New-York tribune., 1909-11-01

Mrs. Kennedy and his private physician,
DR.. Burton j. Lee, of the staff of the
Presbyterian Hospital, of which Mr..
Kennedy was president for more than
twenty-five years.
Last winter Mr.. Kennedy was afflicted
with severe cold, but he recovered from
the attack and was in excellent health
When he went to his summer home at
bar Harbor the last Of June. He re-
turned to New York on October s In q
weak condition, having caught heavy
cofo during the last week of his stay
at Bar Harbor. Within a week his con-
dltlon was so serious that DR.. Lee a6
vised him TO take to his bed, and DR.
Walter B. James, OF No. IL West 64th
street, was called into consultation. Mr.
Kennedy did not rally to treatment owing
to his age, but his death was not ex-
pected when the end came yesterday.
John Stewart Kennedy, banker, railroaa
builder, patron of art and education, has
been called New York's foremost advocate
OF scientifically organized charity. Mr..
Kennedy was closely identified with J.
Pierpont Morgan and James ]. Hill In the
Northern Pacific and Great Northern Rail
way companies for many years, and his
philanthropy was measured in millions.
Yet few men of equal prominence have
received less publicity. He was a quiet
gtver, and intimate friends believe that
his actual outlay for charity has been
greater by hundreds of thousands OF dol
lars than the total of all his gifts an
nounced within recent years.
Mr.. Kennedy was horn near GLASGOW,
on the River Clyde, on January a. 1880, the
sixth In family OF nine children He
spent six years In the public schools and
then went 10 work in a shipping Office
when he was thirteen years old. Four
years later he entered the employ OF an
iron and coal company In 1850 he came to
New York, having accepted the offer of
London firm engaged in the iron and
metal trades TO travel in the United States
and Canada. Two years later he returned
to Glasgow to take charge of the firms
branch in that city.
In 1855 Mr. Kennedy again came to New
York and entered the firm of NJ K Jesup
e Co., business arrangement that con-
tinued for ten years. branch was estab-
lished in Chicago under the firm name of
Jesup, Kennedy & Co. After severing his
connection with Mr.. Jesup he travelled for
to New York and founded the house of j.
s. Kennedy & Co. In 1888, when Mr. Ken
nedy retired and his nephew became the
head of the busihess. the firm name was
changed TO J. Kennedy Tod & Co.
A PROMINENT FINANCIER
Mr.. Kennedy became one of the foremost
firanciers in the United States. '.r
knew him as an intimate associate II
James J. Hill In the development of rail-
roads in the Northwest. He was Interested
I'm the construction of what Is now the
Great Northern Railway. and was mem
Der of the syndicate which contracted with
the Canadian government to build the
Canadian Pacific Railway. He was also
one OF the incorporators Of the Union Pa
cifc Railway. Long after he retired from
active banking he continued as director
of the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy sys-
tenn the Cleveland & Pfttsburg Railroad.
the New York, Chicago e ST. Louis Rail-
road Company, the Northern Pacific Rail-
way Company and the PittsSurg, Fort
Wayne e. Chicago Railroad Company.
Mr. Kennedy was also trustee and
member of the finance committee of the
New York Life Insurance Company, presi-
dent of the Central Syndicate Building
Company and a trustee of the Central
Trust Company, the Title Guarantee and
Trust Company, the United States Trust
Company. the Hudson Trust Company. OF
New Jersey, and the Manhattan Bank.
In charity as in business, Mr.. Kennedy
actually had a hand In directing the enter
prises with which he was connected. His
net charity was the Presbyterian Hospital,
of which he president for more than
twenty-five years. No question Of hospital
policy was too insignificant to receive his
personal consideration. and rarely did he
allow day TO pass while he was in the
city without visiting the institution. On
October A. 1903, Mr.. Kennedy celebrated
the fftteth anniversary of his marriage to
Miss Emma Baker. of Elizabeth, n. j.
nv giving 100000 10 the hospital.
AS SEEN ON HIS BIRTHDAY.
When Mr. Kennedy was seventy-nine
wears old. on January of this year. a re-
norter went TO hts home to ask him If he
we're celebrating the anniversary by MAX
ING any more million dollar gifts. After
,,o,,i-inc of the reporter how he knew that
{, was his birthday, the banker said. with
a Scotch burr which nearly sixty years in
,he United States had hardly diminished:
"No sir: I'm giving away no money to-
a.v II nretty nearly cleaned me out when
7 pava that fund TO the hospital in Oc-
tober."
Only n few days before his birthday he
,,a contributed to fund for the relief of
the italian earthquake sufferers.
In 1901 he endowed home for the nurses
n, the Presbyterian Hospital. i've city lots
,n east list street, opposite the hospital.
being used for the purpose. The building
vas eaufpped with a gymnasium. roof gar
a.,o and comfortable home for the nurses.
,r,,,. cost was more than 100000.
Ten years before Mr.. Kennedy erected the