Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-01-12
DEATH OF
DIR. KENN0N
Passed Quietly Away at Grants
Pass, Oregon, on Saturday,
January 2.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
For Many Years Deceased Was a Resi-.
dent Of This City and Of Grant
County.

The Daily New Mexican today re-
ceived news of the death of Dr. Lewis
c. Kennon at Grants Pass, Oregon, on
January 2. at 2:25 a. m. A letter from
his son, DR.. Lewis c. Kennon, of Stock
ton, California. encloses an autobio-
graphical sketch which the New Mex
ican republishes in all it's quaintness
and touching simplicity. DR.. Kennon
| is well remembered in New Mexico, es-
pecially by old timers and his love
for the Land of Sunshine is reflected
in the following short sketch:
My Dear Son-I have penned these
memoranda which after my death l
want you to have some typed copies
made. 1t will only be three or four
pages. Have copy sent to the Santa
Fee New Mexican and the two Silver
City papers, the Enterprise and Silver
City Independent, for publication for
the reason, that my old friends have
expressed desire for some items of
my life. 1t is not from vanity but the
wish to please old friends who have al
ways been kind and loving. These
notes are just as meager and barren
as they could be, compatible with be-
ing understood.
An autobiography of 40 or so type
pages could be easily expanded, but
there is no use in it-simply vanity. |
am one of the very oldest of the Ameri-
can citizens of New Mexico, for l have
not given up my citizenship though alb
sent two years. ! love her, her rocks
and sand, better than the gold and
gems of other lands, and | love her
brown people because they have ever
been kind and good to me; dormant
they may be, but as Argyle's heart
moved to the Tartan, mine ever goes
out to the brown land and brown men
of Mexico. M beloved.
Well, came in the bone and gristle
of youth, and leave in the shadow of
departing day. All that time l have
loved New Mexico. For the future all
America is for the young alone, and I,
am very old, and very tired.
Now my dear son, | send you these
memoranda for the papers; they can
cut them up as they please. l know
many people would like to hear of me
in this way and make this as a last
request, to you, my dear son.
Your affectionate father,
LEWIS KENNON.
Grants Pass, Josephine County, Ore
gon.
DR.. Lewis Kennon was born in Au-
gusta, Georgia, on the 18th of Janu-
ary, 1929. He was educated partly in
Augusta, and partly in Virginia. In
1853 he came to New Mexico where
he became post surgeon at Albuquer-
que, then the headquarters of a de-
partment commanded by General Gar.
land, where he was on duty for two
years and half, being relieved by
Surgeon De Leon.
During his service here he was with
the first exploring expedition into the
Gran Quivira country about which
there was much myth dating back
from the time of Coronado. This ex-
petition consisted of three companies
Of the First Dragons and Howitzer
battery under Carleton. He was also
in pursuit and punishment of Mesca-
lero sheep robbers, and in an expedi-
ton against the Mescaleros, then num-
bering zoe fighting men, under captain
afterwards General Ewell) This con-
sisted of six companies of cavalry and
)ne of infantry They struck the In
1ianS on the Penasco River and had
A severe fight lasting nearly an entire
lay. Here several of the cavalry we're
killed and one officer, Captain Stanton,
First Dragons. The Indians precipi-
,ated the attack at night.
On his return, he was ordered with
roops to that strip of Arizona, then
lust purchased by Gadsden. Here he
'emained for two years, doing continu-
,us service against the Indians. The
Apaches then literally swarmed over
Arizona and New Mexico From there
lie was ordered to join an expedition
lnder Candy against the Navahos who
believed themselves invincible. This
expedition was in the field for year,
continuously in the saddle; about a
housand men strong. and it inflicted
he first serious punishment upon that
'roud and rich tribe.
At the end of the war. came the
lews of the attack on Fort Sumpter
nd number of officers quit-among
hem Dr. Kennon. He was a union
nan. but did not go into the army.
After two years abroad. he settled
n Santa Fe, New Mexico. and prac-
iced assiduously his profession there
or seventeen years.
In 1875. Mrs. Kennon's health broke
own and he moved to Silver City in
rant County, then first attracting no
ice. For twenty-eight years he lived
nd practiced his calling there When
'ictorio first broke out, the doctor
rent with the troops that followed
Continued on Page Eight.