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JOSEPH KENDALL JENNESS Joseph Kendall Jenness
was born March 4, 1843, at Haverhill, Massachusetts. He pursued his preparatory studies at the High School of his
native town, and entered Dartmouth at the beginning of Freshman Fall term, August 24, 1860.
He is remembered by us all as a young man of exceptionally brilliant talents, and a most genial companion and friend.
He immediately took the first rank among us as a scholar, and maintained the position of class-leader during his
connection with us. His patriotism outweighed his love of study, and he left us in the Spring of 1861, and enlisted as
a private in the Ninth New York Cavalry, and soon rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant. For a short time, he was a
member of tile body-guard of President Lincoln; but during most of his term of service, he was in the Department of
the Southwest, in General Banks' division. He served until the close of the war in 1865. Upon his return to Haverhill,
he commenced the study of law, entering the office of John J. Marsh, Esq., where he remained until he was admitted to
the Massachusetts bar in 1868. The Haverhill Police Court was established in 1867, and he was appointed clerk of that
court, which office he filled until September, 1872.
When the first City Government was inaugurated, he was elected Clerk of the Common Council, which office he held in
1871 and 1873.
He was elected Mayor of Haverhill in 1876, and re-elected in 1877. During these two years, he was associated with D.
C. Bartlett, Esq., in the practice of law, the partnership terminating upon his retirement from the mayoralty.
At the municipal election in 1879, he was elected for the three years' term as a member of the School Committee. At
the time of his death, he was the senior member of the law firm of Jenness & Moody. His physical constitution, which
was never very robust, was for two years giving way to the pressure that his mental activity and close application to
business made upon it. In 1880 he became convinced that he must for awhile give up business cares, and take time for a
rest. This he did, and though appearing to have received benefit, there was no permanent improvement. After again
entering upon his duties, his failing health proved that his disease had not left him. As the spring of 1881 opened,
his friends became anxious about him, and advised him to again seek rest and recreation. He went to Hampton Beach, New
Hampshire, where the
invigorating sea-air seemed to revive him for a time; and after an absence of several weeks he returned home, thinking
he had gained in strength; but this hope proved a delusion, and it was evident to his friends that he was passing
away. For a month he sank rapidly, and finally breathed his last on Monday, August 29, 1881.
The cause of his death was paralysis of the brain. His funeral services were held on the
Wednesday following, and were attended by family and relatives only, in accordance with an oft-expressed wish of his
during life.
He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Royal Arcanum and the Knights of Honor. In his profession as a
lawyer, he displayed much ability, and built up a worthy reputation, not only in Haverhill, but throughout the State.
He was an attendant at the Methodist church. In politics, he was a Republican.
He was married June 23, 1870, to Miss Gertrude Jane Barrows, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, who survives him. They had
three children: Ella Gertrude, born August 5, 1871; Albert Kendall, born July 20, 1873, and Howard Cornelius, born
March 15, 1875.
Source: "Memorialia of the Class of '64 in Dartmouth College" complied by John C.
Webster, Shepard & Johnston, Printers, 1884, Chicago
Submitted by Deborah Crowell |