J. Logan Kennedy

J. Logan Kennedy, as his name indicates, is a descendant of the old Scottish chiefs. Kennedy, in Celtic, Ceannathighe, means the head of a clan or chieftain. Duncan de Carrick, living in 1153, was father of Nicholas de Carrick, whose son, Roland de Carrick, took the name of Kennedy, and from this origin the family springs. Their home was in Ayrshire.

    This ancient family were prominent in political matters, were leaders in the Presbyterian Church, and were valiant soldiers in the cause of reform, liberty, and religion. Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, is the present Earl of Carrick. They have been connected with the great house of Stewart and with the kings of Scotland and England. Colonel Gilbert Kennedy, who was with Cromwell at the battle of Marston Moor, had two sons, who were Presbyterian ministers. Rev. Thomas Kennedy, one of these sons, was Chaplain to General Munro, and went with the army to Ireland, in 1642. Mr. Kennedy afterward settled in Carland, and this accounts for the family being in Ireland. he died in 1714. Two of his sons were Presbyterian ministers. It is believed that William Kennedy, who emigrated from Ireland and settled in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 1830, was Colonel Gilbert Kennedy's descendant. This William Kennedy was born in Londonderry, ireland, about 1695. He married Mary Henderson, and his death occurred in 1777. He was J. Logan Kennedy's great-great-grandfather. His son, James Kennedy, was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 1730, and married Jane Maxwell in 1761. They had twelve children. His death occurred October 7, 1799. His son, William Kennedy, born in 1766, married Sarah Stewart, and to them were born eight children. He served in the Continental Army as aid to his uncle, General Maxwell.  He afterward represented the counties of Sussex and Warren in the Legislature of New Jersey, several terms, and was chairman of the house, which position he filled with dignity and honor. He was also, for years, a judge of the courts. He was an elder in the Greenwich Presbyterian Church, and in politics was a Democrat. This was our subject's grandfather. His son, James J. Kennedy, was born in Warren County, New Jersey, July 14, 1793; and, January 28, 1819, he married Margaret Cowell. He removed to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in 1839; was a Presbyterian, a judge, a Democrat, and a prominent agriculturist.

    His son, J. Logan Kennedy, was born and reared in Cumberland Valley, near the town of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of a family of nine children, six of whom are now living; and received his education at Chambersburg and Jonesville, New Jersey. For a time he read law in the office of his brother, T. B. Kennedy. He engaged somewhat in politics, and was elected treasurer of his county. In 1872 he came to California and settled in Ventura, where he engaged in the sheep business with Thomas R. Bard, who had been his boyhood playmate and schoolmate. The firm was Kennedy & Bard until 1880. They engaged in this business on a large scale, having as many as 15,000 sheep at one time. Mr. Kennedy has also been engaged in buying and selling sheep and cattle, and he owns a livery in Ventura. he has been interested in lands, and now owns a ranch.

    Mr. Kennedy was married in 1881, to Miss Netta E. Wright, a native of Wisconsin. She is the daughter of Philip V. Wright, who was born in New York. They are of Scotch-Irish descent, and their ancestors have been residents of America since the Revolution. They have one child, an interesting little girl: Carrie L., born in Ventura, April 25, 1882. Mrs. Kennedy is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

    A descendant of a family of Democrats, Mr. Kennedy has ever been true to that party. He is a fine physical representative of his Scotch ancestry - blue eyes, fine complexion, tall and straight, and a fine well devleoped form. He retains his love for valuable horses and can be seen driving his fine horse on the beautiful avenues of Ventura, with his wife and little daughter, enjoying the delightful and balmy climate of Southern California. They have a nice home at the corner of Oak and Poli streets, surrounded with flowers and shrubs and every thing that goes to make life a comfort.

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