My Genealogy Hound

EDWIN R. KENDRICK. The career of the late Mr. Kendrick as a pioneer citizen was one eminently useful to the community in which he resided, and his old friends, to whom his memory is dear, unitedly bear testimony to his sterling worth, his integrity of character and his kindness of heart. He was one of those men who have passed away, full of years and honors, leaving their children and children’s children and strangers to succeed them and enjoy the fruits of their toil, privations and the savings of their long and eventful lives.

“Life with them is o’er, their labors all are done.
And others reap the harvest that they won.”

For many years a resident on section 13, township 45, range 24, Johnson County, the subject of this notice was born in east Tennessee in 1824, being the second child of John T. and Martha (Fine) Kendrick, also natives of east Tennessee. When four years of age he was brought by his parents to Missouri, the family settling in Cooper County, where they continued to reside until the memorable “high water” year, 1844. Removing in that year to Pettis County, our subject continued to reside there until 1849, when he joined an army of fortune-seekers for the gold mines of California. Two years were spent in that state, where, after enduring all the hardships and perils incident to life on the Pacific Coast at that time, he met with a reasonable share of success.

Soon after his return to Missouri, Mr. Kendrick married and settled upon a farm, beginning the active life of an agriculturist. He was thus engaged until the time of his death, February 14, 1877. By all who knew him he was highly respected. As a husband he was kind, as a parent indulgent, and as a citizen reliable. In youth he began the study of medicine, but abandoned it at the time of going to California, and on his return chose agriculture for his life occupation. He was a man of valor, and not only did he serve for fourteen months in the Mexican War, but during the Civil War he also rendered service in behalf of the Confederacy. Enlisting in Shelby’s brigade in 1863, he served until peace was declared, being present at the surrender at Corsica, Tex.

In 1852 Mr. Kendrick was united in marriage with Mrs. Elizabeth (Robinson) Clark, a native of east Tennessee and the daughter of William and Mary (Kendrick) Robinson, the former born in Kentucky, and the latter in Tennessee. Five children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick, two of whom are deceased. Three sons survive, namely: Edwin, a farmer of Johnson County; J. M., a banker at Windsor, Mo.; and Forest L., who superintends the cultivation of the home farm. By her first husband, Benjamin D. Clark, of east Tennessee, Mrs. Kendrick had two sons. The elder, William R., is a farmer of Johnson County, and the younger, Benjamin D., a prominent farmer of Pettis County, was recently elected Judge of Pettis County, Mo. Their father, Benjamin D. Clark, Sr., died in 1849. Mrs. Kendrick is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. She is a lady whom all admire and esteem, and her friends are many among those who have known her during all the years of her residence here. Though nearly threescore and ten years old. she appears much younger, and enjoys to an unusual degree the possession of her mental and physical faculties.