Kennedyg
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
GEORGE A. KENNEDY, cashier and
general manager of the Odessa State Bank at Odessa, is one of the leading
and popular business men of southern Lincoln county. He was born
in Page county, Iowa, on July 26, 1873, being the son of W. K. and Amy
B. (Tweedy) Kennedy. The mother was born in Keokuk, Iowa, and the
father in Chicago. The family came to Ritzville, Washington, in 1886,
and the father was a member of the first and second legislatures in the
state of Washington. He was chosen from Adams county, being elected
in 1889. He was also a member of the Republican state central committee
for ten years. He is now retired and living at Ritzville.
George A. was born and raised on a farm, studied
in the public schools and the Olympia Collegiate Institute, and completed
his education in the state university. On March, 1894, he went to
Olympia and was installed as assistant state librarian under Colonel Gilbert.
The colonel died in 1896 and our subject was appointed state librarian
to fill the vacancy. He remained there until March, 1897, then returned
to Ritzville and was occupied as salesman in a store until 1898.
At that time he was appointed deputy postmaster at Ritzville, his father
being postmaster. In the fall of 1898, he was elected auditor of
Adams county. In May, 1901, Mr. Kennedy came to Odessa and took charge
of the Odessa State Bank and has continued in that capacity since.
Upon the incorporation of Odessa in 1902, Mr. Kennedy was elected mayor
and at the expiration of his term was re-elected and is now discharging
the duties of that office.
On September 29, 1897, Mr. Kennedy married
Miss Pearl S. Burnell. Her parents, Charles F. and Jennie (Tharp)
Burnell, reside at Everett. The father is a tradesman. The
mother's parents were among the earliest pioneers in the state of Oregon.
Mrs. Kennedy was born in Pataha, Washington, and spent her early days at
Pataha and Tumwater, in which latter place she ws married. To this
couple two children have been born, Marcus, on August 2l,1898, and Harold,
in 1901. He died on August 31, 1902. Mr. Kennedy is past
grand the I. O. O. F. at Odessa, and is a member of the W. W. and the A.
O. U. W. He is one of the bright, capable and substantial business
men of Lincoln county. His ability and his integrity are well known
to all and he is rapidly rising to be one of the leaders in the Big Bend
country. His popularity is unfeigned and presaging the future by
the past, there are many bright things in store for Mr. Kennedy.
At this writing he is the nominee of his party for state senator from Lincoln
county.
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