Butte County

Biographies


 

 

 

 

JOSEPH JOHN KENNEDY

 

 

     JOSEPH JOHN KENNEDY.—A ranchman who, as an untiring worker personally superintending from the saddle his extensive interests and for years actively participating in many rodeos, has demonstrated his exceptional ability in the difficult business of raising cattle, is Joseph John Kennedy, who was born in the city of Chico, on July 21, 1876, the son of John R. and Cora (Wayland) Kennedy, who were born in Pennsylvania and Missouri respectively, and whose careers are referred to in more detail elsewhere in this work.  Brought up in Chico and attending the public school here, Joseph studied at the Berkeley High School and graduated therefrom in 1891, after which he entered the College of Pharmacy in San Francisco, the finely appointed department of the University of California.  Finishing his course there at the end of two years, he followed the drug business in San Francisco, then came to Chico, afterward removed to Tucson, Ariz., and after conducting a drug business there for several years returned to Chico, in 1900, and began cattle-growing, becoming interested with an aunt in the cattle business.

     In 1905, Mr. Kennedy started in an enterprise for himself, commencing with sixty-five head of cattle worth about eleven dollars each, which he ranged on the foothills.  In time he bought more cattle, so that by natural increase he came to have a very respectable herd of some five hundred head, which he has allowed to run on the Kennedy range, fattening them in the open and shipping them to the great outside markets.  He has made a specialty of high-grade Durham and Hereford cattle, and has thus been able to make a showing which would compare favorably with some of the best in the state.  Of late years Mr. Kennedy has been associated with his brother Guy, in a firm styled J. J. and G. R. Kennedy.

     At Chico, Mr. Kennedy was married to Miss Winifred Moon, a native of Sutter County, and the daughter of Richard Moon, a pioneer farmer now residing in Chico.  Mrs. Kennedy was educated at the Chico State Normal School, and was engaged in teaching in Sutter County until her marriage.  One child, Annie Ellicott, has blessed this union.

     A broad-minded Democrat in respect to national politics, Mr. Kennedy is a strong advocate of temperance, and as a pioneer’s son, proud of his native state, is a member of Chico Parlor, Native Sons of the Golden West.  He is a member of the California Cattlemen’s Association, and served as delegate from his district to the first state convention, held at Davis, in 1918.

 

 

Transcribed 4-15-08 Marilyn R. Pankey.

Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 879-880, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.


© 2008 Marilyn R. Pankey.

 

 

 

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