William Kennon Sr.

William Kennon Sr. (May 14, 1793 – November 2, 1881) was an American lawyer and politician who served three terms as a U.S. Representative from Ohio. He served in Congress from 1829 to 1833, then again from 1835 to 1837.

William Kennon
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio
In office March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1833
Preceded by	John Davenport
Succeeded by	Joseph Vance
Constituency	10th district
In office March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837
Preceded by	James Martin Bell
Succeeded by	James Alexander Jr.
Constituency	11th district
Ohio Supreme Court Judge
In office December 1854 – March 1856
Appointed by	William Medill
Preceded by	William B. Caldwell
Succeeded by	Jacob Brinkerhoff
Personal details
Born	William Kennon, Sr. (1793-05-14)May 14, 1793 Uniontown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	November 2, 1881(1881-11-02) (aged 88) St. Clairsville, Ohio, U.S.
Resting place	Methodist Cemetery St. Clairsville, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Jacksonian
Other political affiliations	Democratic, Republican
Spouse	Mary Ellis ​ (m. 1825)​
Children	3
Alma mater	Franklin College

He was a cousin of Congressman William Kennon Jr.

Early life and career

Born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Kennon moved with his parents to Belmont County, Ohio, in 1804. He attended the common schools and Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1824 and commenced practice in St. Clairsville, Ohio.

Congress

Kennon was elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-first and Twenty-second Congresses (March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1833). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1832 to the Twenty-third Congress.

Kennon was elected to the Twenty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1836 to the Twenty-fifth Congress.

Later career

He served as president judge of the court of common pleas 1840–1847. He served as delegate to the second State constitutional convention in 1850. He was appointed to fill the unexpired term of William B. Caldwell as judge of the Ohio Supreme Court in 1854 by Governor William Medill. He resigned in 1856 and resumed the practice of law in St. Clairsville, Ohio.

Kennon became affiliated with the Republican Party at the outbreak of the Civil War.

Family life

Kennon married Mary Ellis on June 16, 1825, and they had three children.

Death

Kennon died in St. Clairsville, Belmont County, Ohio, November 2, 1881. He was interred in Methodist Cemetery.

Sources

• United States Congress. "William Kennon Sr. (id: K000123)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress