Husband Thomas B. Kennedy 1 2 3
Born: 1 Aug 1827 - Warren Co, NJ 2 4
Christened:
Died: 19 Jun 1905 5
Buried:
Father: Hon. James J. Kennedy (1793-1863) 6
Mother: Margaret Cowell (1799-1866) 3
Marriage: 22 Apr 1856 7
Wife Arianna S. Riddle 1 2
AKA: Ariana Stuart Riddle 7
Born: 4 Oct 1836 7
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: J. Stewart Riddle ( - ) 1
Mother: Mary Miles Bemus (1814-1839) 1
Children
1 M John Stuart Kennedy 7
Born: 21 Jun 1858 5
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Lucy Harrison Taylor ( - ) 5
Marr: 17 Jan 1888 5
2 F Mary Margaret Kennedy 8
Born: 3 Dec 1859 5
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Rev. Alexander Russell Stevenson (1856- ) 5 8
Marr: 11 Apr 1882 5 8
3 M Moorhead Cowell Kennedy 5
Born: 10 Mar 1862 9
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Margaret Odbert Coyle (1862- ) 9
Marr: 25 Jun 1891 9
4 M James Riddle Kennedy 5
Born: 26 Oct 1863 5
Christened:
Died: 1 Jan 1871 5
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
5 M Thomas Benjamin Kennedy 5
Born: 22 Oct 1870 9
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Annie Trimmer (1869-1903) 9
Marr: 4 Apr 1895 9
6 F Ariana Rebecca Kennedy 5
Born: 20 Nov 1871 10
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Irvin Cameron Elder (1868- ) 10
Marr: 17 Jan 1899 10
General Notes: Husband - Thomas B. Kennedy
He came to Franklin County, Pennsylvania, with his parents in 1839 and received his academic education at the Chambersburg Academy. He entered the Sophomore class of Marshall College, Mercersburg, at the age of fourteen and was graduated with honors in 1844. When the Mexican war broke out under President Polk he was an earnest applicant for a lieutenancy in the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment, but the appointment went to Charles T. Campbell, a heroic soldier, who rose to the rank of brigadier-general in the Civil War. He studied law with Judge Alexander Thomson, and was admitted to the Franklin County Bar, April 11, 1848. The next year he crossed the Plains as the leader of a party bound for California, where he engaged in mining for gold and at the same time entered upon the practice of his profession at Downieville. In 1851 he returned to Chambersburg, where he soon obtained a lucrative practice, and was elected District Attorney in 1854. After his marriage he spent six months traveling in Europe. Upon his return he entered into partnership with the Hon. James Nill, one of the leading members of the Franklin County Bar at that time. The firm of Nill & Kennedy had a very extensive practice, and continued until Mr. Nill was elected President Judge of the district in 1861. After Judge Nill was elevated to the Bench Mr. Kennedy retained the extensive business of the firm, first in partnership with T. Jefferson Nill, the firm name being changed to Kennedy & Nill, and later with John Stewart, now President Judge of the district, as Kennedy & Stewart. His position at the Bar may be judged from the large number of Supreme Court cases in which his name appears. many of them leading cases and authorities on the points decided. Besides his law practice he had large private interests and was connected with the Cumberland Valley Railroad as stockholder, director and counsel. When Judge Watts, the president of the company, resigned, in 1872, to become commissioner of Agriculture under President Grant, Mr. Kennedy was elected his successor as president of the Cumberland Valley Railroad. His familiarity with the business of the company, his capacity as a man of affairs, and his accurate knowledge of the country and its needs, indicated him as the proper person to become Judge Watts' successor. Under his management the road had been developed and improved to a remarkable extent. When he assumed the presidency it was only a local enterprise and a feeder of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Through his foresight and enterprise the main line of the Cumberland Valley road was extended to Winchester, Virginia, and the two branches-the South Penn Railroad, and the Mont Alto Railroad (later the Cumberland Valley & Waynesboro Railroad) were built in the early years of his administration. The result of his careful but progressive methods had been to afford the people of the Cumberland and Shenandoah Valleys a service unsurpassed by that of any railroad in the United States. Indeed, it was claimed for it that the facilities for travel are better than those afforded by the great trunk lines of an equal distance from the leading cities. This in itself was a great achievement, and the freight traffic also grew enormously. Both for passengers and freight the road was the most important of its kind in the United States. He was long active in the development of its facilities and in promoting the increase in its business and its carrying capacity. Energetic in action, sound in judgment, wise in counsel, fair in dealing, and gentle and sympathetic in demeanor, Mr. Kennedy moved to the front as a leader. Perhaps one of the greatest secrets of his success in managing the affairs of the Cumberland Valley Railroad was his relations with his fellow employes. He always took the deepest interest in the welfare of those in the company's employ, and kept himself in personal touch with them, knew them by name, sympathized with them in their sorrows, rejoiced with them in their prosperity, patiently heard their real or fancied grievances, and in a gentle manner set them right, or righted their wrongs. The result of this attitude was to surround him with a corps of intelligent and loyal co-workers that were a credit to him and the Company. His personal magnetism, his devotion to his friends, his quiet dignity, and the conscientious manner in which he conducted the affairs of the company he served, impressed all who have came in contact with him. He was also prominently identified with every movement for the advancement of the Valley, and always liberally aided in local enterprises tending to promote the welfare of the community. For many years he served as one of the trustees of the Chambersburg Academy. He was one of the originators and founders of Wilson College, and was a member of its board of management beginning from its foundation.