Source:  Goodspeed’s History of Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, Hickman, and Lewis Counties Tennessee, published 1886

John B. Kennedy, clerk of the circuit and criminal courts of Lawrence County, Tenn., and a native of Giles County, of the same State, was born November 6, 1843, son of John and Patsy Kennedy, both natives of Kentucky. The father came to Tennessee in the twenties and located on a farm in Giles County, where he followed agricultural pursuits and stock raising successfully, being the first man to introduce the celebrated Kentucky blue grass in that region. He died there when our subject was about seven or eight years of age. John B. was reared on a farm in his native county, ans secured a fair literary education, having just completed his sophomore year in Centre College, Danville, Ky., when the war broke out. He enlisted in the Southern Army, as private in Company A, Third Tennessee Infantry (Gov. John C. Brown’s regiment), and served gallantly and faithfully in that sanguinary struggle until, at it close, he was seriously wounded at Chickamauga, and also at Jonesboro, Ga., having his musket shot from his hand at the latter place and losing a finger. At the close of the war he returned home and engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1868, when he repaired to his farm, in Giles County, where he remained until 1871, after which he removed to Lawrence County and soon after engaged in the mercantile business. At the end of four or five years he returned to Pulaski, and engaged in the same business at that place. In 1884 he returned to this county, and the same year was elected to fill the unexpired term of T. L. Bentley (deceased) in the circuit clerk’s office, and has discharged the duties of this important office in a highly satisfactory manner, to the present time. November 17, 1869, he wedded Alice L. McClain, a native of Lawrence County, Tenn. They have one son, named Joseph McClain. Mr. Kennedy is, and always has been an unswerving Democrat. On the 5th day of August, 1886, Mr. Kennedy was re-elected circuit court clerk by a handsome majority.

FamilySearch Tree profile:  https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/GZQ7-GFT

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This biographical sketch was transcribed by Reita Jones Burress and posted on-line by Jane N. Powell on September 10, 1998, with the following caveat:

Not having a hard copy to proof read, errors will probably occur in the following document. Reita and I will correct them to the original Goodspeed from time to time. Thank you for your patience.

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