BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

THE LEADING CITIZENS OF MADISON COUNTY

CONTENTS
Preface
Names Index
Portrait Index

JUDGE CHARLES L. KENNEDY, deceased, a native of Chittenango, Madison County, was born November 15, 1825. His father, Dr. Samuel Kennedy, was a prominent citizen of Sullivan. He died suddenly in 1849, at the age of fifty-six. At the age of fifteen Charles L. went to Cazenovia, and entered the office of the Union Herald as an apprentice, remaining until the paper was discontinued some two years afterward. He subsequently entered the law office of the late Duane Brown, of Morrisville, with whom, after his admission to the bar, he went into partnership. Returning to Chittenango in 1850, he formed a partnership with Hon. W. E. Lansing, which lasted until the latter was elected County Clerk; but in 1855 Judge Kennedy returned to Morrisville. In 1858 he was elected successor to Mr. Lansing, and at the close of his term resumed his legal practice, in company with Hon. S. F. Holmes. In 1867 he was elected County Judge and Surrogate, and held office by reelection until the time of his death, his last term expiring with the close of that year. In his official capacity judge Kennedy was accurate and impartial, and was so popular that the Democratic County Convention declined to place a candidate in opposition to his re-election in 1877. He was a charter member of Morrisville Lodge, No. 158, A.F. & A.M., and in 1880 was a member of the National Convention at Chicago.
Judge Kennedy was personally a man of the strictest sense of honor, and was affable in his manners and social in nature. As a politician, he was prudent and sagacious, and probably exerted a wider and more controlling political influence in this county during the last twenty-five years than any other man. Yet his political feelings never biassed his official action or interfered with the amenities of his social life. To Morrisville, and in fact Madison County, his death was more than an ordinary loss, and was so felt by all citizens, without regard to party affiliations. During his residence in this county for more than a quarter of a century he contributed liberally of his time and means to all measures having for their object the welfare of the community; and long will the gracious memory of his generous acts and kindly personality linger in the minds and hearts of the people.