Washburn County WIGenWeb Project

People Histories

Andrew E. Kennedy
(27 Apr 1863 - 10 Mar 1942¹)

-As transcribed from the "COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF THE UPPER LAKES REGION"

by J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1905

pages 398 - 399

Andrew E. Kennedy is a successful and influential citizen of Washburn county, who has resided at Shell Lake since 1898. His birth occurred in Minneapolis, April 27, 1863, his parents being John H. and Bridget (O'Brien) Kennedy, natives of County Tipperary, Ireland, who where married in Elmira, New York.

Grandfather John Kennedy was a farmer who lived and died in Ireland; his wife's maiden name was Mary Hennessey. His son, John H. Kennedy, came to the United States in 1845, lived in New York State until 1858, and then went to Minneapolis, where he engaged in farming, and later in railroad contracting. He constructed portions of the Minneapolis & St. Louis, the St. Paul & Duluth roads, and the Northern Pacific railroad west of Brainerd. He died in Colorado in August, 1882, when sixty-four years of age. Mrs. Bridget (O'Brien) Kennedy died in Minneapolis, April 25, 1904, aged eighty-one years. Her parents, Michael and Elizabeth (Conrad) O'Brien lived and died on a farm in Ireland. John H. and Bridget (O'Brien) Kennedy had seven children, of whom but two are living: Anna, Mrs. John O'Brien, of Kalispell, Mont., and Andrew E., mentioned below.

Until he was eighteen years of age Andrew E. Kennedy attended public school in Minneapolis and then began work as a clerk in the lumber woods. In 1884 he located in Minong, Washburn county, and was employed as a clerk of J. S. and John O'Brien, who erected the first building at that place, and opened a logging camp. He afterward worked in the camp of this company at Veazie, spent two seasons in Minnesota, and in 1892 began cutting timber on his own account. This business he still continues, buying timber and timber lands, and cutting and selling the same, his market being at Stillwater. Since 1898 he has been a member of the firm of Kennedy & McCawley, their logging operations being carried on mostly in Washburn county, in addition to which they buy and sell huge tracts of land.

Mr. Kennedy married Sept. 5, 1893, at Stillwater, Minn., Agnes Mulligan, a native of Plainfield, Minn., daughter of John Mulligan, now a resident of Superior, Wis. To this union have been born the following children: Agnes, John, Marie and James Stephen. The family are members of the Catholic church. In politics Mr. Kennedy is a Democrat. His first official position was that of town clerk of Veazie, later he was chairman of the same town, and for four years chairman of the county board. While filling the latter position he prosecuted the suit of Washburn county vs. the bondsmen of A. C. Probert, of Shell Lake Savings Bank, securing a judgment of over $15,000 for the county. In the fall of 1898 Mr. Kennedy was elected county sheriff and served as such two years, being the first official occupant of the new jail erected by the county. In 1902 he was nominated for county treasurer, but declined to become a candidate for that office.

1 - Editorial Note - Andrew Kennedy's death date is derived from his obituary, as found in The Spooner Advocate, dated 12 Mar 1942 on page 2. Obituary states that he died at the age of 81 years, is survived by his widow and children, Marie, John and James. Burial was in the Shell Lake Cemetery on 12 Mar 1942.