Charles B. Kennedy
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Charles B. Kennedy | |
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| Born | March 28, 1850 Moscow, Maine, U.S. |
| Died | August 18, 1917 (aged 67) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Farmer, businessman, politician |
| Known for | Settling the area that would become the present day site of Madison, South Dakota Template:Paragraph break Representitive of Lake County in the Dakota Territorial Legislature[1] (1880–1882) Template:Paragraph break Passed legislation that placed Dakota State University in Madison Template:Paragraph break Founder and president of several banks and business such as the First National Bank of Madison |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | May Ella Williamson (m. 1873) |
| Children | Charles Leroy Kennedy Dean Madison Kennedy |
| Parent(s) | Bartholomew Kennedy Olivia Smith |
| Relatives | Lucretia Kennedy (sister) Abbie Kennedy (sister) Chester Kennedy (brother) William Kennedy (brother) |
Charles Bartlett Kennedy (March 28, 1850 – August 18, 1917) also known as C.B. Kennedy, was an American businessman, farmer, and politician. Kennedy homesteaded the land that would later become the site of Madison, South Dakota.
Kennedy became a very influential figure in the area as he served as a representative in the Dakota Territorial Legislature,[1] where he would pass important legislation that would offically found the town of Madison, but also place the Dakota Normal School there.
Early Life
Charles Bartlett Kennedy was born to Olivia (Smith) Kennedy and Bartholomew Kennedy on March 28, 1850, in Moscow, Maine. Both of his parents were born in Maine, with ancestors on both sides participating in the Revolutionary War. Charles was the second child of Bartholomew and Olivia, with his sister Lucretia Kennedy (1848–1881) being the oldest, then being followed by Abbie (1853–1870), Chester (1855–1933), and William Kennedy (1858–1930).
Kennedy grew up on a farm and received his early education in a log schoolhouse near his family's home, where he studied on long wooden benches arranged along a central aisle. In 1864, his father sold their farm in New England and relocated the family to a new property five miles from Bangor, Maine. While living there, Kennedy walked four miles to attend school while completing morning and evening chores on the farm. To support his education, he worked in a sawmill and saved enough money to enroll at the Pittsfield Institute for a term.
Determined to further his studies, Kennedy continued his education while also teaching at local schools. He later attended Maine State College in Orono, where he worked on the college grounds to help pay for his tuition. However, due to health issues, he was unable to complete his degree. Despite this setback, he was elected superintendent of schools in Penobscot County, Maine , during his early twenties, a role he held until he eventually moved west in pursuit of new opportunities.
On May 20, 1873, in Pittsfield, Maine, Charles B. Kennedy married May Ella Williamson (1853–1934). May Ella was the daughter of Judge Henry Williamson. The couple had two sons, Charles Leroy Kennedy (1878–1966) and Dean Madison Kennedy (1887–1975).
Minnesota
In the same year that he got married, Charles B. Kennedy and his new wife May Ella moved to Le Roy, Minnesota, where he served as superintendent of the schools in Mower County. He held this position for about a year until his term expired. Kennedy then established the Le Roy Independent in 1874, where he worked as an editor and publisher for around four years until he decided to sell the business in 1878.
Dakota Territory
On March 18th, 1878, Charles B. Kennedy and his family moved west, securing a homestead and a tree claim of 320 acres in Lake County, which at the time was 90 miles away from the nearest railroad. When Kennedy first arrived, he said, "There is not a tree in sight, nor sign of human habitation, only paths made by Indians and Buffalo leading to a flowing spring near by." Near this spring is where he built a temporary sod house. Kennedy also chose this site as it was a central location between Lakes Herman and Madison. There was also the likelihood that a railroad would soon come through the area.
Soon, Kennedy began turning the prairie into a farm. Using a four ox team, he ploughed the land and used the oxen to haul timber from the nearest railway point. He would then build a small frame house with a straw stable. Two years later, a survey was made by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad to expand their southern Minnesota line. This survey ran right through Kennedy's property and through the town of Herman.
Founding of Madison
With the railroad being constructed, a fierce rivalry developed between the neighboring towns of Madison, Herman, and Wentworth over the designation of the county seat. Recognizing an opportunity, Kennedy proposed his 320-acre property, which was ideally located near the county's center in a well-drained valley between two large lakes with an abundant supply of fresh water. He successfully convinced the residents of Madison that his land was the most suitable location for their new town. After negotiations were finalized, he quickly began platting the town, which he named New Madison. Even before the platting was complete, the first building from the old town had already been moved and set on its new foundation, marking the beginning of the settlement's relocation.
Moving Herman
The rivalry between Herman and New Madison over the county seat continued, as both towns understood that two settlements only two and a half miles apart could not thrive in such a sparsely populated area. In an effort to resolve the dispute, the people of New Madison proposed that Herman's residents move their buildings in exchange for equally valuable lots in the new town. However, the people of Herman made a similar counteroffer, leading to a stalemate. A committee of six, three from each town, was formed to arbitrate, but after an all-night session and several follow-up meetings, no resolution was reached. Even when additional members were added to the committee, negotiations remained deadlocked.
Realizing that diplomacy was failing, Kennedy and two associates devised a strategic plan. Quietly, they purchased three buildings in Herman and began moving them to New Madison, starting with the smallest to avoid drawing attention. When Herman's residents saw what was happening, they reacted with outrage, gathering in protest, some armed and prepared for confrontation. Kennedy had anticipated resistance and had arranged for a sheriff and several deputies to be on-site, ensuring order. Initially, Herman's people dismissed the move as insignificant, assuming it was an isolated incident. However, their shock grew as a second and then a third building was relocated.
Uncertain of how much property residents of New Madison had acquired and fearing further losses, Herman's leadership reconvened with the New Madison committee. Realizing they could not hold their position indefinitely, they finally agreed to move their town to New Madison under the original terms. With this, New Madison solidified its status as the county seat.
Lake County Representative
In November of 1880, Charles B. Kennedy was elected to represent Lake County in the territorial legislature, which at the time met in Yankton, South Dakota. During his tenure, he successfully passed legislation to vacate the old site of Madison and rename the new settlement as Madison. Kennedy also officially designated it as the county seat of Lake County. He was also instrumental in securing the establishment of the Sate Normal School (now Dakota State University) in Madison. Demonstrating his commitment to education, Kennedy donated a twenty-acre site for the institution.
Kennedy's legislative term coincided with a historically harsh winter, during which heavy snowfall halted all train travel. Facing an arduous return journey of 75 miles in a straight line—or 150 miles by rail—he and three fellow legislators hired a team and sled to make the trip. With snowdrifts ranging from three to twenty feet deep, they had to shovel and carve a path much of the way, often covering only five to ten miles per day. After eleven grueling days of battling blinding snowstorms, they reached Madison, though two of the party stopped at Sioux Falls, and one tragically died from exhaustion.
Charles B. Kennedy held this position until 1882.
Businessman
In the spring of 1881, Charles B. Kennedy would open a real estate and private banking business in Madison. He would also become involved with livestock breeding, partnering with Horace B. Williamson to establish Kennedy & Williamson in 1882. Kennedy & Williamson was a livestock enterprise operating a 2,160-acre stock farm in western Lake County. The firm successfully introduced the first large band of sheep—around 2,000 head—into the Dakota Territory. Kennedy remained involved until 1898, when he withdrew to focus on his expanding real estate and financial interests. In 1884, Kennedy played a key role in organizing the First National Bank of Madison and served as its first president. A year later, in 1885, he and his brother, William F. Kennedy, established Kennedy Brothers, a banking, farm loan, and real estate business. By 1889, recognizing the need for expansion, they merged Kennedy Brothers into the newly formed Northwestern Loan & Banking Company, with Charles B. Kennedy as president and his brother as cashier and secretary. The business continued to thrive, and in 1891, as banking operations grew, the Kennedy brothers founded the Madison State Bank to handle banking separately from their real estate and loan enterprises. The Northwestern Loan & Banking Company continued to operate independently, focusing on farm loans and real estate transactions. In 1909, seeking to retire from banking, Kennedy facilitated the merger of Madison State Bank with the First National Bank, consolidating his financial interests while maintaining leadership of the Northwestern Loan & Banking Company.
Beyond banking, Kennedy was involved in agriculture, eventually owning forty farms. Kennedy's commitment to land improvement was evident as he transformed raw prairie into highly productive farmland by breaking sod, installing fencing, tiling fields, constructing buildings, and planting trees. Over time, he pioneered the use of concrete buildings in Lake County, recognizing their durability and climate benefits. Since 1903, he had focused exclusively on constructing solid concrete structures on his properties. His dedication to scientific and permanent farming methods set a standard for agricultural development in the region.
Later Life and Death
As Charles B. Kennedy grew older, his health worsened. Around the beginning of the 20th century, Kennedy transferred his businesses and responsibilities to his sons, Charles Le Roy and Dean M. Kennedy, so he could spend the winter months in Los Angeles, California for his health.
Charles Bartlett Kennedy died of an illness at 67 on August 18, 1917. He is buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
References
External links
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