Kennedy - Dumont - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Dumont KENNEDY - For more than half a century the Crawfordsville bar has been honored by the services and talents of the Kennedy family. Dumont has practiced law there for 30 years or more and is a son of the late Peter S. Kennedy, one of Indiana's stalwart lawyers and citizens during the middle years of the last century. Dumont Kennedy was born in a log house at Danville, Indiana, July 12, 1861, son of Peter S. and Emily Talbot Kennedy. Peter S. Kennedy was born in Bourbon Co KY July 10, 1829, son of Joseph Kennedy. His early life was spent in a pioneer time and environment, and his attainments were largely a measure of his individual exertions as a youth. At the age of 20 he was teaching school after a hard earned education and he utilized all his lesire time to study law. He became not only a successful attorney but was a prolific writer on legal subjects. He was frequently called upon to serve as a special judge of the district. From 1856 to 1858 he was prosecuting attorney of the Indianapolis Circuit, having been elected on the republican ticket. For many years he enjoyed a large private practice in Crawfordsville, where he died September 7 1903. Masonry and Odd Fellowship constituted his religion. During the Civil War he organized a company for the 7th Indian Regiment and was with his command as a Lt. In 1874 he represented Montgomery County in the Indiana State Legislature. Peter S. Kennedy and wife were married near Lexington KY Oct 6, 1853. They had 3 sons and 3 daughtesr; Bettie Talbot, deceased; joseph Courtney now of Lewiston, Idaho; Schuyler Colfax, deceased; Dumont; Katie, wife of CA Foresman of North Yakima, Washington; and Ora Leigh, matron of the State Normal School at Lewiston, Idaho. Dumont Kennedy was 3 years old when his parents came to Montgomery County and he has been a resident of that county ever since. He graduated from the Crawfordsville HS with the class of 1882 and studied law in his father's office. He also had some early experience as a teacher. After admission to the bar he took up practice, and in 1894 was elected prosecuting attorney of Montgomery County, being reelcted in 1896. In 1900 he was elected clerk of the Montgomery Cirtcuit Court and by reelection in 1904 served 8 years. An unsolicited honor and a tribute to his citizenship came to him in 1917 when he was elected mayor of Crawfordsville, an office he still holds. Mr. Kennedy is a republican. His success and achievements as a lawyer are the result of long concentration and work but through it all he has kept many lively interests in varied affairs outside his legal profession. Mr. Kennedy owns a beautiful suburban home near Crawfordsville, comprising 16 acres. There he has the land and opportunity to allow him full bent in the culture of flowers, fruits and stock and the enjoyment of the outdoor life. He has always had a keen interst in history, both general and local, has been president of the Montgomery county History society since 1910, and in his home has a rare collection of historic relics of various kinds. He is a member of the Masonic Order and Knights of Pythias. June 23, 1897, Mr. Kennedy married Miss Mary E. Wilhite, a talented daughter of Eleazer A and Mary Holloway Wilhite. Mrs. Kennedy was born in Crawfordsville June 6, 1867, graduated from high school and later from the Boston School of oratory, and for 7 years was a teacher until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy have one daughter, Emily Elizabeth born Sept 5, 1906.  -kbz

Washington July 8 – Seeds from trees in the Hall of Fame for trees with a history being compiled by the American Forestry Association are being collected by the association in every state for transplantin gin Washinton’s “national arboretum.” Lt. Col CO Sherrill and Major DL Weart of the department of Public Buildings and Ground have worked out plans whereby many of the trees and shrubs in the capital are being marked with their common names so that the residents and the thousands of vistors may know the various trees. Indiana is the first state to be represented. Dumont Kennedy of Crawfordsville has sent in a box of seeds from the famous Dumont Kennedy Em. This tree has a spread of 90’ is 78’ feet high and is four feet one inch in diameter four feet above the ground. The tree stands on Lincoln Street but one block long, yet Crawfordsville claims this to be the most famous one-block street in the world. On this street are five houses. In these houses were nine boys, all of whom once played around this tree., They all went to Mexico with Pershing and all enlisted in the World War. When they returned there was a big celebration beneath this tree.  Seeds from the Dumont Kennedy Elm have been forwarded by Col. Cherrill to GB Sudworth, dendrologist of the Forest Service for propagating pruposes and then some of the seedlings will be set out in appropriate places in Washington. -kbz

Crawfordsville Nov 7 – The Republicans for the first time in 16 years made a clean sweep in this city election. Dumont Kennedy defeated Jesse W. Canine for mayor by 485 votes: Howard C. Watson was elected city clerk over Merle Harland, present clerk by 493 votes: Albert Yount was named city treasurer over the present treasure Miton McKee by 87 votes; Henry Meister for councilman at large led the ticket with a majority of 546 over his opponent. John J. Messmore, the other Republic candidate for councilman-at-large had a majority of 499. Councilmen elected were: Robert H., Tinsley, First ward; John Ss Barker, present councilman. Second ward: John H. Mount. Third ward and Wm. A. Banta, fourth ward. - kbz

Crawfordsville, Ind – Nov 19 – Facing a lane in a yard which might well be a part of Spotless Town so clean and well kept is it and surrounded by tall walnut trees at the southern outskirts of this city is a little log cabin. Log cabins are numerous in this county but most of them are in the last stages of decay but this one is not – it is almost new. Two years ago Dumont Kennedy, county clerk, decided he must have a den. So he decided on a log cabin. He has a little plot of ground just outside of the city covering two acres but these two acres are perhaps the most prolific and diversified of any two acres in the county. The cabin looks like any other cabin from the outside but just take a look at the interior. The first thing inside to attract attention is the fireplace. It is made up of carefully selected stones, almost every one of which has a history. Many of them were given to him by friends and not a few of them were shipped to him from great distances. In one corner of the room stands an old-fashioned canopy bedstead which is a century old; in this Mr. Kennedy sleeps much of the time even in winter for the fireplace is so constructed that a big “backlog” well set with a few chunks thrown on will keep up a cheery fire for days at a time without replenishing. In another corner is an old bureau which is 70 years old and which is made from wild cherry, hewn and put together by an old cabinet maker in Crawfordsville. There are half a dozen chairs in the room and each one of them has an interesting history. On the walls and overhanging the mantel of the fireplace are old relics and curios of every description. Among these is an old pair of saddle bags which were originally the property of Major Anderson of Revolutionary fame and were made in 1750.  He also has three mauser rifles, captured in the Philippines and a Remington rifle which was smuggled into China and captured by the American soldiers there. Another grewsome relic is the pistol scabbard of a Colorado horse thief who was later made the chief decoration of a tree by the cowboys who caught him.  He has many Indian relics presented by various people and a number of bear skins which he himself secured during a trip through Colorado two years ago.  This trip, by the way, marked an epoch in his life, as he had never before been outside of the county in which he was born. The Kennedy cabin has come to be a place much sought by men in all walks of life. Its roof has sheltered Senator Fairbanks, Congressman CB Landis, Judge AB Anderson of the US Federal Court, Congressman Will E. Humphrey of Seattle, Wash; Judge John V Hadley of the Indiana Supreme Court and many lesser lights. Mrs. Kennedy comes in for her share of the use of the place. In the cabin she frequently entertains her women friends and every Halloween sees the cabin mystically lighted with Jack-o-langers and a dance in progress…Harry G. Evans - kbz