie and Minnie Scanlon were the daughters of Bart Scanlon and Mary Latch Scanlon of Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland. John and Maggie Scanlon Kennedy lived on a farm in Loda, IL. At the time of their marriage Matt Kennedy was 13 yrs. old and Frank (the youngest) was 4. In the coming years John and Maggie had 5 children. The youngest, Maurice, was born about According to Maggie s daughter, Blanche Kennedy Potts, her mother introduced her oldest stepson, Matt, to her first cousin, Mary Frances Farrell. Mary Frances was the eldest daughter of Samuel and Johanna Latch Farrell of Grundy County IL. She was born in Nov 1883, the third of twelve children. She was a professional seamstress who had attended a dress making school in Chicago. Matt Kennedy and Mary Frances Farrell were married on Jan 27, 1909 in Kinsvan Il. They moved into the small farm house across the road from John and Maggie Kennedy in Loda IL. John E. Kennedy owned the land that they farmed. Their first child, Sylvester M. Kennedy, was born March 10, Five more children followed the youngest, Marguerite, was born in John E. Kennedy died on July 13, 1930 after suffering for a month with gangrene of the foot. He and Maggie had retired to a small home in Paxton IL by that time. Matt Kennedy died at home of a stroke on June 18, 1950 at age 67. Mary Frances Farrell Kennedy died of complications of old age in 1966 at age 82 in Champaign IL. After her husband s death, Maggie Scanlon Kennedy moved to the Chicago area with one of her daughters, Helen Kennedy O Brien. She lived there until her death on Feb 23, John E. and Margaret are buried in Glen Cemetery in Paxton IL. Also there are Matt and Mary F. Kennedy, Francis (Frank) Barrett Kennedy, Estelle Kennedy and Anna Kennedy. Of John E. Kennedy and Josephine Bridget Barrett s children, besides the above information concerning Matt Kennedy and his marriage and family:: Thomas Bernard (Burt) Kennedy born Jan 7, He remained single, moved to Montana to wheat farm and died of an intestional blockage on Sept 10, John E. Kennedy, his father, sent 2 of his children (Frank and one of the girls) to Montana to escort the body back to IL. He is buried next to his mother, Bridget Barrett Kennedy in El Paso IL, St Mary s Cemetery. His baptismal sponsors were Thomas Kennedy (his uncle) and Sara Cleary. 4

5 Florence Bridget Kennedy born June 4, She married Bert Myers. They lived in Freeport, IL and had one son, John. John Myers married, had no children, and died in Arizona. Florence died in Freeport IL November THOMAS W. B Oct 15, 1862 New York D Sept 24, 1918 Peoria IL burial: Springdale Cemetery Peoria M Lena/Julia E. As a young man Thomas worked along side his brother Martin in Omaha Nebraska for a time. Carpenter Children: Mary Maggie Roy MARTIN B 1864 Illinois By age 21 Martin was working for the railroad in Lincoln Nebraska. He married Ida Louella Francis of Iowa in By 1910 the family was living in Tekamah, Nebraska. Children: Margaret, Cora, Edward, William and John were born in Iowa. Ralph and Harold were born in Nebraska. Martin returned to Peoria IL for his mother s (Margaret Cleary Kennedy) funeral in He returned home with a $200 inheritance. PATRICK B 1868 Illinois In 1885 residing with his mother and brother Edward at 3222 S. Adams. EDWARD CLEARY Illinois b July 5, 1869 d Feb 5, 1935 burial St. Mary s, Peoria IL In 1885 residing with his mother and brother Patrick at 3222 S. Adams. In 1900 the city directory shows him living at 128 Hickory, Peoria. In 1920 the city directory shows him living at 114 Martin Street Peoria living with older sister Mary (Bridget). His death certificate shows him as a laborer. Sources: Census Records HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS AND HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY 1902 Descendant James Kennedy Line: Chris Kennedy Descendant John Kennedy Line: Pat Cain Kreutzer Descendant Martin Kennedy Line: Gene Kennedy and Gerry Kennedy Gifford Ancestry.com Written by Mary Stack Jan