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 byJohn Davenport
Succeeded byJoseph Vance
Constituency10th district
In office
March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837
Preceded byJames Martin Bell
Succeeded byJames Alexander Jr.
Constituency11th district
Ohio Supreme Court Judge
In office
December 1854 – March 1856
Appointed byWilliam Medill
Preceded byWilliam B. Caldwell
Succeeded byJacob Brinkerhoff
Personal details
Born
William Kennon, Sr.

(1793-05-14)May 14, 1793
Uniontown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedNovember 2, 1881(1881-11-02) (aged 88)
St. Clairsville, Ohio, U.S.
Resting placeMethodist Cemetery
St. Clairsville, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyJacksonian
Other political
affiliations
Democratic, Republican
Spouse
Mary Ellis
(m. 1825)
Children3
Alma materFranklin College

He was a cousin of Congressman William Kennon Jr.

Early life and career

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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

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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

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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.[1] 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

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Kennon married Mary Ellis on June 16, 1825, and they had three children.[1]

Death

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

Sources

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  • 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

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 10th congressional district

March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1833
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 11th congressional district

March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837
Succeeded by
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