Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 680.
 
WILLIAM W. KENNEDY

     is one of the prominent men of Wheeler county and in fact is well known all
through his portion of the state. He was born in Huntington, Quebec, on January
3, 1836, and now resides at Fossil, being the superintendent of schools for
Wheeler county.  James Kennedy, his father, was born in Dumfries, Scotland, and
came to Canada while young, where he followed farming. In 1842 he went to
Illinois and took government land, thirty miles north of Chicago. In 1852 he
journeyed thence across the plains to California. It was the year of the great
epidemic of cholera, but so skillful was Mr. Kennedy in treating the cases in
his rain that there was but one death. In California he engaged in mining and
freighting, then built a toll road and for a while preached the gospel. He was a
very influential man, taking a prominent part in public affairs and finally died
at San Jose, California, in 1885.  He had married Helen McDougal, the daughter
of John McDougal of Grennoch, Scotland. Mrs. Kennedy came from Grennoch, her
native place, to Canada when a girl, having received her education in Scotland.
She was married in Canada and crossed the plains with her husband, participating
all the scenes of his life and dying a few months after his departure. She was a
very kind and noble woman. Her father was a prominent vessel owner on the
Atlantic coast. Our subject was educated in the public schools in Illinois, then
completed a course at the Gates academy in San Jose, California, after which he
took a post graduate course at the state normal. He had come to California with
his parents across the plains and after his education was completed took up the
work of teaching. He followed it in California until 1877, when he came to
Heppner, Oregon, took government land and engaged in stock raising. In 1884 Mr.
Kennedy came to Fossil and built the Kennedy hotel, which he operated until
1888. Then he was elected superintendent of schools for the county and has been
in that or other county offices ever since. He has been surveyor and judge of
this county, and his work for the success of the schools has placed them in a
very excellent condition.
     In 1870 Mr. Kennedy married Miss Harriett E. Hamilton, who was born in San
lose, California. Her parents, Zeri and Jane H. (Blackford) Hamilton, had
crossed the plains to California in 1849. They operated a hotel at Georgetown,
Eldorado county, then did farming. The father died in 1871.  Mr. Kennedy has the
following named brothers and sisters: Walter, who was lost on a vessel on Lake
Michigan; Robert D., who followed mining, then was public lecturer until his
death in 1881; John M, a retired farmer at San Jose, California; James G., who
died in 1893, was then president of the San Francisco normal school and a
prominent educator; Thomas E., who was a very prominent educator and at the time
of his death was head inspector for the schools of San Francisco; Mary,
Elizabeth, Mrs. Jeanette Malcom, and Mrs. Margaret Wild, deceased. After the
death of James G. and Thomas E. the Franklin school of San Francisco was named
in honor of them, being now known as the Kennedy school. To Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy
four children have been born. Mrs. Margaret T. Brown, in California; Mrs. Helen
E. Yantis, Mrs. Birdie Bad and Robert D., all in Fossil. Mr. Kennedy is a
prominent Republican and the fact that he has continued in office at the hands
of the people for such a long period indicates and stamps him as a man both of
ability and unswerving integrity. His standing in the county is of the very best
and he is looked up to and respected by everybody.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.