Bellefontaine in Logan County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

General Robert Patterson Kennedy

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, July 17, 2014

1. General Robert Patterson Kennedy Marker

Inscription. Distinguished citizen, legislator, public servant, and historian born in Bellefontaine, January 23, 1840. A Civil War hero, he was promoted to brigadier general at only 25 years of age. Admitted to the bar in 1866, he practiced in Bellefontaine until 1878 when President Hayes appointed him Collector of Internal Revenue. He was then elected Lieutenant Governor of Ohio in 1885 then served two terms in Congress from 1887 to 1891. Following the Spanish-American War, he was appointed by President McKinley to serve as head of the Insular Commission to establish the new government of Puerto Rico. In 1903 Kennedy published Historical Review of Logan County. Kennedy started the Bellefontaine Tree Commission. Gen. Kennedy’s home was on this site and later served as the Bellefontaine City Building. General Kennedy died on May 6, 1918.

Erected 2011 by Lt. Colonel John Chance, Logan County Historical Society, The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 13-46.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #19 Rutherford B. Hayes

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

, the Former U.S. Presidents: #25 William McKinley, and the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is January 23, 1840.

Location. 40° 21.595′ N, 83° 45.698′ W. Marker has been reported damaged. Marker is in Bellefontaine, Ohio, in Logan County. Marker is at the intersection of South Detroit Street and West Chillicothe Avenue, on the left when traveling south on South Detroit Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 132 S Detroit St, Bellefontaine OH 43311, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. The Historic Post Office of Bellefontaine (within shouting distance of this marker); The Shirk’s Logan Tire Co. (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Canby Building (about 400 feet away); The Home of Blue Jacket (about 500 feet away); The Kauffman Block (about 500 feet away); The G.C. Murphy Building (about 500 feet away); The Gorges Building (about 500 feet away); The Strand / The Belle Theater (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bellefontaine.

Photographed By Craig Doda, May 13, 2022

2. General Robert Patterson Kennedy Marker

The marker has significantly weathered.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, April 10, 2015

3. General Robert Patterson Kennedy Marker

View of the marker, looking southwest, across the intersection, towards the old, abandoned Bellefontaine post office (seen in the distant background).

General Robert Patterson Kennedy home which stood on this spot. image. Click for full size.

the late Si Herring, from Dr. Ronald Irick's personal archives, unknown

4. General Robert Patterson Kennedy home which stood on this spot.

This house served as Bellefontaine's "City Hall" for many years.

frontpiece of Gen. Kennedy's book image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, July 21, 2014

5. frontpiece of Gen. Kennedy's book

The Historical Review of Logan County, Ohio 1903 original copy in personal archives of Dr. Ronald Irick

General Robert Patterson Kennedy image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, July 21, 2014

6. General Robert Patterson Kennedy

portrait drawn by Henry Howe from personal archives of Dr. Ronald Irick

Credits. This page was last revised on May 23, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2014, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 738 times since then and 22 times this year. Last updated on July 22, 2014, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. Photos: 1. submitted on July 21, 2014, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. 2. submitted on May 16, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 3. submitted on April 24, 2015, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 21, 2014, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.