The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-02-14
ALEX KENNEDY is DEAD.
At the Ripe Old Age of Ninety.
four He Passed Away.
He Was the Father of TWenty-six
Children. Fourteen Still. Living.

Alex hcHileuy 10 ucdu. tlC hCWo
came to town last week and all who
heard it stop ed in their work to say
a few words of commendation and
praise of the oldest and one of the
best citizens of Blount County, and,
East Tennessee.
Not man, woman or child in this
county who did not know, or had
heard of Alex Kennedy. He was
nlnety-four years of age and has lived
on his own place on Little River and
in the same house all his life. His
father is said to have built the house
I25 years ago. He has been married
twice and his second wife survives
him. He was the father OF twenty
six children, of whom fourteen are
still living. His Oldest son has
reached the good old age of sixty
two and his oldest grandchild is over
forty. Mr.. Kennedy's father lived
to be eighty-lour years of age, and
his mother eighty-fve. His Oldest
son, James, was at his fathers funer-
al and the youngest child present
was Miss Cora, aged twenty three.
His oldest grand child is
John. He is forty-seven years
old and lives in Texas. John
had son who married and has a
child about eight years old when the
great, great grandfather died. Thus
Alex Kennedy lived to see his pos
terity to the fourth generation. We
are informed that he had SO grand
children and 20 great grand-chil-
dren.
From Tie Knoxville Tribune we
learn the following.
"For many years he has operated
a flour and corn mill on the river a
few yards from his home. The mill
isTWfD5 Hratnaf tils1v. ) sss,s d s-rsA
ter power. Just above the mill is a
horseshoe bend in the river and the
water sinks and cuts through coming
out exactly at the mill in large vol
ume. Just after the war when the
country was in destitute condition
it is said that he furnished meal for
every family in the surrounding
country and on many occasions they
came for it before breakfast and new
er was one turned away, though he
received nothing for 1t.
He was at one time the wealthiesl
man ii East Tennessee, being SC
wealthy that he controlled the price
of cotton and almost everything else
in this section. He operated the
first cotton mill in this section and i
was his cotton which was used il
building Fort Saunders at Knoxville
We understand he was allowed owe
Sc, 900 for this cotton several year
ago by the government.
He was man who had the re
spect and esteem of all and woult
have been elected, no doubt to man,
offices of trust, but he always refused
: to become candidate tor publi
Office, although he was frequentl
: asked to do SO He was a captain
. in the war of 1872 and did serve a
river commissioner under Gov
Brownlow, but only did this that h
i might accomplish some good tor hi
y own county by making Little Rive
f navigable.
He was an exemplary man in ever,
respect. He gave his large family
chance to get college education
r and many of them fill important pc
Y sitions in their chosen professions.
1t is supposed that he never faileC
to keep promise in his life and if h
promised anything it was sure to b.
: forthcoming at the very day an
l hour promised. He was membe
e of the M. E. Church South, for fift,
years, strictly honest and always Ii,
ing up to his church vows. Few me
leave behind them such a record, an
few men receive such a unanimou
verdict of esteem from so large
r. number of acquaintances.
II The funeral services were held 3
IS his home last Saturday, Rev. G. W
e Jackson, of this place, conductin
& the service and not withstanding tn
bad weather very large concours
of friends assembled to do honor I
the memory of one so highly esteem
!. ed. For sixty years the diseased wa
a member of the Masonic order an
it was buried with the honors of thu
If fraternity.
O Thus a remarkable man has passe
away. A book of his life filled wit
his many good and charitable deed
u would be well worth reading. Peac
be to his ashes.