JAMES M. R. KENNEDY.

The successful business man and prominent citizen whose career is briefly sketched in the following lines is a native of Carroll county, Ohio, and the oldest of a family of three children whose parents were Samuel Kennedy and Mary West, the former born April 16, 1823, in county Down, Ireland, and the latter in Carroll county, Ohio, on May 1, 18--7. Samuel Kennedy came to America when eight years old, married Miss West in Ohio and in May, 1863, moved his family from that state to Isabella county, Michigan, settling on the place in Coe township which the subject now owns, paying one thousand dollars for the eighty acres of land, which was mostly timber and presented few inducements for the making of a home. With the assistance of his sons, Mr. Kennedy cleared and developed a good farm on which he spent the remainder of his days as a prosperous tiller of the soil, in addition to which vocation he was in business for some time, be- sides taking an active part in public matters, the present courthouse having been constructed under his supervision. At his death the farm was equally divided among his three sons, whose names in order of birth are as follows: James M. R., Stephen and Andrew, all of whom became respected citizens.

J. M. R. Kennedy was born October  16, 1850,  and at the age of thirteen accompanied his parents upon their removal to Isabella county, from which time until his twentieth year he lived on the family homestead in Coe township and bore his part in the development of the farm. Mean- while, in his native state and this county, he attended the district schools at intervals during his minority and when twenty years old engaged in the manufacture of lumber with his father, the portable saw -mill which they operated being  the first mill of the kind ever brought to Isabella - county.

In connection with sawing lumber, they also operated a planing mill, which, was extensively patronized, both branches of business proving successful and yielding handsome earnings to the proprietors. After his father's death the subject continued to operate a saw mill until 1900, since which time he devoted his attention to his other interests, principally agriculture, which he carries on quite extensively, owning at the present time several fine farms in Isabella county, including one of one hundred and twenty acres in Lincoln township, another of one hundred and sixty acres, besides a two-thirds interest in the home place of eighty acres, which he still retains.

Mr. Kennedy has met with success such as few attain and as a business man ranks among the most enterprising and progressive of his contemporaries. With sound judgment, discreet tact and wise forethought, he lays his plans with the greatest care and, possessing the power to foresee with remarkable accuracy the future outcome of present action, seldom -if ever fails to attain the ends sought and that, too, by the most honorable and  straightforward methods. His relations with his fellow men, business or otherwise, have always been above suspicion, his integrity has never been questioned and his high character as a broad-minded, public-spirited man  of affairs has won the confidence of all with whom he comes into contact. Believing in using his means to worthy ends, he has been un- sparing in the fitting up of his home and making it attractive, his residence, a beautiful and substantial edifice with all modern conveniences, comparing favorably with the best country dwellings in the county, the other buildings being in keeping therewith, while the splendid condition of fences, fields, etc., indeed the appearance of everything on the premises, bear evidence to the interest manifested in his affairs and indicate the presence of an up- to-date American farmer and business man who is master of his calling and proud of the same. His financial success has been commensurate with the energy and ability displayed in all of his undertakings and he is now one of the well-to-do men of his township and county.

In politics Mr. Kennedy is uncompromisingly Republican, but not a partisan in the sense of seeking office or aspiring to leadership; nevertheless, he served eight years as drainage commissioner and, had he seen fit to accept, could have had almost any other official position within the gift of his fellow citizens. He stands high in Masonic circles, having been identified with the order for thirty-nine years, belonging at this time to the blue lodge and chapter at Mt. Pleasant, also to Division No. 8, Royal Guards, at the same place.

Mr. Kennedy, in October, 1870, was united in marriage with Margaret  E. Walters, who was born August 9, 1851, in New York, the union being blessed with four children, namely: Howard, who lives in Isabella county; Samuel now pursuing his art studies in Paris, France; Frank, who is still  with his parents, and Maimie, who married John Martin and lives in Coe. Samuel , the second son, after being graduated from the Mt. Pleasant Normal and Michigan Agricultural College, devoted his entire attention to art,  in which he is  especially talented in, and before going abroad achieved a wide reputation with his brush. As stated above, he is now in the city of Paris studying under some of the world's master painters and the pictures on exhibition have already   won  honorable mentions and given him a name among the rising artists of Europe and the United States.  A close and painstaking student and completely absorbed by his profession, he has before him a brilliant future which his friends and the public in general are watching with great interest.