Thomas Kennedy (1822-1881)
Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Monongalia, Marion and Taylor Counties, West Virginia
Rush, West & Company, Publishers; Philadelphia, PA.; 1895
pages 19-20 (in the Taylor County section)
DR. THOMAS KENNEDY, a pioneer physician of Grafton, West Virginia, and a prominent and highly respected citizen of the same, was a son of Samuel Kennedy, and was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, July 14, 1822. He was reared and educated in Lawrence county, and at the age of about twenty years came to near Morgantown, Monongalia county, locating at what was known as Oliphant's Iron Works. He was left an orphan at an early age, and was soon forced to learn the lesson of self-reliance. He commenced teaching when a young man, obtaining in this way the necessary funds for securing a medical education. He graduated from a medical college in Philadelphia, and located in Evansville, Preston county, this State, where he remained until 1856. At the latter date he came to Grafton as one of the pioneer physicians of the town. In 1869 he removed to West Grafton, and purchased a farm upon the Tygris valley river, on the banks of which he built a handsome and commodious home, where he died September 23, 1881. Dr. Kennedy was a man of broad judgment, quick perception and analytical qualities of mind, faculties which, coupled with his sympathetic impulses, and his extreme honesty, brought to him an enviable success as a physician. For and to those whose sufferings he had released his death came as a personal loss.
In his political faith he was a republican, and served as mayor of the borough of Grafton. For a number of years during the Civil War he held the position of examining surgeon. He was a pillar of support to the Methodist Episcopal church, and for sixteen years was superintendent of the Sabbath school. He was twice married; his first union was with Mary Baker, who was born July 14, 1817, and died February 14, 1850. To this union were born two children: Winfield, who was born August 6, 1847, and died June 20, 1866, and Mary. He married as his second wife Clara Royse, who was born July 8, 1826, and died February 28, 1893. To this marriage was born one child, Robert, a contractor and builder of Grafton. On October 3, 1871, William T. Lilly and Mary Kennedy, daughter of Dr. Kennedy, were united in marriage. Their marital union has been blessed in the birth of one child, Mary. William T. Lilly was born in Weston, Lewis county, West Virginia, learned the trade of a shoemaker, and worked at it for a number of years, and then added to the trade the shoe mercantile business in Grafton, which he pursued until 1885. At the latter date he moved to the old homestead farm of Dr. Kennedy, and has since resided there. Since 1888 he has held the position of railway postal clerk on the route between Elkins and Grafton.