Thomas Houk Kennedy1,2

(1883 - 1978)
FatherSamuel Miller Kennedy3 (c 1857 - 1923)
MotherSarah Catterson4 (1857 - 1926)
Extended Family
ChartsAncestors of Faith Kennedy

Children of Thomas Houk Kennedy and Ella Bessie Thompson
  • Alfreda E Kennedy18
  • John Edward Kennedy+ 19 (circa 1906 - 1979)
  • Russell S Kennedy18 (1909 - 1967)
  • Genevieve Kennedy18
  • Harold E Kennedy18 (circa 1913 - before 1967)

Life Events

Overview
* * * * *

Thomas Houk Kennedy was the 3rd of Samuel & Sarah's eight children. Houk was Thomas' maternal grandmother's surname.
Thomas married a local girl, Bessie Thompson. He worked as a brakeman on the steam railroad, then later as a heater [furnaceman] in the tin mill which was the primary industry in New Castle in the early 1900s. In Cleveland he was a painter.
The family was in New Castle in 1910, then in Cleveland for a few years (two children were born there), then back in the New Castle area by the fall of 1914. In 1921 or '22, they again migrated to Cleveland and stayed. Thomas was widowed in 1964 and lived until 1978.

* * * * *

 
BirthThomas Houk Kennedy was born on 3 Nov 1883 in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania.1,2
 
(with Parents) 1900 CensusThomas appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Shenango 1st Precinct, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania with his parents. He was 16, born in Nov 1883 in Pennsylvania, and did not attend school although his younger siblings did. Thomas was the third of seven children.4 
MarriageHe married Ella Bessie Thompson, daughter of William Sankey Thompson and Eliza Ellen (Ella) Paisley, on 24 Nov 1904.5,6


Kennedy - Thompson Wedding
New Castle (Pennsylvania) News
30 November 1904
1910 CensusThomas H and Bessie E Kennedy appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of New Castle, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, at 24 Harrison Street, enumerated 22 Apr 1910. Thomas was 26 and worked as a brakeman for the steam railroad, out of work 2 weeks the previous year. Bessie was 25 and was the mother of 3 children, all still living. They had been married 6 years, first marriage for both, both born in Pennsylvania, and able to read and write. Their children were Alfreda F (5), John (3), and Russell (8 months).5 
(Mentioned) NewspaperMr and Mrs Thomas Kennedy and children, Alfreda, John, Russell, Genevieve and Harold, of New Castle were mentioned in the newspaper story on 29 Sep 1914 about the Kennedy family gathering.7
MilitaryThomas Houk Kennedy completed a draft registration card on 12 Sep 1918 in New Castle, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. It was recorded that Thomas Houk Kennedy resided at 213 Montgomery, New Castle, Lawrence County, Pa. He was 34 and born Nov 3 1883. Thomas' occupation was heater for A.S.T? Company at Shenango [tin] Works in New Castle. His nearest relative was his wife Ella of the same address.2 
1920 CensusThomas and Bessie Kennedy appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of New Castle, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, at 338 Shaw Street, enumerated 12 Jan 1920. They owned their home with a mortgage. Thomas was 36 and worked as a heater in a tin mill. Bessie was 35. They were both born in Pennsylvania, as were their parents. Their children were Alfredo (female, 14), John (12), Russell (10), Gerverio (female, 8), and Harrold (6). The first 3 were born in Pennsylvania, the last 2 in Ohio. All attended school.8 
(Mentioned) Item. Thomas Kennedy and family were among the hundred descendants of Rebecca Kennedy gathered for a reunion in September 1922 in New Castle.9
(Mentioned) ObituaryHe was mentioned in Samuel Miller Kennedy's 1923 obituary as son Thomas of Cleveland.10 
(Mentioned) ObituaryHe was mentioned in Sarah Kennedy's 1926 obituary as son Thomas Kennedy of Cleveland, Ohio.11 
1930 CensusThomas H and Bessie Kennedy appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of East Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, at 1049 East 180th Street, enumerated 16 Apr 1930. The other family living at this address was Jewel Browning [Bessie's sister] and her father William S Thompson (75), both born in Pennsylvania.
Thomas and Bessie rented for $45 a month and owned a radio. Thomas was 47, first married at 20, was a painter working on his own account, not a veteran. Bessie was 46, first married at 19. Their children at home were Russell S (20, painter), Genevieve (18, bookkeeper for a light bulb manufacturer), and Harold E (16, attending school).12 
MilitaryThomas Houk Kennedy completed a draft registration card on 27 Apr 1942 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. It was recorded that Thomas Houk Kennedy resided at 131st and St Clair, The Pioneer Tavern, Cleveland, mailing address same, phone number MW9507. He was 58, born Nov 3 1883 in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. His contact person was daughter Mrs Florence Yurak of Hudson, Ohio. Thomas was employed by James E Arthur & Son, Painter Contractors, of Akron. He was 5' 10" tall, 180 pounds, brown eyes, brown/gray and bald hair, light complexion, and had a 1/2" scar above the right knee.1 
(Mentioned) ObituaryHe was mentioned in Mary Ida Kennedy's 1947 obituary as brother Thomas Kennedy of Cleveland, O.13 
(Mentioned) ObituaryHe was mentioned in John Catterson Kennedy's 1956 obituary as brother Thomas of Cleveland.14 
(Mentioned) ObituaryHe was mentioned in Alfred H Kennedy's 1970 obituary as brother Thomas of Cleveland.15 
(Mentioned) ObituaryHe was mentioned in Rebecca D Kennedy's 1974 obituary as brother Thomas Kennedy of Solon, Ohio. The only other sibling mentioned was Ethel Jessop in Ellwood.16 
DeathThomas died on 28 May 1978 in Maple Heights, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
Information from index: Thomas H Kennedy, born 1884, residence Solon, age 94, widowed.17 
ObituaryHis obituary was published in 1978. I have ordered a copy. 
Last Edited9 Aug 2010

Citations

  1. [S1514] United States World War II Draft Cards. National Archives, online images viewed at Ancestry.com, Thomas Houk Kennedy.
  2. [S1285] United States World War I Draft Cards. National Archives, online images viewed at Ancestry.com, Thomas Houk Kennedy, card #1425.
  3. [S1913] 'Family Gathering at Kennedy Home', New Castle [Pennsylvania] News, 29 September 1914, image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  4. [S939] 1900 Federal Census for United States, Pennsylvania, Lawrence County, New Castle, Roll T623_1427, ED 119, Page 6B. Digital image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  5. [S940] 1910 Federal Census for United States, Pennsylvania, Lawrence County, New Castle Ward 4, Roll T624_1361, ED 129, Page 18A. Digital image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  6. [S1908] New Castle News (Pennsylvania), 30 November 1904. image online at Ancestry.com's historical newspaper collection.
  7. [S1908] New Castle News (Pennsylvania), Family Gathering at Kennedy Home, 29 September 1914. image online at Ancestry.com's historical newspaper collection.
  8. [S917] 1920 Federal Census for United States, Pennsylvania, Lawrence County, New Castle Ward 2, Roll T625_1585, ED 91, Page 10B. Digital image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  9. [S1908] New Castle News (Pennsylvania), Kennedy Reunion, 6 September 1922. image online at Ancestry.com's historical newspaper collection.
  10. [S1915] Obituary of Samuel Miller Kennedy in New Castle [Pennsylvania] News, 26 March 1923. image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  11. [S1918] Obituary of Mrs Sara Kennedy in New Castle [Pennsylvania] News, 23 March 1926. image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  12. [S840] 1930 Federal Census for United States, Ohio, Cuyahoga County, East Cleveland, Roll 1784, ED 588, Page 17B. Digital image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  13. [S1933] Obituary of Mrs Mary Ida Peterson in New Castle [Pennsylvania] News, 26 March 1947. image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  14. [S1932] Obituary of John Catterson Kennedy in New Castle [Pennsylvania] News, 17 March 1956. image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  15. [S1924] Obituary of Alfred H Kennedy in New Castle [Pennsylvania] News, 23 November 1970. image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  16. [S1923] Obituary of Mrs Rebecca D Houk in New Castle [Pennsylvania] News, 20 September 1974. image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  17. [S318] Index to Deaths, Ohio, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, 1958-2007, compiled by Ohio Department of Health, Columbus, Ohio, abstracted information from Ancestry.com, Thomas H Kennedy, 1978, #042127.
  18. [S1902] Obituary of John Edward Kennedy in The Cleveland Plain Dealer, 11 March 1979.
  19. [S1960] Record of Marriages of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. photocopy of page from Cuyahoga County Archives, John Kennedy & Ruth Hoffman, 1928, #239655.