Wayne County Illinois Trails History and Genealogy Volunteers Dedicated to Free Genealogy

DAVID WOODS KENNEDY
FAMILY HISTORY



The following information was sent to Genealogy Trails by John Bartos


This is the family history page originally handwritten by Emily Jane (Kennedy) Schooley in 1904. She is the daughter of David Woods Kennedy and Mary (Cultra/Culter/Coulter) Kennedy. Her handwritten record was typewritten in January 1944 by her youngest son Orlando Devere Schooley Jr. The manner in which it is written indicates to me David W. Kennedy was an intelligent and learned man, but one who was not suited to farming.


David Woods Kennedy and Mary CULTRA were united in marriage in Newtown, County Down, Ireland, November 9th 1839. They were both of Scottish parentage, of good families and well connected.

David Woods Kennedy was born in the Parish of Kilcliff, Ireland.

Mary Cultra was born in the Parish of Killalea, Ireland. Of this union, nine children were born, seven boys and two girls, as follows:

Name	Birthplace	Date	Died (added to original information)
Henry Leslie	Newtown, Ireland	November 22, 1840
Emily Jane	“	March 4, 1843
William Cultra	“	October 21, 1845	1848
William James Wallace	Castledawson, Ireland	February 17, 1848
David Cultra	“	April 27, 1850	March 11, 1881
Samuel Woods	Cavan, Ireland	November 16, 1852
Edmund Ambrose	“	Jan 31, 1855	December  2, 1945
Walter Howe	“	Aug 24, 1857
	Clay City,Il U. S. A.	Dec 29, 1861

In 1857, Mr. Kennedy emigrated to America, leaving Mrs. Kennedy and six children in Caven, but the year following, she joined him with children, William Cultra having died and was buried in Castledawson in 1848.



Henry Leslie having enlisted in the British Army after his fathers departure for America, remaining behind and never came to America.


In 1875, Mr. Kennedy emigrated to America, leaving Mrs. Kennedy and six children in Cavan, but the following year she joined him with the children, William Cultra having died and was buried in Castledawson in 1848.

Henry Leslie having enlisted in the British Army after his father’s departure for America, remaining behind, and never came to America.


Mrs. Kennedy and family arrived from Ireland, in New Harmony, Ohio, September 18, 1858.


Mr. Kennedy was of brilliant mind and far superior to his surroundings, after coming to America, he tried to farm, an occupation to which he was not fitted, he died near Mt. Erie, Illinois on October 7th, 1871, age 53, was buried in Clay City Cemetery, Clay County, Illinois. He was a member of the Scotch Church of Deserters, immovable for all its tenets.

Mrs. Kennedy, was more than ordinary refinement, died in Clay city November 7, 1872, was buried in Clay City Cemetery, Clay City, Illinois.


David Cultra Kennedy, after graduating in law at Illinois University was admitted to the Bar with high honors at Decatur, Illinois, died March 11, 1881, in Clay City and was buried in Clay City Cemetery.