HIRAM RALEIGH KENNEDY, MD

HIRAM RALEIGH KENNEDY, M.D., one of the most prominent physicians of Lauderdale county, and a representative of that county, in the state legislature, was born on his father's farm, on Cow Pen creek, three miles from Green Hill post office, and fourteen miles from Florence, September 30, 1853. He is the son of Rev. E. R. Kennedy, who was a native of North Carolina, and came with his parents to Alabama, when eight or ten years old. He followed farming as a vocation, and also ran a mill, and beside these preached for the Methodist Episcopal church. His death occurred April 7, 1887, in his sixty-fifth year. His wife was Louisa J. Chisholm, who was born in Alabama. She still lives. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom survive, three sons and four daughters. Dr. Kennedy was reared on the farm, and attended the country schools. In 1874 he entered the Normal school at Florence, and remained there in attendance about two and a half years. He then read medicine under Dr. James Kyle, who resided near Florence. He attended a course of lectures at the Louisville university in 1877-78, and again in 1879-80, graduating in 1880. Returning to his home in Lauderdale county, he located in his old neighborhood, and again the practice of medicine, at the same time carrying on farming. He owns a farm of about 500 acres of land. Dr. Kennedy is a member of the Lauderdale Medical society, of which he was vice-president one year. In 1892, he was elected as a representative in the legislature from Lauderdale county. He was married in December, 1880, to Miss Mary E. Bretherick, daughter of Benjamin I. Bretherick of Lauderdale county, and to this marriage, there have been born children, as follows: Oscar Yandell, Edgar Leslie, Eva Estella, Reba Louisa, and Hiram Raleigh.
[Memorial Record of Alabama. Vol. II. Brant & Fuller. Madison, Wis., 1893. pp. 359-60]