The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1915-10-08
MAYOR KENNERLY
ENTERS INTO REST
His Death Occurred Shortly
After Seven O'Clock
Thursday Morning.
Was Palatka's Oldest Merchant and One
of the County's Most Honored and
Loyal Citizens.

o'clock Thursday morning of Bright s
disease. He had been in failing
health since last spring. For the
past two or three months he has prac-
tically been confined to his home,
and for the past several days to his
bed. 1t was known to his physician
and to his family and friends that
the end was near.
The News would like to be able to
enter that beautiful home down on
Second street with some word of
comfort for that stricken wife and
the daughters and son, but words
would fail. The head of this home,
the husband and father, was a home
man. 1t was there he found his
greatest happiness; now that beauti-
ful home life is broken. 1t was
ever thus; it is one of the mysteries,
that
"Some eyes sleep when some eyes
wake,
And so the W night hours go;
Some hearts bea, where some hearts
break;
often wonder why it's so" -
L IlC NEWS WOulu llhS W SO OuJ llID
all the homes Of Putnam county where
the name Of "Joe" Kennerly has been
enshrined for fifty years as a true
man, and speak some word, especially
to his few remaining compatriots of
the COS and 70's, that would make
the loneliness which is bound to fol-
low this death news less acute; be
able to unravel the mystery of why
Some find work where some find
rest,
And so the weary world goes on.
| sometimes wonder which is best;
The answer comes when life is
gone"
Palatka mourns today. Men are
grouped in the streets and are talk
ing of this. death as Palatka's be-
reavement. 1t is; it is more-it j.
the county's
S. J. Kennerly was a native OF
South Carolina. He came here at
the close of the war between the
states. He was but II years of age
when as a member of Company D of
the Fifth South Carolina Reserves he
served the Confederacy during its
death struggle by answering the call
to repel Sherman in his march to the
sea.
Soon after the close of the war he
came here as a mere lad and went to
work. For a time he worked for
others; then he began in a small way
for himself. He prospered and when
the great fire of '84 destroyed the
greater part of PalaMa's business
district, S. J. kennerly was account
ed one of the city's wealthiest men.
He used the greater part of that
wealth in rebuilding the city. 1t was
then that he spent more money than
he ever got back. But he believed in
the future of his home city and he
never lost that faith.
During the trying times of recon-
Struction "Joe" Kennerly was on the
deck of the democratic ship working
with DR.. Grill and Jesse Burton and
score Of other patriots to bring a5Cut
a restoration of decent govsrnmS t;
to wrest it from the Adventures and
the negroes whom these a9ventul rs
had used to assist them in their
schemes of spoil and nlunder. 3.r.
Kennerly had no unkindly feeling for
the negro--he was too good and true
a Southerner to harbor them-but he
didn't want them to be made The tools
of designing men in their efforts to
despoil a friendly section and thus
destroy their only hope of happiness.
There are a hundred or more men left
in the county who will never forget
the Joe Kennerly of those trying
tines-never till their eyes, too, are
closed in the long sleep.
Mr.. Kennerly served ten years con-
secutively as county treasurer; he was
not an office seeker; had he been there
would have been no intermission from
public duties through his long and ac-
tive life.
He was mayor of Palatka, but only
last Tuesday he sent word to the
Council asking to be relieved Of the
burden. 1t wasn't much of an office
as far as work was concerned, but
it was a position of honor-the high
est honor in the gift of his home
city. And it was a gift-something
he never asked for, but rather took
unuef protest. leJ IL was given MIN
unanimously and he appreciated the
honor.
Yes, S. ]. Kennerly is dead. And
you and all of US are going to miss
his kindly twinkling eye and his dai-
ly greetings on the street. But the
real sorrow is in the beautiful home
on Second street-that ideal home of
domestic happiness where his queen
mourns and the daughters he loved
can not be comforted. Not home
in Palatka but sympathizes with
them. Not one of them but would
send word of comfort if it could.
Mr.. Kennerly was a member of the
Masonic order in this city, of the
Knights of Pythias and the Order of
Elks.
The funeral will be held at his late
home this afternoon at o'clock. Rev.
William Wyllie, archdeacon of the
Episcopal diocese of Florida, and a
personal friend of the deceased, will
likely be here to take charge, being
assisted by Rev. ]. 7. Lewis, rector
of st. Marks church.
The interment will be in West