Life History

Notes

• Oscar L Kennedy is first reported in the 1870 census in the household of his father Jerome B Kennedy in La Greux (later spelled LaGrue) Township.
  
  1870 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 12 July, La Greux Township, page 5 (scan 59), PO DeWitt, Hse #43, Fam #41
  Kennedy, Jerome B 37 M W Bricklayer Kentucky  Cannot read or write
  Kennedy, Sarah J 30 F W Kentucky  Cannot read or write
  Kennedy, Edwin D 9 M W Arkansas  Cannot read or write
  Kennedy, Corrilla N 7 F W Kentucky  Cannot read [or write?]
  Kennedy, Oscar L 6 M W Arkansas
  Kennedy, Mary E 3 M W Arkansas
  Kennedy, Ada R 9mos M W Arkansas born Oct 1869
  
  Oscar's father died before the 1880 census.
  
  1880 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 24 June, Bayou Meto Township, District 5, page 38, Hse #403, Fam #418
  Kennedy, Sarah J W F 44  (Self) Keeping House [widow] KY VA VA (note that Sarah has gained 14 years since 1870)
  Kennedy, Edwin D W M 19 Son AR KY KY Farm Laborer
  Kennedy, Corilla W F 17 Daughter AR KY KY
  Kennedy, Oscar W M 16 Son AR KY KY Farm Laborer
  Kennedy, Mary W M 12 Daughter AR KY KY
  Kennedy, Ada W F 10 Daughter AR KY KY
  Kennedy, Junius W M 8 Son AR KY KY
  Kennedy, Kate W F 6 Daughter AR KY KY
  Kennedy, Byron W M 4 Son AR KY KY
  Kennedy, Hettie W M 1 Daughter AR KY KY
  
  In 1900, we find Oscar has been married about 5 years and has established his home on a farm he owns, next door to his mother Sarah J.
  
  1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 6 June, Bayou Meto Township, District 2, page 3B, Hse/Fam #59
  Kennedy, Oscar L  Head W M June 1864  35 AR KY KY Farmer, owns farm
  Kennedy, Kate L  Wife W F Aug 1869  31 AR AL MS
  Kennedy, James B  Son W M Jan 1896  4 AR AR AR
  Kennedy, John W  Son W M Mar 1899  1 AR KY KY
  Kemp, Lecil W  Stepson W M 13 AR TN AR Farm Laborer
  Kemp, Jessie  Stepdaughter W F Sept 1890  9 AR TN AR
  Simpson, Little J Brother-in-law W M Mar 1874 26 AR AL MS
  Simpson, Willie A Brother-in-law W M Nov 1877 22 AR AL MS
  Simpson, Georgie S Sister-in-law W M Dec 1882 17 AR AL MS
  Simpson, Leona Sister-in-law W M Jan 1890 10 AR AL MS
  
  From this we learn some helpful facts.  The Simpson individuals are the siblings of Oscar's wife.  This tells us that her maiden name was Simpson.  The Kemp stepchildren indicate that Kate L Simpson was married to someone named Kemp before she married Oscar.
  
  In 1880, there was a Kemp family living next door to Oscar's mother Sarah and her children.  This was James M Kemp age 26 and his wife Elizabeth age 22, with one child Albert M 8 months old.  James' father was born in Tennessee, just as the Kemp father of Kate's children.
  
  I have not seen a copy of the 1910 census record for Oscar and his family.  A partial transcription of the 1910 gives us the names and ages of the family members at that time.
  
  1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, LaGrue Township, District 9, page 13B.
  Kennedy, Oscar L 45
  Kennedy, Kate 43
  Kennedy, Kemp Lecil 23
  Kennedy, John W 11
  Kennedy, Mark G 8
  Kennedy, Stella May 5
  Kennedy, Ada J 2
  
  The entry for Lecil is confusing.  He is listed in 1900 as a stepson under the name Lecil W Kemp.  I imagine the listing under Kennedy means that he has now been adopted and taken the name Kennedy, but it is unclear why the name Kemp is included here.
  
  I have not found Oscar and his family at all in 1920.  In 1930 he is a widow living with his brother Junius, along with his other brother James Byron and their mother.
  
  1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 25 April, Garland Township, District 7, page 1A, Hagler Rd, Hse/Fam #7
  Kennedy, June C  Head Owns farm M W 57  First married at 38  AR KY KY Farmer
  Kennedy, Lizzie Wife F W 38 First married at 18  AR AR AR
  Kennedy, Kelly R  Son M W 7 AR AR AR
  Kennedy, Junius C Son M W 10 AR KY KY
  Kennedy, Sallie J Mother F W 89 Widow KY VA VA
  **Kennedy, Osker L Brother M W 65 Widowed  AR KY KY Laborer**
  Kennedy, J Byron Brother M W 54 Single  AR KY KY Laborer

Sources

• 1. Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
• 2. 1880 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 24 June, Bayou Meto Township, District 5, page 38, Hse #403, Fam #418
• 3. 1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 25 April, Garland Township, District 7, page 1A, Hagler Rd, Hse/Fam #7
• 4. 1870 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 12 July, La Greux Township, page 5 (scan 59), PO DeWitt, Hse #43, Fam #41
• 5. 1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 6 June, Bayou Meto Township, District 2, page 3B, Hse/Fam #59