My Genealogy Hound

PARKS I. KENNEDY, one of the pioneers of the prosperous little town of Wilcox, Kearney county, Nebr., is a native of Iowa, but has spent the greater part of his life in Nebraska, and is in every essential a Nebraskan worthy of the name. He is one of a family of four children born to Roswell A. and Melissa A. Kennedy, the others being a sister and two brothers — Guy L., Cora E., and Ralph J., all living, and, like himself, having begun the solution of the problem of life for themselves. His father was a native of Ohio, born in 1826, married in 1849, and died in 1886, a farmer in early life, a merchant later, and successful at both. He moved from Ohio to Iowa in 1854 and from that state to Nebraska in 1873, settled at Fairbury, where he died thirteen years afterwards. He was an industrious, economical, shrewd and intelligent business man, and one who took much interest in the welfare of his kind. He was a zealous member of a number of beneficial orders, among them being the Masonic, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and Independent Order of Good Templars. Mr. Kennedy’s mother was born in 1831, and is still living.

The subject of this notice was born in 1856, and reared in his native state of Iowa, coming to Nebraska in 1873 with his parents. He grew up on the farm and received a good common-school education, completing it by a commercial course at the Commercial College, at Keokuk, Iowa. For seven years he was in the employ of C. F. Steele, at Fairbury, Nebr., in the furniture business. Quitting this position, he secured employment with Eldridge Bros., hardware merchants, at Chester, this state, with whom he remained until 1885, and engaged in the meantime on his own account in the handling of sewing machines and wind-mills, up to 1886, when he moved to Wilcox, where he has since resided. He was one of the first men to cast his lot with the town of Wilcox, settling there about the time the town was surveyed, and erected one of the first buildings that was put up in the place. He has been variously engaged since locating there, and has been actively identified with the best interests of his adopted home. He has prospered in business and has been fortunate in his investments, and from the means so secured he has acquired a competence.

In 1880 Mr. Kennedy married Miss Ellen Culver, of Fairbury, who, like himself, is a native of Iowa — having been born in 1857 — and was reared mainly in her native state. To this union have been born five children, namely — Lyda May, Cora Lee, Edna Fay, Ruby Hazel and Glenwood Parks. Like all happily-mated husbands and wives, Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy have rendered each other the active and efficient aid so necessary to their mutual prosperity and happiness. Mrs. Kennedy was the second lady who settled in Wilcox, and she has been ever zealous in the church and charitable work of that community, being an active member of the Christian church.