Bio-Kennedy, Opha

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Opha Cleophas Kennedy
(1876-1965)

Opha Cleophas "Ophie" Kennedy was born on May 15, 1876 in the Webster community of Taylor County, WV, the son of Josiah and Ruth Ann (Minerd) Kennedy Sr.

He had black hair and black eyes, and was of medium height and build.

At the age of 24, Opha married 22-year-old Bertha "Bertie" Mayle (1876-1933), the daughter of Thomas and Mary Mayle. The wedding took place on Feb. 23, 1901, at the home of Rev. S.A. Cleavenger.

In 1917, when Opha was 41, he registered for the military draft during World War I. On his registration card, he marked that his employment was coal mining for Sterling Coal Company in Cecil. The draft board officer marked his race as white but also wrote, "Called Colored."

The Kennedys had at least eight children -- among them were Dovey Lee Kennedy, Howard C. Kennedy, Clavius Calvin Kennedy, Mary J. Rupar, James Bradley Kennedy, Magdalene Opal "Sweets" Mayle, Charles Kennedy and Ruth Ann Kennedy. Sadly, daughter Ruth Ann (named for her grandmother and great-grandmother) died at age two in 1923.

When the federal census was taken in 1910, Opha and Bertie resided in Barbour County, with Opha laboring as a coal miner. At the time they had been married for nine years and their four eldest children had been born. The census taker marked them as "mulatto."

The census of 1920s shows the family continuing to live in Barbour County and Opha (mis-named "Okey") maintaining employment as a coal miner. Circa 1923, the Kennedys resided at Flemington, WV, where Opha apparently was employed at the Cambria Mines.

In 1930, census records show the family (surname misspelled "Canada") living in Barbour County with Opha and son Clavius working in local coal mines.

Sadly, at the age of 56, Bertie came down with a fatal case of tuberculosis in February 1933. Added to malnutrition and dehydration, she died the following month, on March 7, 1933.

Well-tended Mt. View Cemetery, resting place for many generations of Kennedys. The church at this site closed in the 1960s and was dismantled in 1967.

The next year, in 1934, the widowed Opha made his home in Galloway, Barbour County.

He married again, to Lena (Mayle) Vaughn, in 1945. She brought a son to the marriage, Fred Vaughn. In 1954 and 1963, they lived in Webster, Taylor County. He retired from Simpson Creek Collieries Company.

Opha suffered from hardening of the arteries and passed away from the illness on April 9, 1965, at the age of 88. He was laid to rest with his first wife Bertie and in-laws at Mt. View Cemetery. Handwritten burial records of Mt. View burials are on file today at the Taylor County Public Library in Grafton. The Grafton Sentinel said he was survived by 41 grandchildren.

~ Daughter Dovey Lee (Kennedy) Kennedy ~

Daughter Dovey Lee "Dovie" Kennedy (1902-1977), sometimes misspelled as "David," was born on Jan. 15, 1902, in Philippi. On May 5, 1921, when she was age 19, she married 19-year-old Ellis "Red" Kennedy (1900-1962), the son of Emma Kennedy. On their application for a marriage license, Dovey's father provided information and stated that the bride and groom were "fourth cousins." The wedding was performed by Rev. R.O. Phillips of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Philippi.

The Kennedys had nine children -- Harry Kennedy, Steward Kennedy, Barbara Kennedy, James Kennedy, Roger Kennedy, Virginia Mayles, Judy Newman, Shirley Mayles and Victoria Kennedy.

Red was a longtime coal miner. They made their home in the Berryburg community of Route 2, Flemington.

At the age of 62, Red died at home on Oct. 6, 1962. Following a funeral at Berryburg's Apostolic Faith Jesus Christ Church, led by Rev. Hayward Menear, he was buried in Mt. View Cemetery. At the time, he and Dovey were survived by 13 grandchildren.

The widowed Dovey lived in Berryburg, Barbour County in 1965-1968. She died in December 1977, at the age of 75.

~ Son Clavius Calvin "Tave" Kennedy ~

Son Clavius Calvin "Tave" Kennedy (1904-1978) was born on Oct. 2, 1904, in Berryburg, Barbour County. At the age of 23, he wed 17-year-old Berneda Croston on July 5, 1930, by the hand of Rev. Fred Decost.

They had eight children-- Calvin Kennedy Jr., Virginia Dennison, Patricia Hill, Eugene Kennedy, Isaac Kennedy, Conal Kennedy, Opha Kennedy II and Paul Kennedy.

The Kennedys lived in Canton, Stark County, OH in 1965; in Detroit, MI in 1968; and at 1581 Pekin Drive SE in East Canton, OH in 1978.

Canton's Market Avenue looking north, 1930s

Tave was a longtime coal miner, belonging to the United Mine Workers of America, and was a member of the Crystal Park Wesleyan Methodist Church of Canton. He passed away at the age of 71, at Timken Mercy Hospital, in Canton. The Grafton Mountain Statesman said he was survived by 21 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Son Calvin Kennedy Jr. was born on Dec. 20, 1934 at Galloway, Barbour County. He married Vivian Crites (1939- ? ), the daughter of Gaylord and Ada (Brannan) Crites of Arnettsville, Monongalia County, WV. Their wedding took place on March 10, 1956, with the newlyweds making their home in nearby Rivesville, Marion County. Circa 1978, Calvin resided in Canton.

Daughter Virginia Kennedy married (?) Dennison and lived in Detroit in 1978.

Daughter Patricia Kennedy wed (?) Hill and made her home in 1978 in Detroit.

Son Eugene Kennedy lived in East Canton.

Son Isaac Kennedy lived in Canton.

Son Conal Kennedy resided in Canton.

Son Opha Kennedy II made his home in Canton.

Son Paul Kennedy resided in Louisville, OH.

~ Son James Bradley Kennedy ~

Son James Bradley Kennedy (1911-1968) resided in Tennerton and Anmore, Upshur County, WV. He married Adeline Dalton (1917-1964), the daughter of Floyd Dalton of Quiet Dell, WV.

The Kennedys had three children -- Franklin Kennedy, Loretta Jenkins and Dorothy Iquinta. James was a longtime coal miner and an employee of Clinchfield Coal Company, Dola Mine No. 2, in the 1960s. They were members of the Mt. Zion Methodist Church of Anmore.

Sadly, Adeline died at the age of 46 on Feb. 8, 1964, said the Grafton Sentinel, "in a Clarksburg hospital following a brief illness." Following her funeral at the Mt. Zion Methodist Church, led by Rev. Clyde Loar, she was buried in the church cemetery.

He was the informant for his father's death certificate in 1965.

James died of an acute coronary occlusion at the age of 57 in Upshur County on May 1, 1968. According to his obituary printed in the Grafton Sentinel, James was survived by six grandchildren. He was laid to rest in Mt. Zion Cemetery in Anmore, WV.

Son Franklin Kennedy moved to Ohio, settling in Canton, Stark County.

Daughter Loretta Kennedy married Orville Jenkins and resided in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA in 1968.

Daughter Dorothy Kennedy married William Iquinta and lived in Arlington, VA.

~ Son Howard "Cornelius" Kennedy ~

Son Howard "Cornelius" Kennedy lived in 1965-1968 in Morgantown, Monongalia County, WV. He was deceased by 1995.

~ Daughter Mary Jeanette (Kennedy) Rupar ~

Daughter Mary Jeanette Kennedy (1909-1995?) was born on May 24, 1909 in Grafton, Taykor County, WV. She married her next-door neighbor, coal miner Andrew Rupar (1885-1952), in the early 1930s. He was an immigrant from Yugosloavia, the son of Mary Rupar, and almost a quarter century older than his bride.

They had four children: Mary Ann Rupar, JoAnn Mayle, Robert Rupar and Frances Imperial. The family lived in Galloway, Barbour County.

Sadly, daughter Mary Ann died of bronchial pneumonia at the age of one month, eight days on March 28, 1935. The infant was buried at Mt. View Cemetery.

The Rupars' grave at Mt. View Cemetery.

Andrew died in Myers' Clinic of hardening of the arteries, heart disease, stomach cancer and chronic bronchitis at the age of 66 on March 26, 1952. He was laid to rest in Mt. View Cemetery.

The widowed Mary maintained a residence in Galloway. She died on Oct. 17, 1995, at the age of 86, at the home of a nephew in the Berryburg community. Her obituary in the Barbour Democrat said she "was a homemaker and a member of the Galloway Center of the Barbour County Senior Citizens." She was survived by nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Rev. Winfield Mayle led her burial service. She rests for eternity beside her husband.

Daughter JoAnn Rupar married (?) Mayle. Circa 1995, they made their home in East Canton, OH.

Daughter Frances Ruper wed (?) Imperial. She died on April 4, 1995, just six months before her mother.

Son Robert Rupar made his home in Fort Smith, AR.

~ Daughter Opal "Sweets" (Kennedy) Mayle ~

Daughter Opal "Sweets" Kennedy (1916-2006 ) married Linsey "Linzy" Mayle (1909-1971 ), the son of Eugene and Essie "Ocie" Mayle. The wedding took place on Oct. 7, 1934, at Philippi. At the time, the 25-year-old Linsey lived in Flemington, while the 18 year old Opal resided in Galloway.

Later, they relocated to Ohio, settling in Chesterhill near McConnelsville, Morgan County. Chesterhill is seen here in an old postcard view.

The Mayles had 11 children, of whom seven are known -- Roger Mayle, Dow "Junior" Mayle, Freda (Mayle) Mayle, Floyd "Tommy Mayle, Michael Alan Mayle, Floyd E. Mayle, Carolyn Hill, Patricia Hill, Nancy Tippie and Kathy McKibben.

Linsey died in 1971 at the age of 62.

Opal outlived him by 35 years. "She was an aide at Mark Rest Center for 20 years and belonged to the Cornerstone Church in McConnelsville," said the Zanesville (OH) Times Recorder. Opal passed away at the age of 88 on June 16, 2006, at the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Zanesville. She was laid to rest in Chesterhill Cemetery in Chesterhill, Morgan County. At the time of her death, Opal and Linsey had produced 23 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

Daughter Freda Mayle (1937-2000) married Camden Mayle ( ? - ? ). They resided in Canton, Stark County, OH, and had these children -- Deborah Dalton, Denise Kennedy, Deanna L. Tavares and Dwayne C. Mayle. Freda died at the age of 63, on Oct. 6, 2000, following an extended illness," reported the Canton Repository. She was buried at Melscheimer Cemetery.

Son Roger Mayle (1945-1969) was born in Canton, and graduated from Marion High School in Chesterhill, Morgan County. He served in the US military in Vietnam, and later was a construction worker. Tragically, he was killed in a one-car accident on Route 50-A in Amesville, Athens County, OH on March 10, 1969. Said the Athens Messenger, the "car left the road, hit an embankment and overturned. A passenger, Aaron Mayle, survived the crash." Burial was in Chesterhill Cemetery.

~ Son Charles E. Kennedy ~

Son Charles E. Kennedy (1925- ? ) resided in Canton, Stark County, OH in the 1960s and in Minerva, OH in 1978.

He was deceased by October 1995.