Martha A (West) Kennedy (1870)

Ancestors

Biography

Mr. Kennedy married, in December, 1901, Martha A., daughter of Lowrey West. She is a descendant of Colonel Alexander Lowrey, born in county Donegal, Ireland, in 1723, who came to America with his parents when six years of age and was reared at Donegal, Pennsylvania. He traded extensively with the Indians of the locality and became one of the seventeen largest land owners in the colony. In 1758 he was one of General Forbes' guides on that officer's march to Fort Duquesne and was also the guide of Colonel Bouquet's force five years later. He narrowly escaped death in the massacre at Bushy Run, in 1762, living a most strenuous life during Revolutionary times because of his activity in behalf of the American cause, and on September 10, 1777, was in command of the Lancaster county militia at the battle of Brandywine. He was a member of the convention which in 1776 framed the first constitution of the state of Pennsylvania, and for several years was a member of the general assembly, serving as senator for one term. In 1790 he was appointed a justice of the peace by Governor Mifflin, filling that position until his death, January 30, 1805. About the middle of the eighteenth century Colonel Lowrey built a stone house upon his three hundred and ninety-one acre estate near Marietta, in Lancaster county, which was known as Locust Grove and which is still in the possession of his descendants. WESTERN I'JlNNSYLVANIA 6^^3 Mary Lowrcy, (laughter of Colonel Alexander Lowrey, married C first; Matthew Hay, and moved to Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, prior to 1800, settling on land overlooking the Monongahela, a part of which is now occupied by the borough of Homestead. After the death of her first husband she married again, her second husband being Joseph West, a slave owner of Pennsylvania, their home continuing on the farm in Allegheny county. Mary (Lowrey) West died and was buried in the old Lebanon Cemetery in Mififlin township, Joseph West married again, his second wife being Katherine Whittaker, and upon his death he was buried in the Franklin graveyard. Children of Joseph and Mary (Lowrey) West: i. Alexander, sold his share of the homestead to his brothers, Joseph and Matthew, and moved to Illinois, his death occurring on his farm on the Wabash river. 2. Edward, disposed of his share of the home property in the same manner as did his brother, Alexander, and moved to Illinois, purchased a farm adjoining that of his brother, where he died. 3. Joseph, of whom further. 4. Matthew, a farmer on part of the homestead, engaged in mercantile dealings in partnership with a Mr. Willock, an association that was later discontinued, after which Matthew West returned to farming and was so engaged at his death. Joseph (2) West, son of Joseph (i) and Mary (Lowrey) West, was a farmer on part of the old homestead, and there died about 1872. He established a brickyard on the river near Brown's Station, and was its proprietor for about twenty years. He married Sallie, a sister of his father's wife, and had children: i. Martha, married Simpson Walker, and died in Washington, District of Columbia. 2. Sarah, married Joseph Morrell, and died in Winona, Minnesota. 3. Margaret, married Thomas Potter, and died on the old homestead. 4. Mary Ann, married Joseph Tuttle. and died in Pittsburgh. 5. Lowrey, father of Martha A. West, of previous mention. 6. Aaron, a physician, died in Illinois. 7. Edward, a river captain, died in Homestead, Pennsylvania. 8. Alexander, a bricklayer, died in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, g. Matthew, a retired farmer, died in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. 10. Joseph, died in young manhood.

Sources

• Genealogical and personal history of western Pennsylvania Vol II (1915) by Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921, ed New York, Lewis historical publishing company (https://archive.org/details/genealogicalpers02injord)