He attended the public schools and St. Joseph's College in Buffalo, New York. Then he became a saloon-keeper, first he opened two saloons on the waterfront, later another at the corner of Pearl and Eagle Streets.
He was an alderman of Buffalo from 1885 to 1910, and at times president of the board of aldermen and acting mayor. As a Democrat, he was New York State Treasurer from 1911 to 1914, elected in 1910 and 1912.
Kennedy had been the resident vice president at Buffalo of the United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company of Baltimore, a bonding company connected with Tammany, but upon his election in 1910 had turned over his business to his son William who became Resident Secretary at Buffalo of the company. William Kennedy was linked in the bonding business with Charles F. Murphy, Jr., the nephew of Tammany Hall boss Charles F. Murphy. Both Kennedys, Murphy and others had been investigated by Governor Martin H. Glynn's Special Graft Investigator James W. Osborne and questioned by the Manhattan Grand Jury and District Attorney Charles S. Whitman. According to unnamed sources Treasurer Kennedy feared to be indicted for perjury which was denied by his attorney. On February 15, 1914, he committed suicide.
Personal life and death
In 1881, he married Ottilie Schupp, and they had one daughter, Mary Jane (Jennie) Kennedy, and two sons, James Patrick Kennedy who died as a child and William Henry Kennedy who survived him. On February 15, 1914, reports by local newspapers said that he had committed suicide; however, New York State Treasurer John J. Kennedy was due take the train to New York City to testify against Tammany Hall. He was found by his son William H. Kennedy in the bathroom at the Markeen Hotel with his throat slashed ear to ear. Both his wife and son where at the hotel with him. His cousin Thomas H. Kennedy was the police officer on duty at the train station and was called to the hotel at the time of the incident. The New York Times later reported that the treasurer had a train ticket in his pocket and that an audit of his records balanced to the penny. He was buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery on Limestone Hill in Buffalo, New York.
Sources
The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Kennedy, J. at politicalgraveyard.com Political Graveyard
[1] The De. state ticket with short bios, in NYT on October 1, 1910
john, kennedy, york, state, treasurer, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, septe. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations September 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message John J Kennedy ca 1857 Buffalo Erie County New York February 15 1914 Buffalo Erie County New York was an American businessman and politician He was New York State Treasurer from 1911 to 1914 John J KennedyBornca 1857DiedFebruary 15 1914NationalityAmerican Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Personal life and death 3 Sources 4 External linksEarly life and career EditHe attended the public schools and St Joseph s College in Buffalo New York Then he became a saloon keeper first he opened two saloons on the waterfront later another at the corner of Pearl and Eagle Streets He was an alderman of Buffalo from 1885 to 1910 and at times president of the board of aldermen and acting mayor As a Democrat he was New York State Treasurer from 1911 to 1914 elected in 1910 and 1912 Kennedy had been the resident vice president at Buffalo of the United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company of Baltimore a bonding company connected with Tammany but upon his election in 1910 had turned over his business to his son William who became Resident Secretary at Buffalo of the company William Kennedy was linked in the bonding business with Charles F Murphy Jr the nephew of Tammany Hall boss Charles F Murphy Both Kennedys Murphy and others had been investigated by Governor Martin H Glynn s Special Graft Investigator James W Osborne and questioned by the Manhattan Grand Jury and District Attorney Charles S Whitman According to unnamed sources Treasurer Kennedy feared to be indicted for perjury which was denied by his attorney On February 15 1914 he committed suicide Personal life and death EditIn 1881 he married Ottilie Schupp and they had one daughter Mary Jane Jennie Kennedy and two sons James Patrick Kennedy who died as a child and William Henry Kennedy who survived him On February 15 1914 reports by local newspapers said that he had committed suicide however New York State Treasurer John J Kennedy was due take the train to New York City to testify against Tammany Hall He was found by his son William H Kennedy in the bathroom at the Markeen Hotel with his throat slashed ear to ear Both his wife and son where at the hotel with him His cousin Thomas H Kennedy was the police officer on duty at the train station and was called to the hotel at the time of the incident The New York Times later reported that the treasurer had a train ticket in his pocket and that an audit of his records balanced to the penny He was buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery on Limestone Hill in Buffalo New York Sources EditThe Political Graveyard Index to Politicians Kennedy J at politicalgraveyard com Political Graveyard 1 The De state ticket with short bios in NYT on October 1 1910 2 Re nominated in NYT on October 4 1912 3 Obit in NYT on February 16 1914 4 An outline of the investigation in NYT on February 16 1914 5 More info on Treasury and on election of successor in NYT on February 16 1914 6 His suicide in the middle of the bonding clique investigation in NYT on February 17 1914 7 His fears and Whitman s investigation in NYT on February 17 1914 8 His burial and the bonding business in NYT on February 18 1914 9 Denials by his lawyer and his burial in NYT on February 19 1914This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations April 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message External links EditPolitical officesPreceded byThomas B Dunn New York State Treasurer1911 1914 Succeeded byGeorge W Batten Acting Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John J Kennedy New York State Treasurer amp oldid 1114367290, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
