Life Sketch of Elder R. R. Kennedy by H. H. Burkholder

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 3, 1913

Life Sketch of Elder R. R. Kennedy

By H. H. Burkholder

REZIN ROBERT KENNEDY was born in Massac County, Illinois, Oct. 5, 1852, and died June 7, 1913, aged 60 years, 8 months, and 2 days.

When he was seven years of age, his parents moved to Scioto County, Ohio, settling near Portsmouth. At the age of seventeen he began teaching public school in McCracken County, Kentucky, and continued in this work for six years.

In 1875 he was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Smith, with whom he lived until his death. To this union six children were born, four sons and two daughters. Two sons preceded the father in death.

When sixteen years of age he was converted and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, where he remained an active member until 1890, when he, with his family, embraced the doctrines held by Seventh-day Adventists, continuing steadfast in this faith until the close of life.

His public life in a spiritual way began with a license to exhort in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1896 he was voted ministerial license by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the following year he was elected vice-president of the Ohio Conference. A few months later, owing to the incapacitation of the president, he was called to assume the duties of this office, which position he creditably filled for three successive terms. Later he was elected vice-president several terms, and served as a member of the executive committee nearly a score of years. He was also elected a member of the board of trustees of Mount Vernon Academy a number of terms, and filled the position of business agent of the conference association several years. He was industrious, careful in his calculations, and successful in business matters.

Above all, he was a Christian. Nothing was more dear to him than the cause of God. He not only gave himself to the work of the Master, but he gave freely of his means to forward the message which he believed to be due the world at this time. It was the writer’s privilege to be associated with him many years in labor, and our brother was always ready to shoulder his share of responsibility and lift to the limit of his ability.

During his illness he was tenderly cared for by his devoted wife and faithful children as long as mortal hands could serve him. At the close of the Sabbath, June 7, he bade farewell to all things earthly, and peacefully fell asleep in Jesus at the Medical and Surgical Sanitarium at Mount Vernon, Ohio. On the following Tuesday at 11 A. M. his funeral service was held in the Baptist church at Wheelersburg, Ohio, his former home, conducted by the writer. It had first been arranged to hold the service in the Seventh-day Adventist church, but it was found necessary to secure the largest building in the village to accommodate the attendance. He leaves to mourn their loss a wife, two sons, two daughters, two grandchildren, and a large circle of other relatives and friends. H. H. BURKHOLDER.