JOHN  BALDWIN  KENNEDY

John Baldwin Kennedy, coming from a stock whose excellence New Haven frankly honors, has by his own record in the community abundantly approved his ancestry. As head of an old but progressive manufacturing institution, as president of one of the young but successful banks of the city, as a public official whose record of unselfish service for the public good is unchallenged, as comander of a historic military organization which under him has renewed and strengthened the traditions of its' fine old past, as citizens foremost in every cause that calls for uplifting influence and earnest work, he has won an enviable place in the city of his adoption.

Mr. Kennedy is descended on his father's side from the Galloway Scottish clan of Kennedy; on his mother's from the Baldwins of Milford, his father having been John Kennedy, born in Cockermouth, in the north of England, but coming directly from Galloway that is northwest across the border of Scotland. His mother was Cornelia Baldwin, a descendant in the eighth generation of John Baldwin, one of the original settlers of Milford, whose name is on that town's Memorial bridge. John Kennedy, who came to this country in 1847, married Miss Baldwin in Connecticut.

John Baldwin Kennedy was born at White Plains, New York, February 24, 1864, and was named for his mother's ancestor. His parents removed to New Haven when he was quite young, and he was educated in the public schools of New Haven, completing his grammar school course with the class of 1880 in Dwight school. He entered the office of English & Mersick, of which firm he is now president, as a clerk soon after leaving school. His rise has been due chiefly to intelligent application and hard, consistent work. It was in 1895, following the death of James G. English, its senior partner, that he was admitted to the firm. Three years later, at the death of Edwin F. Mersick, he was made president. In his administration great opportunities have come to the firm, and that they have been improved its present prosperity and its standing among the manufacturing institutions of New Haven and the country abundantly show.

Major Kennedy was one of those who, in 1913 and the years preceding, most clearly saw the needs of the growing business interests of the northern part of the city for a bank in their vicinity. He was one of the leading organizers of the Broadway Bank & Trust Company and was chosen its president. Under him it has become a strong institution, more than fulfilling the purpose for which it was organized. Major Kennedy's other business interests are with the New Haven Trap Rock Company, of which he is a director, and with a number of other manufacturing and commercial concerns.

On October 2, 1888, in New Haven, Mr. Kennedy was married to Miss Katherine C. Clark, daughter of Joseph W. and Jane (Hine) Clark, of Orange, Connecticut. Mrs. Kennedy is of old Connecticut stock and is following in the footsteps of her ancestors by her activity in the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Daughters of Founders and Patriots, and the Daughters of the Society of the War of 1812. Major Kennedy is a member of the General David Humphreys branch of the Sons of the American Revolution and has mem-bership in the Union League, the Quinnipiac, the Racebrook Country and the New Haven Country Clubs, and is connected with Wooster Lodge, F. & A. M. His church membership is with Dwight Place Congregational.

In 1904 he enlisted in the Second Company, Governor's Foot Guard, and rose rapidly through the grades until in 1915 he was made major and commander. His enthusiasm for the company has been earnest from the first, and under him it has had a splendid record of service and progress. He is a republican but has not participated in politics in the ordinary sense. His keen interest in public and civic affairs has, however, brought to him responsibilities. He was a member of the New Haven civil service commission from 1910 to 1912 inclusive, after which he was made a member and then president of the board of police commissioners, which position he had filled with honor for five years.