i^-
 
 ?
 
 ,^A
 
 " Precious in the sight of the Lord is the 
 death of his saints." 
 
 inrnt of Wm^ 
 
 m 
 
 Born, February il, i8io. 
 Died, March i6, 1880. 
 
 /vvlX^ 
 
 i<
 
 Printed kv E. H. Welburn, 
 
 129 Main Street, Louisville, Kv. 
 
 1881. 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, by 
 
 Drummond Welburn, 
 
 in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
 
 Q75 
 
 ^ 
 
 air. 
 
 HE, BEING DEAD, YET SPEAKETH." 
 
 WHE name of William Kendrick, loved 
 and honored by thousands, is the only 
 proper introduction to this brief biography. 
 From pious parents he inherited a heahhy 
 body, a handsome person, a sound mind, 
 and the blessed guardianship of a covenant- 
 keeping Savior and God. They taught him 
 Christian principles, industrious habits, and 
 the manners of a oentleman. 
 
 His father, Walter Kendrick, was born 
 at Sandon, near Stone, in Staffordshire, 
 England, on the i6th of September, 1765. 
 His mother, Nancy Fielding, was born 
 near Manchester, on the i6th of July, 
 1 769. Both of them were devout mem- 
 
 a09140
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 bers of the Church of England. They 
 were married at Oldham, near Manchester, 
 in 1795, where their first child was born on 
 the 2d of September, 1796. Soon after 
 marriage they determined to seek a home 
 in America. He arrived in the City of 
 New York on the 4th of April, 1 796, and 
 some time afterward wrote the foUowingf 
 hopeful letter to his waiting wife : 
 
 '■'■ To Mrs. Kendrkk, Oldham, near Manchester : 
 
 Dear Wife : — I have the pleasure to inform you of 
 my safe arrival in New York, after a passage of 
 twenty-eight days, and have now got quite fixed in a 
 very good stand for business, with a very handsome 
 shop, and have a prospect of doing a great deal of 
 business, wholesale and retail. I have the neatest 
 hat shop in the city and the newest fashions from 
 London." 
 
 How many months of saddening sep- 
 aration were endured before the indus- 
 trious tradesman had the happiness of 
 welcoming his wife and child to an Amer- 
 ican home we know not. Nor can we tell 
 of rapturous joy in reunited loving hearts 
 when no longer separated by the rolling 
 waves of ocean. The patient labors of
 
 WILLIAM KEN D KICK. 
 
 the youthful emigrants in business place 
 and home are unrecorded. The thousand 
 thoughtful ministrations of time-tested 
 love, which made that home a heaven of 
 delights can not be depicted. What happy 
 associations were enjoyed with new found 
 friends, or what tender memories of earlier 
 years were awakened by the solemn ser- 
 vices of Old Trinity Church must be left 
 to the reader's imao^ination. 
 
 The children of Walter and Nancy 
 Fielding Kendrick were Mary Ann, born 
 in Oldham, England, September 2d, 1796 ; 
 Nancy, born in New York, April 4th, 
 1801 ; Walter, born in New York, January 
 30th, 1805; Margaret, born in Newark, 
 New Jersey, November 17th, 1807; and 
 William, born in Patterson, New Jersey, 
 F'ebruary iith, 1810. They were all bap- 
 tized in infancy — Mary Ann, at Oldham, 
 in the Church of England ; Nancy and 
 Walter at New York, and Margaret and 
 William at Newark, New Jersey in the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church. 
 
 Mary Ann never married. She died in
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 New York, on the 1 7th of September, 
 1823. Walter remained unmarried. He 
 died in Louisville of cholera in 1833. 
 Nancy was married in New York to Mr. 
 John iNI. Reed, with whom she lived 
 happily many years. She died in Louis- 
 ville on the loth of April, 1877. She was 
 the pious, honored mother of Mrs. Mary 
 A. Caspari. Mrs. Caroline G. Stancliffe, 
 Mrs. Glorianna M. Drysdale, Mrs. Eveline 
 F. Talbot, Mrs. Margaret K. Meeker, 
 Mrs. Lavinia M. Fulton, Mr. Richard D. 
 Reed and Mr. William K. Reed. Mar- 
 garet was married to Mr.W^illiam Kaye on 
 the 10th of November, 1825. She also 
 was blessed with a numerous family — A^u- 
 gustus W., Francis J., Charles, William H. 
 and Louis F. Kaye, and Emily D., now Mrs. 
 Dr. Porter, and Katie, now Mrs. Fosdick. 
 Mrs. Kaye still lives in happy old age, 
 revered and loved bv children, and chil- 
 dren's children. If the limits of this volume 
 permitted, it would be an agreeable task to 
 trace further the varying fortunes of the 
 worth)- kindred of our departed friend.
 
 WILLIAM KENDRICK. 
 
 On the 23cl of September, 1813, the 
 death angel darkened the dweHing of 
 Walter Kendrick. His beloved wife was 
 taken to a better world in the forty-fourth 
 year of her age. The pangs of a hus- 
 band's bereaved heart, when death tears a 
 beloved wife from his embraces, and the 
 gloom that gathers around motherless 
 children when the lis^ht of home is extin- 
 guished by the expiring breath of the one 
 that loved them best, language has never 
 yet successfully portrayed. But faith and 
 hope and love remained to cheer the deso- 
 lation and encourage the sorrow stricken. 
 
 The family have cherished memories 
 and sacred traditions of those sorrowful 
 da)s, when a father's care and fortitude re- 
 mained, while the older children watched 
 over the younger with tender solicitude, 
 and the little ones cheerfully accepted their 
 lovinp; rule. 
 
 For several years Walter Kendrick was 
 very prosperous and successful jn New- 
 Jersey, but securityships, and the unfaith- 
 fulness of a foreman of his factorv invol-
 
 8 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 ved him in financial embarrassment. In 
 1818 he removed to the city of Louisville, 
 where, on the 2d of April, 1 8 1 9, he was hap- 
 pily married to Mrs. Elizabeth McMullin. 
 Some time after this his attention was 
 turned to the contract made with Stephen 
 Austin by the new nation of Mexico. By 
 the terms of this contract Mr. Austin and 
 his associates were to establish civilized 
 settlements in the wilds of Texas. To 
 remunerate the colonists for their risks and 
 toils, Mexico was to guarantee to them the 
 enjoyment of civil and religious liberty, 
 and the peaceable possession ot countless 
 leagues of land. Attracted by these allur- 
 ing prospects, Walter Kendrick and his 
 oldest son went to this western land of 
 promise, doubtless expecting to open up 
 and secure as a permanent possession 
 richer and more extensive domains than 
 William the Conqueror had ever given to 
 the most favored of his Norn;an followers. 
 These pages have nothing to say of 
 Mexican bad faith or of Mexican revolu- 
 tions, of Texan battles, defeats, or vie-
 
 WILLIAM KENDRICK. 
 
 tories ; nor yet of the failure of Texas to 
 secure the landed rights of her first ad- 
 venturous patriots. Possibly, such a claim 
 as that of the Kendricks, if presented to 
 the Legislature of that noble State, might 
 even at this late date be acknowledo-ed. 
 honored and satisfied. 
 
 Walter Kendrick did not live to fioht 
 at San Jacinto, or to aid in annexing the 
 young republic to the United States. But 
 in Texas, he died for Texas, and in sacri- 
 ficing himself he gave to Texas all of 
 human support upon which a young fam- 
 ily depended ; yet the heirs of Walter 
 Kendrick have not inherited a sinele 
 foot of the vast domain which he helped 
 to secure for his longer lived compa- 
 triots. Walter Kendrick died of the 
 malarious fever of the country on the 17th 
 of September, 1822. Ten days before the 
 death of her husband in Texas^Mrs. Eliz- 
 abeth Kendrick died in Louisville, Ky., 
 leaving the subject of our brief sketch in 
 poverty-stricken —
 
 lO MEMOIR OF 
 
 Drpttanacte. 
 
 The deaths of Walter Kendrick and his 
 wife left the hero of our story and his 
 vouno- sister Maroaret anionic strano-ers 
 and in straitened circumstances. Their 
 very few surviving relatives were in New 
 York, and, though full of love and sym- 
 pathy, were not burdened with worldly 
 wealth. But the Father of the fatherless 
 was not unmindful ot the orphans. While 
 contemplating a return to the East, Mar- 
 garet, though but fifteen years old, became 
 the heroine of a most unexpected romance. 
 
 The second Mrs. Kendrick was a con- 
 nection of an excellent family named Sale, 
 long and favorably known in Louisville. 
 The Sales were intimate with the family of 
 the late Coleman Daniel, whose wife was 
 a sister of Mrs. William Reed, Mrs. John 
 G. Schwing, and of several gentlemen 
 named Kaye. One of these gentlemen 
 Mr. William Kaye, had met the young or- 
 phan at the house of his sister, and had
 
 WILLIAM KENDRICK. 
 
 I I 
 
 taken a more than benevolent, or chivalric 
 
 inlierest in her welfare. He was unwilline 
 to see Louisville lose, and New York gain 
 so lovely a citizen. He bees'ed her to 
 stay, and offering her his hand and heart, 
 was accepted. On the loth day of Nov- 
 ember, 1825, she became the wife of Mr. 
 Kaye. 
 
 Before the decision of Margaret was 
 known, and while the orphan boy was in 
 uncertainty with reference to his future 
 home, his lot was also determined in an 
 unexpected way. While he was standing 
 on the side-walk one day, he was startled 
 by the voice of a man who with tremulous 
 tones, and tearful eyes, said " My son will 
 you go home with me, and live with me, 
 and be my boy?" The lad unhesitatingly 
 replied "Yes sir, I will." Having learned 
 his name, and history, the gentleman took 
 him to his plentiful home, to occupy the 
 place in home and heart, recently made 
 vacant by the lamented death of a beloved 
 son between whom, and William, he fancied 
 he saw a striking resemblance.
 
 12 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 This gentleman, long known and honor- 
 ed in Jefferson county, was the owner of 
 a farm, and tan yard, about six miles below 
 Louisville, on the Salt River road. To the 
 praise of both, be it said, the sympathy, 
 confidence, and love, so suddenly and un- 
 expectedly called into exercise between the 
 orphan, and his friend, continued to grow 
 and strengthen through life. The charm 
 still binds the descendents of each to the 
 other in uninterrupted friendship. A life 
 size portrait of Mr. Jones, has had its 
 place of honor in Mr. Kendrick's parlor, 
 more than 40 years. At the house of Mr. 
 Jones, young Kendrick found an agreeable 
 companion in the person of his friend's son, 
 Daniel. 
 
 In a larger volume the farm, the tan 
 yard, the way side school house, the coun- 
 try church, country sports, hunting, fishing, 
 skating, swimming, and visiting in town 
 and country, might each demand a sepa- 
 rate chapter. But even in this brief record 
 we must not fail to notice the pious coun- 
 sels, songs, prayers and tears, with which
 
 WILLIAM KEN D RICK. 
 
 13 
 
 the excellent Mrs, Jane Shively tried not 
 in vain, to turn the orphan's heart to Christ 
 his Savior. 
 
 As time rolled on the boys mastered 
 the lessons taught in the neighborhood 
 school, and Mr. Jones determined to send 
 Daniel to the college at Bardstown, that 
 he might receive a classical education. 
 Though the orphan boy had no funds to 
 pay for tuition and board, and his friend 
 could not afford to extend his own liberal- 
 ity so far, the old gentleman was very 
 desirous that William should continue to 
 be the constant companion of Daniel. He 
 also indulged the hope that William would 
 derive important advantages from his as- 
 sociations with men of learning- in Bards- 
 town. It was therefore understood that 
 William would seek employment in the 
 town, and while earning his own living, 
 and enjoying the company of Daniel, 
 would use due diligence in the cultivation 
 of his intellect. It was hard to find busi- 
 ness for a boy of fourteen, yet such was 
 the anxiety of the lad to please his bene-
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 H 
 
 factor, that findiiiP" nothingf else to do he 
 undertook to work for a village inn-keeper. 
 Here he soon learned that he must either 
 give up his business or spend much of his 
 time behind his employer's bar. 
 
 Honorable men may entertain varying 
 opinions with reference to the traffic in 
 intoxicating drinks, but it will not astonish 
 any person who knew William Kendrick to 
 learn that he instinctively shrunk with 
 loathings and horror, from the scenes and 
 associations of life in a bar room. No 
 attachment to his young friend, nor rever- 
 ence for his foster father, could reconcile 
 him to a business that seemed to him so 
 destructive of human happiness and human 
 life. Though forty miles from home, he 
 set out on foot to flee from scenes and 
 pursuits that his soul abhorred. On that 
 tedious journey he missed the direct route, 
 and for some time was bewildered and 
 lost ; but even under these trying circum- 
 stances, his gentlemanly manners, and 
 agreeable person, gained friends for the 
 strano-er.
 
 // 'ILLIAM KEXDRICK. 
 
 15 
 
 Shortly after his arrival at home, Mr. 
 Jones in a fatherly conversation called his 
 attention to the importance of engaging 
 in some regular business for life. Assured 
 him that though he was more than welcome 
 at home, it was better for him to secure 
 permanent employment in the city. A 
 place was soon found in the store of Mr. 
 C, and William cheerfully entered upon 
 the career of a merchant's clerk. For some 
 time nothing occured to interrupt the usual 
 course of mercantile life. The faithful 
 clerk, the appreciative employer, and the 
 satisfied customers had no complaints to 
 make against each other. The fourth of 
 July, observed as a holiday by nearly all 
 the inhabitants of the little city, brought 
 with it the usual lack of business, and su- 
 perabundance of noise and sport, but Mr. 
 C. was out of town. As the holiday hours 
 passed neighbors began to visit the idle, 
 solitary clerk, to learn why he did not im- 
 itate others ; close the store and enjoy 
 himself. Toward noon the not-unwilling 
 youth, yielded to the solicitation of his
 
 1 6 MEMOIR OF 
 
 neighbors, locked up the business place, 
 and joined the merry-makers. When he 
 next met the merchant, the clerk was 
 sharply reprimanded, and was told that his 
 services were no longer desired, and he 
 might seek other employment. This was 
 on the 5th of July, 1824. Not far away 
 was the jewelry store of Mr. E. C. Beard. 
 William called to see that gentleman, told 
 him of the displeasure of Mr. C, the con- 
 sequent loss of his clerkship, and asked 
 Mr. Beard to accept his services, and teach 
 him his trade. The high opinion Mr. 
 Beard had previously formed of the lad, to- 
 gether with his frank statement of the 
 facts connected with his discharge from the 
 service of Mr. C, opened up at once to our 
 orphan the beginning of the most remark- 
 able business career Louisville has ever 
 known. 
 
 While with Mr. Beard he still indulged 
 the most ardent affection and grateful 
 esteem for his fast" friends at the tan yard 
 and the farm, and frequently paid them 
 brief, happy visits. They never forgot that
 
 ;/ 'I LI. I AM KEXDRICK. 
 
 the jeweler's boy belonged to their own 
 family circle. What new associations and 
 friendships he enjoyed in his new home ; 
 what snares his youthful feet escaped ; 
 what temptations he overcame ; what trials 
 he endured ; what evil company he avoided ; 
 what helps to virtue were his ; we cannot 
 here record. Imagination may follow him 
 from day to day as he perfected himseli in 
 the knowledge and practice of his art, grew 
 in -stature, increased in wisdom and im- 
 proved in manners while passing through 
 youth to — 
 
 Uttitl^oiil. 
 
 The instruction received in infancy and 
 childhood, had so pre-occupied his mind 
 with religious truth, as to save him from 
 the contamination of skeptical principles, 
 and the disgraceful degradation of a 
 vicious life. His opinions were orthodox, 
 his conduct upright, his reputation untar- 
 nished, his conscience tender, his manners 
 gentle, and he possessed a manly beauty of 
 form, of features, and of expression, rarely
 
 l8 MEMOIR OF 
 
 equaled. Thus In his eighteenth year, one 
 of the most fascinating of un-regenerate 
 men, he entered the Old Methodist Church, 
 on the east side of Fourth Street, at the 
 South side of the alley, between Jefferson 
 and Market Streets. Rev. Peter Akers 
 was pastor of the congregation, but on 
 that night Rev. H. H. Kavanaugh, ( now 
 Bishop Kavanaugh,) occupied the pulpit. 
 The word of God as preached by the ear- 
 nest minister, and applied by the Divine 
 Spirit, roused his conscience, and excited it 
 to the most intense activity. He not only 
 perceived that by hereditary depravity the 
 fallen human race is "Very far gone from 
 oriofinal rig-hteousness, and of our own 
 nature inclined to evil, and only evil ; and 
 that continually :" but this comprehensive 
 truth seemed full of personal significance, 
 involving his own present peace, and his 
 eternal destiny. He discovered the ex- 
 ceeding sinfulness of sin, and his own 
 personal sinfulness in the sight of God. 
 He saw his own lack of conformity to the 
 Divine will. Neglected duties, voluntary
 
 WILLIAM KEN D RICK. 19 
 
 transgressions, sins of thought, word, and 
 action, sins of childhood, youth, and man- 
 hood, sins against law, against justice, 
 against mercy, all seemed calling down the 
 wrath of God upon his guilty, wretched 
 soul. Even the covenanted mercies of 
 God, to which pious parents had trustfully 
 committed him in infancy, seemed to in- 
 crease his condemnation. Had he not too 
 often forgotten that consecratincr covenant, 
 and turned to his own evil ways ? Had not 
 his sins defied, insulted, grieved, the Father, 
 the Son, the Holy Ghost ? The Triune 
 God seemed bound by every attribute 
 Divine, to execute the sentence "The soul 
 that sinneth it shall die." " Banishment 
 from the presence of the Lord, and from 
 the glory of His power," appeared to be 
 the sinner's inevitable doom. 
 
 But the faithful preacher had words of 
 life and salvation for the sorrowing peni- 
 tent. He told him of a Savior, and said 
 '' The Lord hath laid on him, the iniquity 
 of us all;" that he "Suffered for us;" 
 "Shed his blood for us;" "Died for us;"
 
 20 MEMOIR OF 
 
 "Made his soul an offering for our sins;" 
 "gave himself for us, that he might redeem 
 us from all iniquity;" "Died for our sins, 
 and rose again for our justification ; " 
 "Whom God hath set forth to be a propiti- 
 ation through faith in his blood, to declare 
 his righteousness for the remission of sins 
 that are past, that he might be just and the 
 justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." 
 
 The young man perceived that with 
 infinite compassion, and infinite wisdom, the 
 very God against whom he had sinned had 
 provided for the forgiveness of sin, and the 
 present and eternal salvation of the peni- 
 tent believincr sinner. And this without 
 any violation of the Divine justice, or any 
 infringement upon immutable law. Yea 
 that the highest glory of the Infinite Jeho- 
 vah is seen and celebrated in the salvation 
 of those who with the help of His Divine 
 Spirit, believe on His Divine Son, with the 
 heart unto righteousness. 
 
 William Kendrick did then believe with 
 all his heart, and realized that "Being 
 justified by faith, we have peace with God
 
 WILLIAM KEN D RICK. o \ 
 
 through Our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom 
 also we have access by faith, into this 
 grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope 
 of the glory of God." "Believing on the 
 name of Jesus, he received power to be- 
 come a Son ot God, being born not of 
 blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of 
 the will of man, but of God." He could 
 say from a blessed experience "We have 
 not received the spirit of bondage, again 
 to fear but we have received the Spirit of 
 adoption whereby we cry Abba Father. 
 The Spirit, itself, beareth witness with our 
 spirit, that we are the children of God, and 
 if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and 
 joint heirs with Christ Jesus." 
 
 This satisfactory, joyous, personal expe- 
 rience of a real, a felt salvation, by faith, in 
 a present Christ, shed its radiance on all 
 his subsequent life. Henceforth he trav- 
 eled in the glorious light of his Father's 
 smile, toward his Father's house above. 
 This instantaneous salvation b) grace, 
 through faith was the beginning of a higher, 
 holier life, a life by faith in the Son of God,
 
 2 2 MEMOIR OF 
 
 and under the felt guidance of the Holy 
 Ghost. It is a fact that must be emphasized, 
 and remembered, or we can have no proper 
 key to the character and conduct of one 
 who has been so much admired, and so 
 little imitated. 
 
 The spiritual sunshine in which the justi- 
 fied, and regenerated youth lived, had for a 
 time one dark shadow to obscure its bright- 
 ness — the possible displeasure ot his bene- 
 factor, Mr. Jones, The old gentleman with 
 all his kindly human sympathy, and all the 
 exhuberant wealth of affection which he 
 lavished on his loved ones, had never given 
 his heart to Christ ; was a neglecter of the 
 great salvation : and there were reasons for 
 doubting whether he would approve of what 
 his young friend deemed a sacred duty. 
 
 William though properly comprehending 
 the infinitely superior claims of his Saviour, 
 and strongly attracted by love for the people 
 of God, dreaded the displeasure of his friend. 
 What if the authority of the Highest should 
 require him to disobey the commands of his 
 earthly benefactor? What if union with the
 
 WILLIAM KEXDRICK. 23 
 
 people of God should separate him from 
 one whom he loved with more than the af- 
 fection of a son for his father? Conscience 
 would not permit him long" to hesitate. 
 He sought the earliest possible opportunity 
 to visit his old home, on this important busi- 
 ness. With conflicting hopes and fears, he 
 walked six miles to see his old friend. He 
 told Mr. Jones as best he could, what great 
 things had been done for him, in the salva- 
 tion of his soul, and feelingly expressed the 
 hope that his purpose to unite with the 
 church would meet the approbation ot his 
 benefactor. The old gentleman not onl\' 
 banished his fears of opposition, but filled 
 his heart with gladness, by commending his 
 course, and encouraging hini to be faithful 
 in the discharge of every religious duty. 
 His walk back to the cit)' was a triumphal 
 march, with a glorious crown of eternal life 
 in full view. He was heartily welcomed 
 into the communion of the faithful, and as if 
 to make his cup overflow with blessings, the 
 minister who had called him to repentance, 
 was at the ensuing Annual Conference, ap-
 
 24 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 pointed to the pastorship of the church. 
 
 The next four years of Mr. Kendrick's 
 life were full of important events, and strik- 
 ingly exemplify the rapid progress often 
 made by self-dependent men. It was 
 between his eighteenth and twenty-second 
 year, that those religious associations began 
 which made him for fifty-two years, a pillar 
 in the church, and connected him with the 
 oreat ecclesiastical movements ot the cen- 
 tury. It was during these four years he 
 took the honorable place he so long occu- 
 pied in the Masonic fraternity. That he 
 formed two business partnerships, and 
 became prominent among the commercial 
 men of Louisville. That he became favor- 
 ably known among the most successful 
 business men of the eastern cities. That 
 he was heartily welcomed into the most 
 refined and respectable circles of society, 
 and most important of all it was in these 
 four years that he sought and found "Do- 
 mestic happiness, that only bliss of paradise 
 that has survived the fall." He became —
 
 WILLIAM KENDRICK. 25 
 
 ^m\^ "WM^ 
 
 At a wedding the polite boy of fourteen, 
 met a blushing nine year old girl, first of a 
 beauteous band of six lovely sisters. She 
 was the daughter of Mr. John G. Schwing, 
 and as her mother was the sister of Mr. 
 William Kaye, who had married the lad's 
 sister Margaret, the young couple frequently 
 came together in social circles. How soon 
 the two children experienced reciprocated 
 affection, or at what time timid admiring 
 glances were succeeded by the loving, 
 longing looks that fascinate youthful souls, 
 is not recorded. Whether vows of undying 
 love were first exchanged in the 'dim reli- 
 gious light" of the old Fourth Street church, 
 
 or, 
 
 "The modest loving pair, breathed out the 
 tender tale, 
 Beneath the milk-white thorn, that scents 
 the evening gale," 
 
 we may not learn. What moonlight strolls, 
 
 or pious walks to consecrated counts, or 
 
 ever lencrthenine, never finished talks of
 
 26 MEMOIR OF 
 
 love and hope, emparadised the passing 
 hours, cannot' now be recalled : but on the 
 19th of January, 1832, William Kendrick 
 and Maria Stroup Schwing, were happily 
 married. The husband was less than 
 twenty-two years old, the wife but one 
 month over seventeen. 
 
 As no selfish scheming, nor corrupt 
 dreams of wanton dalliance, had broucrht 
 them too^ether, the romantic halo that 
 brightened the wedding day never faded, 
 the honey-moon never waned. It is not 
 astonishing that an english poet should have 
 imagined that the wedded bliss of Adaiii 
 and Eve first kindled the envy of Satan, 
 That the highest of Arch Angels rebelled 
 against his creator for withholding such bless- 
 edness from angels, and bestowing it on his 
 favorite creature, man. The madness and 
 misery introduced by sin, into the relations 
 and associations of the sexes, must excite 
 the indignant wonder of a virtuous universe. 
 In millions of horrid habitations, man is 
 seen with brutal lust and fiendish fury, pol- 
 luting, blasting, blighting and destroying
 
 I VI L LI AM KEN D RICK. 2 / 
 
 all the ecstatic deliohts, which heaven has 
 kindly lavished upon the loving union ot 
 husband and wife. What a libel upon the 
 wisdom and goodness of God : and an 
 outrage upon human society are divorces, 
 and the vile degrading practices which have 
 made them necessary. But we have no 
 space for moralizing. 
 
 It was the good fortune of Mr. Kendrick 
 to become the husband of a pious daughter 
 of a most exemplary mother, connected 
 with one of the most remarkable families of 
 the land. Even a brief sketch of such a 
 family connection, would make a most en- 
 tertaining and instructive volume. It would 
 offer great encouragement to struggling 
 emigrants and throw much light upon the 
 principles of political and domestic economy. 
 We may not follow them from the shores of 
 Europe to all the honorable positions they 
 have from time to time occupied in ten 
 states of our union ; but they demand even 
 here more than a passing notice, because 
 of the happy influence exerted by them 
 over the subject of our memoir.
 
 28 MEMOIR OF 
 
 The parents of Mrs. Kendrick's mother 
 were among the earliest settlers of Louis- 
 ville. The father was from the banks of 
 the Rhine, the mother a Philadelphian, of 
 German blood. They brought with them 
 to the P^alls of the Ohio, the bible principles 
 of Martin Luther, the patient industry so 
 characteristic of the German people, and 
 one daughter born to them in the city 
 of Philadelphia. Without wealth, family 
 influence, rash speculations, or political 
 trickery, they soon acquired a comfortable 
 home, and were able to erect the first brick 
 house built in the village. For many years 
 the town had but two wells of water, one of 
 which was kept locked, so that every family 
 but one drew drinking water from the well 
 of Mr. Kaye. He died in a good old age, 
 leaving a numerous posterity to imitate his 
 example. 
 
 The father of Mrs. Kendrick's father, 
 was the son of a Strasburg watch maker, 
 who thought more of his French citizenship 
 than he did of his German blood. In his 
 old age the first Napoleon was one of the
 
 IVIL 1. 1. 1 A/ K END RICK. 
 
 29 
 
 idols of his heart. He had arrived in 
 America a little before the revolutionary 
 war, and heartily united with the patriot 
 army in resisting the authority of George 
 the third. Before the war ended his health 
 failed, and he became incapable of per- 
 forming the duties of a soldier in the field. 
 
 While strolling in search of health and 
 strength, through the streets of Philadel- 
 phia, he heard what seemed to him a singing 
 angel. Entering an open door to see 
 if she was as sweet as her song, he 
 discovered a beautiful Philadelphia german 
 lass, and an unmistakable case of love at 
 first sight. The hereditary echoes of that 
 musical voice, coming from the lips of hun- 
 dreds of her lovely or brave descendants, 
 have entranced delighted husbands and 
 wives, and happified dutiful children, in 
 cottages and palaces through successive 
 generations. 
 
 The worn and weary soldier, led his 
 singing bride to a humble home at Wells- 
 burg, near Wheeling, in Virginia; where 
 ten children were born to them. In 1801,
 
 30 MEMOIR OF 
 
 their oldest son, ( Mrs. Keiidrick's father ) 
 having become a carpenter, built a boat on 
 which the whole family descendeti the Ohio 
 to the falls. 
 
 The year of acclimation in the sickly 
 town was a sore trial to the new comers, 
 but there was always one son, and one 
 daughter, well enough to work for and 
 wait on the suffering sick ones. The same 
 principles and habits that had made the 
 Kayes independent and comfortable, soon 
 gave. the Sch wings all things necessary for 
 life and Godliness. The father, of Mrs. 
 Kendrick was the first person to apply 
 steam to machinery in Louisville. As a 
 carpenter, he needed a saw mill. The 
 people persuaded him to add to this a grist 
 mill. Soon the p^rindino; so increased that 
 the sawing ceased ; and a mill that could 
 manufacture fifty barrels of flour a day, 
 became one of the wonders of the West. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. John G. Schwing 
 and Miss Mary Kaye, was largely attended 
 by cheerful merry neighbors, but to their 
 great consternation, was also celebrated
 
 WILLIAM KEN D KICK. 31 
 
 In' the most fearfully violent earthquake 
 that ever shook the valley of the Missis- 
 sippi. It not only made the people tremble 
 in their tremblino^ dwellincjs, and shudder 
 by the rattling" dishes on the festive board, 
 but actually shook down the bridal bed of 
 the newly married pair. Yet notwithstand- 
 ing the danger aad alarm, quite a number 
 of the wedding guests lived to participate 
 in the festives of the golden wedding of 
 the happy couple, fifty years afterwards. 
 
 It has been said that Mrs, Kendrick's 
 mother was a most extraordinary- woman. 
 In strength, and clearness of intellect, she 
 had few superiors, of either sex. Her 
 early education was the best that could be 
 obtained in Louisville at the close of the 
 last century and opening of the present, 
 but was necessarily limited and imperfect. 
 The care of a very large family, left little 
 time for systematic reading, but she never- 
 theless acquired and retained vast stores 
 of information, of which she was ever able 
 to make a wise use. 
 
 The connection of Mr. Kendrick with
 
 ^2 MEMOIR OF 
 
 her family was of great advantage to both. 
 Her long experience and sound judgment, 
 made her a wise adviser ; and his steady, 
 even piety, greatly assisted her in the 
 religious training of her family. Indeed 
 from the time of his marriage, he was 
 almost unconsciously elevated to a sort of 
 pious, fraternal guardianship over the 
 younger brothers and sisters of his wife. 
 This grew out of the fact that it was not 
 until her husband was sixty-two years old. 
 that Mrs. Schwing had the happiness to 
 see him take any interest in the religious 
 culture of his children. Loving, honest, 
 and truthful, as he was, he saw no necessity 
 for anxiety about their spiritual welfare, or 
 the salvation of his own soul. Decent as 
 was his demeanor, and steady as were his 
 habits, neither his example, nor his words, 
 tended to the promotion of piety. But the 
 gentle patient wife, and the exemplary son- 
 in-law, though paying all due respect to 
 the authority of a father over his house- 
 hold, were happily successful in bringing 
 one after another of the children to the
 
 WILLIAM KEN D RICK. l^^. 
 
 knowledge of salvation by the remission 
 of sins ; until all were gathered into the 
 fold of Christ, And at last they saw the 
 family circle completed, by the entrance of 
 the husband and father into the fellowship 
 of the church on his sixty-second birthday. 
 It may be proper in this connection to 
 make brief reference to Mr. Kendrick's — 
 
 He faithfully served in almost every po- 
 sition which a layman may occupy, and 
 always with credit to himself, satisfaction 
 to those who appointed him, and profit to 
 the church. As a manager of religious, 
 and charitable institutions, he was ever in 
 place, attentive to duty, cautious, concilia- 
 tory, generous. As a trustee of church 
 property, keeping it in order, holding the 
 legal title, guarding the sacred places 
 against profanation, giving wise counsels, 
 and promoting peace among brethren, his 
 services were invaluable. Though always 
 burdened with business, and pressed for
 
 34 MEMOIR OF 
 
 v) 
 
 time, he neglected none of the duties of a 
 lay delegate when elected to membership 
 in Annual and District Conferences. 
 
 The financial officers of protestant 
 churches have to perform duties that are 
 peculiarly trying and discouraging. They 
 have to stand between an empty treasury 
 and a membership that is under no legal 
 
 obligation to have it replenished. Among 
 those who conscientiously contribute there 
 is a standing temptation to ask, how little 
 will suffice for church expenses? And how 
 little of that little will self-respect, public 
 opinion, and conscience permit me to pay? 
 This naturally results from the lack of any 
 established standard of liberality. From 
 the fact that no stated per cent, of the cap- 
 ital, the income, or the expenditures of 
 church members, can be demanded for 
 church purposes. Scriptural financial 
 principles were wiser. Abraham, Moses 
 and Paul, learned and taught percentage. 
 The primitive Christians contributing "Ac- 
 cording as the Lord had blessed" them; 
 even when very poor, always had money
 
 WILLIAM K END RICK. 
 
 35 
 
 in the church treasury for necessary uses. 
 On that plan they had no need of " Sub- 
 scriptions," "Assessments," ''Envelopes," 
 "Pews," "Concerts," "Feasts" or "Shows." 
 There are a few wealthy ministers, some 
 very rich congregations, and a very few 
 well regulated poor congregations, that 
 save financial officers from the ordinary 
 troubles. But notwithstanding the exis- 
 tence of these exceptional cases, the 
 fact remains, that deacons, stewards and 
 other collectors of church moneys are 
 subjected to mortifications, and sacrifices, 
 that seldom sweeten their tempers or 
 promote their piety. Hence many grow 
 weary of such discouraging toil, resign 
 their offices, or withdraw from the com- 
 munion of the churches ; while many 
 others remain in office but become dicta- 
 torial, unamiable, and cross. Still the 
 churches find many who never grow weary 
 in well doing; who go through life bearing 
 the burdens of others, as well as their own, 
 with uncomplaining cheerfulness. 
 
 For nearly fifty years, William Kendrick
 
 ^6 MEMOIR OF 
 
 discharofed the duties of a steward, faith- 
 fully, efficiently, lovingly. However rude 
 others might be he was always polite. 
 The selfishness of others might grieve him 
 but no unkind word escaped his lips. His 
 fellow laborers might complain of their 
 illiberal brethren, and resign their offices, 
 but he continued at the post of duty, 
 patiently training to better practices, gen- 
 eration after eeneration of church members. 
 Most of this long period of hard service, 
 he was recording steward of the station, 
 and secretary of the leaders' and stewards' 
 weekly meeting. Whenever it became 
 his duty as one of the district stewards, to 
 assist in determining the amount of a 
 presiding elder's salary, and in apportioning 
 it amono- the stations and circuits of the 
 district, he always acted generously. He 
 never cherished the congregational selfish- 
 ness, which has sometimes characterized 
 and disgraced such meetings. 
 
 Early in the religious life of Mr. Ken- 
 drick, he was appointed a class leader. 
 The Class Leadership as established by
 
 WILLIAM KENDRICK. 37 
 
 Wesley, combined most of the duties 
 assigned to lay elders in other churches : 
 with other elements of usefulness found in 
 no other church office. The leader was 
 appointed by his preacher in charge to a 
 sort of sub-pastorate over ten or twelve 
 persons ; (but very unwisely, and without 
 any change in the law, the nimiber in a 
 class became practically indefinite, until 
 twent)-, a hundred, or the whole church, 
 claimed the care of a single leader, or of 
 no leader. ) The leader met the members 
 of his class once a week, to read the script- 
 ures, sing, pray ; to learn their religious 
 experience and progress, to give scriptural 
 advice, and to receive from them the monev 
 they were willing to contribute for the 
 relief of the church, the poor, and the 
 preachers. He had also a much more 
 important duty to perform, in the constant 
 oversight, and religious watch-care, which 
 he was required to exercise over the mem- 
 bers of his class. It would be difficult to 
 over-estimate the conservative power of 
 such a guardianship over the ignorant, the
 
 38 MEMOIR OF 
 
 young, the unstable, the tempted, and the 
 discouraged. The advantages thus accru- 
 ing to the leader, and the most pious 
 members of his class in the cultivation of 
 their own graces arud gifts, eternity alone 
 can reveal. It was through the leader, and 
 in the class meeting that the men of loftiest 
 intellect, along with their less gifted breth- 
 ren had to obtain their first recommendation 
 for license to preach. The Quarterly Con- 
 ference of which the leader was a member, 
 was the only church court having authority 
 to grant the license ; and without its 
 recommendation no preacher could be 
 received on trial by an Annual Conference. 
 It was also a court of appeals for laymen, 
 and of original ' jurisdiction over local 
 ministers. The leader was required to 
 meet his pastor, and the stewards, once a 
 week in the "Leader's Meeting," improper- 
 ly called "The Official Board." At this 
 meeting he paid to the stewards the money 
 received the preceding week, and reported 
 to his pastor the sick, the needy, and any 
 who "Walk disorderly and will not be
 
 IV/L LI AM KEN PRICK. 
 
 .39 
 
 reproved." In this reference to the leader- 
 ship as instituted by Wesley, and establish- 
 ed by early General Conferences, the past 
 tense is used because it has unhappily 
 ceased to exist in many Methodist church- 
 es, and in all of them its glory has departed. 
 
 Whether this lamented deterioration of 
 a most valuable means of orace has been 
 caused by the progress of civilization and 
 refinenient, the pressure of other church 
 work, the influence of other denominations, 
 the lack of efficient leaders, or to the loss 
 of religious zeal, and the decay of vital 
 godliness, may be discussed by others 
 elsewhere. 
 
 As a leader, William Kendrick was, 
 through a long busy life, eminently suc- 
 cessful. Hundredsjof families in Louisville 
 from time to time connected with his class, 
 became more attached to him than to any, 
 or all of their pastors. When misfortunes 
 overtook them, when disease invaded their 
 dwellings, when bereavement saddened 
 their hearts, or death threatened them, his 
 was the first name they uttered. He has-
 
 40 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 tened to help and comfort them. When 
 the members of these famiHes were scat- 
 tered abroad in distant lands, their sweet- 
 est memories of home and friends, and 
 holy places, were inseparably connected 
 with the beloved class leader. 
 
 His christian activities could not be con- 
 fined to the city where he dwelt. The wor- 
 shippers in wayside churches, the religious 
 people of country villages, and the sons 
 and daughters of poverty, wherever they 
 called on God, rejoiced to hear his foot- 
 steps, and found themselves richer in grace 
 and in money, before he left them. When 
 hard work required seasons of recreation 
 he did not seek it in places of fashionable 
 resort. The springs, the sea shore, Frank- 
 fort and Washington, had no attractions 
 for him when he could get to a country 
 quarterly meeting, or a grove consecrated 
 to the worship of The Most High. In- 
 crease of wealth, or associations with the 
 ambitious and extravagant, effected no 
 change in his principles, his tastes, or his 
 pursuits. Though a man of most ardent
 
 WILLIAM K'EXDKICK. 
 
 41 
 
 imi)iilses, he seldom acted from mere im- 
 pulse. Thoucrh sincerely devoted to an 
 ever enlarging circle of friends, even those 
 whom he loved best had no power to con- 
 strain him to do anything that his own 
 jiidgnient did not approve. No enthusi- 
 asm of thousands could kindle an uncal- 
 culating enthusiasm in him. No opposi- 
 tion of millions could turn him troni what 
 he conscientiously regarded as the path- 
 way ol duty. But with such sound judg- 
 ment, and so strong a will, in the govern- 
 ment of his own conduct, he seldom strove 
 to impress his opinions on others : or to 
 control their actions, except by the power 
 of his good example. He had no ambi- 
 tion to be a ruler, except over himself and 
 his family. Even in the appointment of 
 pastors, for the congregation in which he 
 was so long an. office bearer, he declined 
 to dictate, or even advise or petition. 
 
 This shrinking from the exercise of au- 
 thority and influence,' and his habitual gen- 
 tleness toward the erring and the vicious, 
 seemed to those who knew and loved him
 
 42 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 best, the one weak point, in his strongly 
 virtuous character. He was so perfectly 
 the christian gentleman, that the gravest 
 errors, and the vilest conduct, seldom drew 
 from his lips the language of denunciation. 
 It was feared that in his presence, error 
 and vice, would so catch the glowing radi- 
 ance of his benignity, as to forget their own 
 hideous deformity. That they could hardly 
 admit themselves to be so bad, as law and 
 gospel, and God, regarded them, if not 
 severely denounced by such an embodi- 
 ment of virtuous excellency. His friends 
 believed that if so much will-force, and such 
 correct judgment, backed by so fine a port, 
 and presence, so admirable a character, and 
 so fauldessa life, could have been connected 
 with a little more of the stern determina- 
 tion of John Knox, to exterminate wrong, 
 and make weaker minds submit, his useful- 
 ness would have been enhanced a thousand 
 fold. It is however possible, that by occa- 
 sional indulgence, in the severity deserved 
 by wrong doers, he might have lost some 
 of the wondrous power for good, that
 
 WILLIAM KEN D RICK. 
 
 was wielded b)- his loving gentleness. 
 
 Some may imagine that a life so inofifen- 
 sive, would lift a man above the temptations, 
 and trials that beset ordinary christians. Yet 
 this was not so. Like all the people of 
 God, like their Divine Saviour, William 
 Kendrick, had to endure opposition from 
 men, and the temptations of the devil. 
 Some of the trials of his early life have 
 been already recorded. The troubles of his 
 business career will be mentioned hereafter. 
 In this place it is proper to give all that can 
 now be learned about a most remarkable 
 Satanic temptation, and a most wonderful 
 deliverance from the power of the wicked 
 one. Late in life Mr. Kendrick invited an 
 intimate friend into the back room of his 
 Main Street store, and locked the door. 
 W^ith manifestations of deep feeling, he 
 stated that for some time past, he had been 
 the subject of strong, and long continued 
 temptation. He had resisted the tempter 
 and by the grace of God had maintained 
 his christian integrity, yet the conflict with 
 the powers of darkness grew fiercer. He
 
 44 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 had sought dehverance in the regular use 
 of all the means of grace, and In earnest, 
 fervent, persevering private prayer, but still 
 the enemy came in like a tiood, as if to 
 overwhelm him, and sweep away the very 
 citadel of his faith. It was no failure of 
 health, no domestic distress, no business 
 perplexity, no social scandal, no church 
 trouble, nor any personal, practical sin, that 
 had destro)'ed his happiness, and filled him 
 with agony. Yet it was evident that he 
 must obtain relief throusjh the crrace of 
 God, in Christ Jesus, by the power of the 
 Holy Ghost, or the most serious of evils 
 would come. It was suo^aested that the 
 fervent effectual prayers of the people of 
 God, amid new scenes and associations, 
 could not fail to be beneficial to one in great 
 need of stronger faith and brighter hopes. 
 He declined to attend quarterly meetings 
 with his friend in the interior of Kentucky. 
 At these he would be recognized as an old, 
 and active christian. He wished to go 
 where none knew him, where he could be 
 regarded as only an humble beggar, at the
 
 WILLIAM KENDRICK. 
 
 4.S 
 
 throne of the heavenly grace. Drs. Inskip 
 and McDonald, had announced a Holiness 
 meeting- to be held at a Camp Ground 
 in Ohio. This he determined to attend. 
 He arrived on the Camp Ground at about 
 the time for beginning one of the services. 
 A large well behaved congregation, after 
 engaging in singing and prayer, and listen- 
 ing to a discourse which insisted upon the 
 inimediate exercise of an undoubting faith, 
 for a present cleansing from sin, bowed 
 down toy^ether to wait for the descending 
 blessing. He of course bowed with them, 
 and lifted the prayers of his anxious heart, 
 to the throne of the heavenly grace. He 
 had not been favorably impressed by the 
 boldness with which the worshippers ex- 
 pressed their confidence in an instantaneous 
 cleansing from sin, nor did he entirely ap- 
 prove the dramatic grouping, and the 
 sensational proceedings of the hundreds 
 bowed together to pray, to expect, to be- 
 lieve, to receive. But when one was 
 leading the prayers of the assembly, with 
 humble confessions, pathetic pleadings, and
 
 46 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 confident reliance on atoning blood, dying 
 love, resurrection power, Divine mediation, 
 sovereign mercy, and the purifying power 
 of the Holy Ghost, all criticism ceased. 
 Then while still kneeling, the congregation 
 continued its prayer in the language of an 
 awe-inspiring, faith-strengthening, hope- 
 kindling hymn, until heaven and earth, 
 seemed to unite. It was then proposed 
 that for five minutes, every heart should 
 send up its own silent, fervent prayer, for 
 blessings on itself, the assembly, and the 
 race. r3uring that silent invocation, scores 
 professed to find pardon, peace, and purity. 
 William Kendrick though less demonstra- 
 tive than others, obtained a glorious victory 
 over sin and Satan: more wonderful and 
 satisfactory, than he had ever gained before. 
 His gloom was gone. The Glory of God 
 filled his heart and beamed from his coun- 
 tenance. He had not escaped beyond the 
 observation of all that knew him. Even 
 in Ohio he was recognized by a few precious 
 friends, and these soon made him known 
 to other children of God, with whom he
 
 WILLI AM KENDRICK. 47 
 
 was " welcomed as if loved for years." 
 
 His visits to Parks Hill, and Kavanaugh 
 Camp meetings, are remembered as occa- 
 sions of delight, by hundreds who frequent 
 those consecrated groves. His presence at 
 Annual, District, and Quarterly Conferences, 
 were always suggestive, and promotive of 
 
 "The soul's calm sunshine, 
 And the heartfelt joy." 
 
 Such spiritual conflicts and victories as that 
 just recorded, may by thousands of sincere 
 persons, be deemed incredible, but nearly 
 all the eminent children of God have so 
 suffered, and so triumphed. In ancient 
 times Abraham, Job, Daniel, and Paul, are 
 illustrious examples. In recent times Lu- 
 ther, Wesley, and hundreds of others have 
 fought such battles, and gained such victo- 
 ries. Nominal christians "Fast bound in 
 Satan's slavish chains " may wear their 
 fetters in quietness. And sluggish souls 
 who do little to manifest the spiritual life 
 that is in them, may be left to their inglo- 
 rious inertia, with but slight disturbance. 
 If space permitted, much more might be
 
 48 MEMOIR OF 
 
 profitably written about the religious char- 
 acter, and conduct of the subject of our 
 memoir. Larofe volumes micrht be filled 
 with interesting incidents treasured up in 
 the memories of hundreds who have been 
 benefitted by his religious labors. 
 
 Though truth has rendered it necessary 
 to present him as a methoclist, a methodist 
 of the straitest sect, yet no single sect could 
 appropriate such a heart and such a life. 
 He belonged to all Christendom. To hu- 
 manity. To the whole family of God 
 throughout the universe. How he was re- 
 garded by his brethren of other denomina- 
 tions, and his friends of no denomination, 
 has been most eloquently set forth by our 
 ablest speakers, prose writers and poets. 
 We cannot do justice to the subject in hand, 
 without makingr some of the numerous ser- 
 mons, addresses, resolutions and poems, 
 called forth by his lamented death, part of 
 this volume. These will be found in the 
 appendix at the end of this memoir. The 
 religious principles of Mr. Kendrick were 
 not only exemplified in his social and church
 
 WILLIAM KEN D RICK. 
 
 49 
 
 life, but were quite as conspicuous along all 
 the pathway of his most remarkable — 
 
 Justness Ifdrecr. 
 
 It would not indeed be statino- the fact 
 too strongly, to say that his religion, liter- 
 ally led the unselfish tradesman, from pen- 
 niless poverty, to honorable opulence, and 
 crowned him with the most enviable com- 
 mercial prosperity. 
 
 The lad was but little more than four- 
 teen years old, when Mr, Beard kindly 
 accepted his services, and agreed to teach 
 him his trade. If he was not superior to 
 others in aptness to learn, in mechanical 
 skill, or in rapidity of execution, he pos- 
 sessed much more important qualifications, 
 in a degree equalled by few, and surpassed 
 by none. He was truthful, honest, cheer- 
 ful, active, industrious, prompt, punctual : 
 and gave the most careful attention to the 
 minutest details of the least important 
 business with which he was entrusted. In 
 commercial life, he sought no unfair ad-
 
 50 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 vantage over others. He did not profess 
 to work for less, or to sell lower: nor did 
 he undervalue the wares of his neig^hbors 
 or over-estimate the value of his own. He 
 uttered no sensational boasts of a wonder- 
 fully refined taste, or a masterly skill in the 
 manipulation of gems and jewels. He 
 resorted to no tricks of trade, to secure 
 custom. Indeed if judged by commonly 
 received standards of opinion, in business 
 circles, he would have been pronounced 
 decidedly deficient in push and enterprise. 
 Yet he was eminently successful. It was 
 integrity of character that laid the founda- 
 tion of his prosperity. It was christian 
 principle that built up his business. It was 
 a renewed heart, guileless and loving, that 
 spoke through his lips, glowed in his 
 countenance, and gave to his eyes, that 
 indescribable fascinating power, which 
 once felt, can never be forgotten. His 
 peculiar politeness, was not mere Chester- 
 fieldian, outside polish, but the legitimate 
 manifestation of a heaven-inspired truthful- 
 ness, honesty and philanthropy. This in
 
 WILLIAM KEN D RICK. c i 
 
 the Utter absence of pharisaic cant, or of 
 boastful pretenses of worldly honor, im- 
 pressed all who knew him, with the idea 
 that he was the best possible human 
 exemplification of that American expression 
 " Thoroughly reliable," or of those more 
 correct English words "Perfectly trust- 
 worthy." It is difficult to over-estimate 
 the value of such a reputation in connec- 
 tion with the sale of articles about which 
 the tradesman knows so much, and the 
 customer so little. 
 
 In 1 83 1, soon after becoming of age, 
 Mr. Kendrick entered into partnership 
 with Mr. Harris, a brother of Mr. Alfred 
 Harris, for many years Assessor of the 
 City of Louisville. What degree of 
 success was enjoyed by this firm, we have 
 not learned, but it was dissolved in less 
 than a year ; and a partnership was formed 
 with Mr. James I. Lemon. Lemon & Ken- 
 drick, soon transacted a very extensive 
 business which promised rapidly to enrich 
 those enterprising gentlemen. For several 
 years their store at the corner of Main
 
 52 MEMOIR OF 
 
 and Fourth streets, presented a varied 
 stock of jewelry, clocks, watches and plate, 
 that might have compared favorably with 
 similar establishments in more pretentious 
 cities. But the commercial storm of 1838, 
 39-40-41-42, struck them as it did thou- 
 sands of other business men, when they 
 were least expecting such a disaster. With 
 a large stock of goods rapidly depreciating 
 in value, with sales of costly jewelry almost 
 entirely suspended, and notes, and book 
 accounts, becoming worthless on account 
 of the general bankruptcy of their debtors, 
 they were compelled to suspend business. 
 The creditors of the firm were informed of 
 the unfortunate state of their affairs, and 
 they proposed to surrender stock, notes, ac- 
 counts, and everything else that they 
 possessed. Mr. Kendrick even gave up 
 the house in which he lived. It had been 
 built on ground belonging to his wife, 
 and had never been conveyed to himself. 
 Against this the creditors of the firm could 
 not have the shadow of a legal claim, yet 
 the young tradesman saw his sick wife,
 
 WILLIAM KENDRICK. 
 
 and her two helpless little girl's walk un- 
 complainingly by his side, through the door, 
 down the steps, out into the world, home- 
 less and poverty stricken. 
 
 When what appeared to be a final set- 
 tlement had been made, and the bankrupt 
 jewelers were legally released from their 
 debts, the eastern creditors asked Mr. 
 Kendrick what he proposed to do for a 
 living? He informed them that he expect- 
 ed to work at his business with his own 
 hands. They expressed unshaken confi- 
 dence in his character, and in his business 
 qualifications ; and proposed to open new 
 accounts, and furnish him with a complete 
 stock of merchandize with which to begin 
 again. He thanked them for their expres- 
 sions of confidence, and their kind offers 
 of credit; but said firmly, "Gentlemen, I 
 have suffered so much on account of debt, 
 that I never expect to go in debt again." 
 They then proposed to sell him the stock 
 they had in Louisville, which the firm had 
 just surrendered. He again respectfully 
 refused to buy anything on a credit. Then
 
 54 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 they asked the privilege of storing their 
 goods with him, that he might sell them on 
 their account, and make such profits on 
 them as he deemed practicable and proper. 
 To this he consented ; and further agreed 
 that they might from time to time, add 
 such articles as might be necessary to make 
 his small business profitable to them. He 
 however positively refused to mix the 
 money received for their stock, with the 
 money which he expected to earn for the 
 support of his family. 
 
 Then followed years of close economy, 
 patient waiting, untiring industry, and 
 earnest devotion to business. He had 
 many friends and the confidence of all who 
 knew him, but on a cash basis business in- 
 creased slowly. Yet rigidly adhering to 
 his resolution, he refused to incur debt, in 
 order to engage in more extensive trans- 
 actions. If the enlargement of his trade 
 was slow, it was steady, safe, solid. If 
 new customers were not multiplied rapidly, 
 they were securely retained. If wealth did 
 not accumulate fast, debt did not; his small
 
 WILLIAM KENDRICK. 
 
 55 
 
 income exceeded his expenditures. He 
 had the satisfaction to see a gradual en- 
 largement of that part of the stock which 
 was his own and a corresponding diminution 
 of that which he was sellingr for his eastern 
 friends. In the course of a few years he 
 became the owner of everything in his 
 store, and by human law owed no man 
 anything. He had long ardently desired 
 to see that day. Yet it brought no relax- 
 ation of effort, no temptation to extrav- 
 agance. It was the besfinnincr of mightier 
 exertions, to secure a more glorious tri- 
 umph. The unpaid debts of Lemon & 
 Kendrick had been legally discharged. 
 No civil court had power to collect one 
 cent on the old accounts. Eastern credi- 
 tors had long since charged them to profit 
 and loss, and had cheerfully relinquished 
 all claims against their polite, profitable, 
 Louisville customers. But these honest 
 men had never repudiated their obligations. 
 They had even dared to hope that a God, 
 loving honesty and justice, would permit 
 them to live and labor long enough to lift
 
 56 MEMOIR OF 
 
 from their tender consciences, this never- 
 forgotten burden. 
 
 When Mr. Kendrick discovered that he 
 was no longer dependent upon others for 
 the means of conducting his small, but 
 increasing business, his heart was filled 
 with richest gratitude to God, and strong 
 encouragement to labor for complete eman- 
 cipation from the thraldom of his old in- 
 debtedness. God heard his prayers and 
 blessed his efforts, and permitted him to 
 hail the first of January, 1850, as the 
 beginning of his year of jubilee. 
 
 In April of that year he had cash with 
 which to replenish his stock, and a surplus 
 sufficient to pay principal and interest of the 
 old debts that more than seven years before 
 had been settled by bankruptcy. The 
 following letters were received by him in 
 reply to letters which he had written 
 enclosing drafts for the money. 
 Dear Sir- Philadelphia, April 18, 1850. 
 
 Messrs. Dubosq, Carrow & Co. handed me yes- 
 terday, your half of the balance of the old account 
 of Lemon & Kendrick, with interest from that time. 
 I considered that account entirely and honorably
 
 WILLIAM KENDRICK. z^' 
 
 settled, as you gave up all your property and goods 
 in payment to your creditors, which was all we could 
 ask or expect. 
 
 Since I have been in business I have had many 
 promises made me, when I have compromised a 
 debt, that if ever able the parties would certainly pay 
 the balance, but you have the pleasure of making the 
 first performance. 
 
 Money received by such good and christian princi- 
 ples, I feel anxious should be better appropriated 
 than to ordinary business. I have therefore handed 
 Twenty dollars to the Treasurer of the Board of 
 Domestic Missions, that it may return to the West 
 and take root there, and the balance handed to Mrs. 
 Harper for distribution to some charitable purposes 
 at home. 
 
 Hoping you may have the same pleasure in all your 
 l)usiness transactions as in this, looking for your 
 reward beyond this life, 
 
 I am sincerely yours, 
 
 John M. Harper. 
 
 Philadelphia. April 17, 1850. 
 Friend Kendrick : 
 
 We have to acknowledge receipt of draft, of which we 
 
 have paid to Mr. Harper Dollars, and the balance 
 
 have pas.sed to the credit of Lemon & Kendrick on 
 the old account which w^e had almost forgotten. We 
 will not say that this is unexpected, for all our deal- 
 ings with both yourself and Mr. Lemon have led us 
 to believe that at some time or other, if you were 
 able, we should receive the balance due us, yet it is 
 so unusual a circumstance in these days of rascality 
 and roguery to find any one willing to do what is just 
 or more than they can be compelled to, that we can-
 
 58 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 not help making you our acknowledgments. We 
 will not pay you any compliments or say anything 
 which you might consider as flattery, yet we must let 
 you know that we duly appreciate this action of 
 yours which we shall not easily forget. 
 
 Hoping and believing that in the end you will not 
 be the loser by this transaction, we are with senti- 
 ments of high esteem, 
 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 DuBOSQ, Carrow & Co. 
 
 New York, 9th May, 1850. 
 
 Mr. William Kendrick, 
 
 Louisville, Ky. 
 Dear Sir : 
 
 It is with great satisfaction that we reply to your 
 esteemed favor of the loth April last, enclosing a 
 Check for money, to be divided amongst the sub- 
 scribers as therein directed, being a payment in full 
 of a Claim with Interest released by us some Seven 
 Years since. 
 
 We are Sir, indebted to you for this evidence of 
 sound and correct principles, and have read your 
 letter with lively interest and much profit. We find 
 the sentiments therein expressed, such as do honor to 
 your head and heart. 
 
 It is not often that we are called upon to ac- 
 knowledge the receipt of money sent to satisfy a 
 Claim upon which no creditor has a legal demand, 
 and upon which he can scarcely be said to have a 
 moral one, and we most sincerely trust that the ex- 
 ample now shown by you, of what strict Justice and 
 Morality require, may be followed by all those who 
 find themselves in like situation. 
 
 As a te.stimonial of our regard and as a Keepsake 
 to be pointed to hereafter by your descendants, we
 
 WILLIAM KENDRICK. 59 
 
 beg your acceptance of a piece of Silver Plate, suit- 
 ably inscribed, which we have despatched to your 
 address by Adams & Co.'s Express. 
 
 \\'ishing you every gratification that a good action 
 and Just Conduct may produce, 
 
 We remain, your friends. 
 
 Fellows, Wadsworth & Co. 
 Fellows, Cargill & Co. 
 Francis Tomes & Sons. 
 Downing & Baldwin. 
 
 Those from Philadelphia need no expla- 
 nation. That from New York was em- 
 barrassing as well as gratifying. Seeking 
 no commendations or compliments for what 
 appeared to him the performance of an 
 unquestionable duty he expected nothing 
 more than simple business receipts for the 
 money. When, therefore, the newspapers 
 published the transaction, his sensitive soul 
 not only shrunk from the notoriety it gave 
 him, and from the temptation to esteem 
 himself too highly, but as the following 
 letter from himself to the New York 
 gentlemen shows, was pained by the fear 
 that his equally honest friend, and former 
 partner, Mr. Lemon, might be embarrassed 
 by the publication.
 
 6o MEMOIR OF 
 
 Louisville, Ky., May 30, 1850. 
 
 Messrs. Fellows, Wadsworth & Co., 
 
 Downing & Baldwin, 
 
 Fellows, Cargill & Co., 
 
 F. Tomes & Sons, 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 With feelings which I liave not language to ex- 
 press, I acknowledge the receipt of your very kind 
 letter of the 9th inst. Also of the beautiful Silver 
 Pitcher with which you liave thought proper to pre- 
 sent me as a testimonial of your regard. 
 
 You will please accept my thanks for this bestow- 
 ment which I feel is so unmerited on my part, and be 
 assured that those thanks arise from a full and grate- 
 ful heart. 
 
 The consciousness that I have done my duty in the 
 act which lead to this development of your kind feel- 
 ing toward me, afforded me a sufficient remuneration 
 in itself, and a satisfaction that none but they who 
 feel it know ; and then to have received the letter 
 which I did from your hands, added a new feature to 
 heighten that enjoyment, but think it not strange 
 when I tell you that on receiving the Plate and 
 reading the inscrij^tion, I felt in my heart the necessi- 
 ty of praying to Him, to whom I am indebted di- 
 rectly or indirectly for every good and perfect gift, 
 that He would grant me grace that I might not be 
 exalted above that which is right in His sight. 
 
 I receive the offering at your hand. I have given 
 
 it in charge to Mrs. Kendrick to be placed in view 
 
 of my children, that when I cease to live on earth, 
 
 you may be remembered by them as their Father's 
 
 friend. ^^ . „ 
 
 Yours most respectfully, 
 
 Wm. Kendrick.
 
 WILLIAM KENDRICK. 6 I 
 
 Permit me to add that I fear I have raised a barrier 
 though unintentionally, in the way of rny friend and 
 old partner, Mr. Lemon. He says that he now feels 
 that his hands are tied, for under the circumstances 
 he could not feel free to adjust his portion of the old 
 debt, for fear his act in so doing might be attributed 
 to improper motives. Though he has had it on his 
 mind to do so some day, and had not forgotten our 
 premise. I have not a doubt but his heart is right in 
 the matter. But not knowing his circumstances fully. 
 I from delicacy, did not make known my intention 
 to him for fear he would not be prepared to unite 
 with me. I therefore acted for myself, supposing I 
 should have received a recei])t for the amount, and 
 nothing more, thus leaving the ojjportunity 0|)en for 
 him to do the same whenever circumstances would 
 permit him to do so. I offer this as an apology for 
 not acting unitedly in the matter. -^ t- 
 
 The piece of plate to which these letters 
 refer is an elegant silver pitcher. On this 
 tasteful orift is enofraved, 
 
 "Presented to William Kendrick, of 
 Louisville, Kentucky, by Fellows, Wads- 
 worth <S: Co., Fellows, Cargill &: Co., Francis 
 Tomes & Sons, and Downing & Baldwin, 
 of New York ; as a testimonial of their 
 esteem for his integrity and moral worth."' 
 "An honest man's the noblest work of God." 
 
 It is reported that when Mr. Kendrick 
 visited New York at a later day in 1850 
 the gentlemen who had presented the silver
 
 62 MEMOIR OF 
 
 pitcher met together and offered him the 
 money which he had sent them to pay the 
 old accounts. They said this money does 
 not belong to us ; we cannot keep it ; we 
 have long since charged it to profit and loss. 
 And besides by our sales to you before and 
 since your former settlement, we have made 
 several times the amount. We cannot keep 
 your money. He replied, Gentlemen, this 
 money is not mine, I regard it as justly due 
 to you. When this generous contention 
 had continued for some time, a compromise 
 was agreed upon by which the money was 
 given to certain orphan asylums. 
 
 Those who had been personally acquaint- 
 ed with Mr. Kendrick, needed no such testi- 
 monial to confirm their confidence in him, 
 but by the publication of this transaction, the 
 honest jeweler was made known to thou- 
 sands by whom he was afiierwards patron- 
 ized, loved and honored. Thus at forty 
 years of age, the subject of our memoir 
 had become one of the most eminent of 
 business men. By the blessing of God he 
 had struggled up through orphanage, pov-
 
 IVILLIAM K END RICK. 
 
 erty, ignorance, toil, bankruptcy, and dis- 
 couragement, to a position of comparative 
 independence and highly enviable honor. 
 He was out of debt, engaged in a pleasant 
 profitable business, and rich in that integ- 
 rity of character which commanded the 
 confidence of an ever enlarging multitude 
 of friends. He had learned wisdom from 
 the mistakes of earlier years, andJ<;new how 
 to avoid the disasters of commercial life. 
 A thorough master of his useful art, and 
 of the business capacity and capital, neces- 
 sary to success in it, the pathway of 
 prosperity opened up brightly before him. 
 Henceforth, with constantly increasing 
 financial strength, each succeeding step 
 was to be bolder, and more vigorous than 
 the last. The balance sheet of every year 
 was to show the prosperous merchant an 
 encouraging increase of his capital. 
 
 If space permitted it would be pleasant 
 and profitable to record the important trans- 
 actions of nearly fifty years of an extra- 
 ordinary man's life. The hopeful begin- 
 nings with Harris, with Lemon, the vast
 
 64 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 business, and vaster plans of Lemon & 
 Kendrick, the dark days preceding bank- 
 ruptcy, the crushing collapse of trade, ot 
 credit, hope and commercial ambition, the 
 anxious journeyman, without business or 
 home, and a sick wife and two babes de- 
 pendent upon him. That was his darkest 
 day, but there was heavenly light in his 
 heart, and the light of love in his domestic 
 circle. It would be profitable to call up the 
 kind words of those creditors who proposed 
 to trust him again, and the immovable 
 resolution of the young man never to 
 contract any more debts, to gaze on the 
 first dollar earned by the young mechanic 
 for the support of his loved ones, after the 
 wreck of his large business had floated 
 beyond his control ; to follow the cautious 
 
 tradesman from the little shop on Fourth 
 Street, to the larger one on Third Street, 
 from that to the more extensive store on 
 Main Street, and thence to the grander 
 establishment on Fourth Avenue, where 
 amid glittering gold, and sparkling gems.
 
 WILLIAM KEN D KICK. 
 
 65 
 
 his wonderful business career closed.* 
 
 Much as Mr. K. was admired and loved 
 by thousands, he was occasionally the sub- 
 ject of uncharitable gossip. A lady with 
 mild suspicion, pronounced him "A very 
 gooA \Vi2JVi.. ox a very great Jiypocritey Vox 
 economy's sake, and to pay his debts earlier 
 by it, he had a very cheap dwelling house 
 erected on some ground in which his wife 
 had a small undivided interest. A venera- 
 ble church member passing by it said; "I 
 suppose that house is built with some of 
 brother Billy's savings. A shrewd lawyer 
 approached him and said in the manner of 
 an inquirer, you know sir that your title to 
 
 is not valid? He promptly answered 
 
 "no sir, I do not: and I will thank you to 
 prove it, as I do not wish to hold anything 
 by a questionable title." 
 
 His customers were not all of the most 
 agreeable kind. Swindlers and thieves 
 
 On a loose scrap of paper the following figures appear in his own 
 hand writing. "Commenced business with $20.00 cash, a silver 
 watch worth about $19.00, and a few watch tools, the whole amount- 
 ing to about ---..$ 150.00 
 April ist, 1844, Net gain in i year - n(,<^.\'& 
 i°45> - 1,772.37 
 1846, " " - i>997o7 
 March ist, 1847, Net gain 11 Months - 1,299.33
 
 66 MEMOIR OF 
 
 sometimes appropriated his merchandise, 
 and plausible purchasers, much more fre- 
 quently took advantage of his generous 
 confidence, to shine and sparkle with orna- 
 ments for which they never paid. Still 
 more disagreeable to a gentle spirit like his 
 was an occasional misunderstanding with 
 an honorable man. Long after he had 
 become wealthy, he called a friend into his 
 store and requested him to read two letters. 
 One was from a highly respectable gentle- 
 man of an adjacent county, protesting in 
 severe, indignant language, against exhor- 
 bitant charges for repairing his watch. It 
 more than hinted at hypocrisy on the part 
 of one whose reputation for piety had en- 
 abled him to take so unfair an advantage 
 of an unsuspecting customer. The other 
 in reply contained no unkind word. It 
 proposed that the offended man should at 
 his own convenience, call upon the skillful, 
 honest p-entlemen. who had mended the 
 watch, to show what work had been done, 
 and then let any respectable jeweler, name 
 the value of the work done.
 
 WILLIAM KENDRICK. 67 
 
 If the plan of this vohime allowed space 
 for discussion, this would be the place to 
 moralize on many subjects suggested by 
 this brief biography of a religiously honest 
 man. It might be asked, if idle gossip was 
 allowed to attack such a man, who then can 
 hope for exemption from its venomous 
 blighting breath ? Can it ever be proper to 
 utter unkind suspicions, or accusations 
 against the absent, unless it is absolutely 
 necessary for the protection of unsuspecting 
 persons? Ought an honest bankrupt, to 
 give his creditors every thing and his fam- 
 ily nothing? Is it the duty of prosperous 
 merchants, to make some provision for their 
 families, while they are yet wealthy, and 
 secure the same beyond liability to loss by 
 subsequent commercial reverses? When 
 courts relieve bankrupts from legal'liabilities 
 for debts, or when creditors relinquish 
 claims, is it not the duty of the debtor to 
 still strive through life, to pay the uttermost 
 farthing of original indebtedness? Is the 
 credit system a greater good than evil ? 
 
 Mr. Kendrick never doubted the wisdom
 
 68 MEMOIR OF 
 
 of his own fixed determination to refuse to 
 accept credit. It saved him from much 
 anxiety, great risk, and possibly from a 
 second faikire. Thouofh he had at one time 
 paid an annual tax, on a net income of more 
 than thirty thousand dollars, and had 
 liberally aided each one of a large family 
 ot children, yet when the panic of 1873 
 brought ruin to so many merchants, he was 
 astonished to find that his expenditures 
 exceeded his income. But as he owed 
 nothing, it was only necessary to economize 
 a little, in order to balance accounts the 
 next year. The aged merchant became 
 his own book-keeper: less business required 
 less capital : there was a reduction of ex- 
 penses, more than equal to the reduction 
 of income. Hence when prosperity re- 
 turned to the country, he was ready to lay 
 hold on all the advantages it brought. 
 
 Though he avoided debt, declined secu- 
 rityships, and carefully attended to his own 
 business, he was not reg^ardless of the 
 business interests of others. No man was 
 more ready to help a neighbor, either with
 
 IVILLIAM KENDRICK. 
 
 69 
 
 personal assistance, or with short loans of 
 money already in hand. If his was the 
 happiest of homes, he was not forgetful of 
 other homes, less happy than his own. 
 Zealous devotion to his own church, and 
 ardent love for all christians, did not wean 
 him from other benevolent societies, or 
 destroy his love of social life, or in any 
 way make him any less a man. among men, 
 in the very best sense of that expression. 
 It his principles, and his tastes, led him to 
 turn with disgust and abhorrence, from 
 degrading vulgar vices, the most degraded 
 of the vicious, might have turned to him 
 to find a pitying heart, and helping hand to 
 aid in his elevation. Though he deemed it 
 his own dut}' to turn away from cards, dice, 
 dances, races, operas and stage plays, and 
 even from convivial gatherings where the 
 rich, the reputable, the refined, the educated, 
 the talented, and the distinguished indulged 
 in fashionable revelry, and dissipation, it 
 was not because he wished them to have 
 less pleasure on earth, but higher happi- 
 ness here, and in the eternal hereafter.
 
 JO MEMOIR OF 
 
 As a real lover of his country, he was 
 keenly alive to every patriotic impulse, but 
 had little to do with party politics, beyond 
 the casting of quiet votes, for the best 
 principles, and the best men, according to 
 his own judgment. If he could have been 
 classed as a partizan, and induced to accept 
 office, the leaders of either party would 
 gladly have given his name a prominent 
 place on their ticket. As it was, he served 
 a term in the city council, and one in the 
 school board, much to the satisfaction of 
 his constituents. 
 
 His connection with Freemasonry began 
 in early life, and continued while he lived. 
 The charitable work of the order, and the 
 fraternal ties which bind its members to one 
 another, were well calculated to excite in 
 him a deep and abiding interest. He was 
 a charter member, and Past Master of 
 Louisville Lodge. He was also a Royal 
 Arch Mason, and received the Council 
 degrees, R. & S. M. in 1832. One of his 
 masonic brethren says of him: ''He was 
 unassuming and unobtrusive in manner
 
 IVILLIAM KEN D RICK. 
 
 71 
 
 and so much opposed to ostentatious dis- 
 play that he did not desire the pageantry 
 of a masonic funeral." 
 
 He was a thorough temperance man, 
 advocating and practicing total abstinence 
 from all intoxicating drinks. 
 
 He was for many years one of the Board 
 of Visitors, of the Kentucky Asylum for 
 the Blind, to which position he was nomi- 
 nated by Governor Blackburn, and re-elect- 
 ed by the Senate of Kentucky, the day 
 before his death. He was also one of the 
 Board of Directors of The American 
 Printing House for the Blind. He was a 
 member of the Board of Education of 
 the Louisville Annual Conference of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Also 
 one of the most active managrers of the 
 Methodist Widows' and Orphans' Home. 
 He was a liberal contributor to the Ameri- 
 can Bible Society, and an active member of 
 the Missionary Society of his own church. 
 For many years he was a faithful Sabbath 
 School worker, and he continued to foster 
 the institution while he lived, being at the
 
 72 MEMOIR OF 
 
 time of his death, President of the Sunday 
 School Union of the Louisville District, 
 and Superintendent of the Sunday School 
 of Chestnut Street Church. His place in 
 the Prayer Meeting was seldom unoccupied 
 and his attendance upon all the means of 
 pfrace was regular and constant. 
 
 The closing years of his life, must have 
 been highly satisfactory to the successful 
 merchant. He enjoyed uninterrupted 
 health. Plenty, peace, purity and love 
 smiled on his happy home. He was useful, 
 respected, and loved, in his prosperous 
 church. Religious, benevolent, and social 
 circles, lavished their highest honors upon 
 him. He was the most valued companion 
 of the best of men, the most admired and 
 
 trusted man among the holiest of women ; 
 
 and best of all, constant communion with 
 
 God had been the habit, and the solace of 
 
 his life for more than half a century. 
 
 Heaven and earth seemed to be lavish of 
 
 their love toward him. The oft quoted 
 
 lines of Halleck, on his friend Drake, were
 
 WILLIAM KEN D RICK. 73 
 
 never more truthfully applied to any man. 
 
 " None knew thee, but to love thee, 
 Nor named thee, but to praise." 
 
 Day by clay his pious, industrious sons 
 stood by his side, among his numerous 
 patrons. They had all the qualifications 
 necessary to success, in a business that 
 was constantly growing more prosperous 
 and profitable. They were prepared to 
 aid him during life, and when death should 
 bring the sad necessity, to succeed him in 
 the confidence, and in the patronage, he 
 had so long enjoyed. Rightful heirs of 
 his business, and of his name, they already 
 shared largely in the infinitely richer inher- 
 itance of his christian virtues. He was 
 however, equally blessed in the high char- 
 acter, and enviable social standing of the 
 other members of — 
 
 As has been already stated, Mr.Kendrick 
 was married to Miss Maria S. Schwing on 
 the 19th of January, 1832.
 
 74 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 Mrs. Kendrick still lives, loved and hon- 
 ored by multitudes, and tenderly cared for 
 by ever attentive children and grand chil- 
 dren. In the early part of her wedded 
 life, she was for some time in very delicate 
 health, and endured many painful attacks 
 of disease. From these however she re- 
 covered, and through middle life, enjoyed 
 vigorous health and was exceedingly active. 
 For the last twelve years she has suffered 
 much from painful curvature of the spine, 
 which she has borne with astonishing for- 
 titude, patience and cheerfulness. Though 
 unable to walk abroad, she seems to have 
 a richer enjoyment of life than most of 
 her more healthy neighbors. Her widow- 
 ed daughter, Mrs. Penton, has gently 
 relieved her of domestic duties and house- 
 hold cares, and all her children combine to 
 secure for her every comfort, that loving 
 hearts and busy hands can provide for an 
 invalid. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick were born 
 six daughters and three sons. Mary Ellen, 
 Emma Fielding, Adelia Corrinna, Mary
 
 WILLIAM KENDRICK. 
 
 75 
 
 Eliza, Anna Amelia, Maria Godwin, Wil- 
 liam Carnes, Walter Schwino- and Georee 
 Penton. Mary Ellen was born on the 
 /til of June, 1833, and died on the 3d of 
 June, 1834. Emma Fielding was born 
 on the 1 2th of August, 1835. and was 
 married to Mr. George R. Penton on the 
 5th of June. 1856. She was bereaved of 
 her husband on the ist of February, i860. 
 They had two sons. William Kendrick and 
 Joseph Talbot. William K. was drowned 
 near Rock Castle Springs, July 21st, 1879. 
 Joseph T. still lives to comfort his widow- 
 ed mother, who has never forsaken the 
 dwelling of her parents. Adelia Corrinna 
 was born December 28th, 1838, and was 
 married to Mr. John B. Bangs on the 21st 
 of May, 1862. They have three daughters 
 and one son, Adelia Kendrick, Maria 
 Buckmaster, Nathan Dudley and Emma 
 Josephine. Mary Eliza was born July 
 the 14th, 1845, s-i'icl was married to Dr. 
 Samuel H. Garvin on the 3d of February, 
 1869. They have one daughter and one 
 son. Amy Donne, and William Joshua.
 
 ^d MEMOIR OF 
 
 Anna Amelia was born November 27th, 
 1847, and married to Mr. William Joseph 
 Wilson, on the 27th of February, 1868. 
 To them have been born five children. 
 Joseph Kendrick, who died in infancy, and 
 Anna Maria, Emma Penton, Fannie Phil- 
 lips and Bennett Young still living. Maria 
 Godwin was born on the loth of Decem- 
 ber, 1849, and was married to Mr. Edwin 
 L. Carter, on the 12th of November, 1872. 
 To them have been born three children, 
 Edwin Kendrick, Maria Annetta and James 
 Lucas. Of these, James Lucas only lives 
 to accompany his mother on her earthly 
 pilgrimage. Mr. Carter was stricken down 
 in the prime of life on the 9th of October, 
 1879, William Carnes was born on the 
 7th of June, 1852, and was married to 
 Miss Lizzie D. Rivers, on the 13th of Jan- 
 uary, 1876. To them has been born one 
 child, Emma Penton. Walter Schwing 
 was born on the 17th of October, 1854, 
 and died on the 14th of April, 1855. 
 George Penton was born on the 1 2th of 
 September, 1856, and was married to Miss
 
 WILLIAM KEXDKICK. '^ 'j 
 
 Amelia M. Downing, on the 19th of Janu- 
 ary, 1880. 
 
 The many friends of WilHam Kendrick 
 had seldom thought that one who had 
 lived so well, and had so much to live for, 
 could with less than one short hour of 
 illness, be called away. They had so long 
 sunned themselves in his smile, that the 
 future was expected to be as the past, if 
 not more radiant with the briorht beamings 
 of his countenance. Thoup^h the shadow 
 of death had darkened his dwellino- twice 
 within the preceding eight months, and 
 the insatiate grave had claimed the per- 
 fection of youthful manhood, in the fair 
 forms of his oldest grandson and his young- 
 est son-in-law, he was left, the light of his 
 happy home, the day star to which the 
 eyes and hearts of his loved ones turned. 
 His cheering words and hopeful heart, 
 soothed the sorrows of his widowed 
 daughter, when she had to lament the un- 
 timely death of her first born. When his 
 youngest daughter saw her suffering hus- 
 band come home to die, the grief stricken
 
 78 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 widow clasped her babe to her bosom, and 
 fondly, confidently turned to the dear 
 father by whom she had so long been ten- 
 derly loved and cherished. When pain 
 and anguish wrung the frame of his long- 
 suffering, patient wife, there was an arm to 
 sustain, a smile to cheer, and a heart full of 
 time-tried affection, that had been lavished 
 on her for more than half a century. Who 
 then could have imagined that one so nec- 
 essary to the highest happiness of so many, 
 one so loved of God and man, should 
 suddenly breathe his last, while medical 
 skill, and love's most assidious ministrations 
 were impotent to save. Yet so it was. 
 But as the days of the good man had been 
 largely devoted to pious and philanthropic 
 deeds, so his death was occasioned by one 
 of the most remarkable events in the history 
 of Kentucky, and his very last voluntary act 
 was characteristic of the man. It was a re- 
 ligious visit to a friend who was dangerously 
 ill and seemed very near his dying hour. 
 
 When the important law suit of Mr. 
 Green, against Judge Hargis had to be
 
 / / ILLIA M KENDRICK. 
 
 79 
 
 tried in a Louisville Court, and decided by 
 a Louisville jury, great care was taken in 
 tlie selection of the men from amono- whom 
 that jury was to be drawn. Of these 
 William Carnes Kendrick, the oldest son, 
 and partner of the subject of our memoir 
 was one. His confinement to the jury 
 room while the case drasfSfed its slow length 
 along, through man\^ weary weeks, not 
 only subjected him to the discomforts 
 endured by other jurymen, but it seriously 
 burdened his father with much of the 
 necessary labor of two persons. At the 
 same time Mr. W'^illiam Drysdale, who for 
 about a third of a century had filled a 
 most important place in the establishment, 
 became seriously ill, which imposed ad- 
 ditional care and toil upon the head of the 
 house. The aged merchant with unfalter- 
 ing industry, undertook to meet cheerfully 
 all the multiplied demands upon his time 
 and strength. With so much to do his 
 movements were doubtless more rapid, and 
 longer continued than usual, and his labors 
 much more exhausting than was proper for
 
 8o MEMOIR OF 
 
 one of his age. Yet there were no per- 
 ceptible signs to indicate that he was 
 wearinor himself out, or exhaustinof the 
 vitality of his well preserved constitution. 
 The day of his death was one of the most 
 active days of his long, laborious life. He 
 attended to his duties with elastic step, 
 steady hand, beaming countenance, spark- 
 ling eye, and ready mind, as in the days 
 of earlier years. No one suspected dan- 
 ger, or dreaded evil consequences from his 
 toilsome exertions. At the close of the 
 day he turned with cheerful heart, and 
 smiling face, from his prosperous business, 
 to his loving home circle. In the society 
 of children and grand children, he enjoyed 
 a hearty supper. Then without the slight- 
 est apprehension of death, disease or 
 danger, his family saw him start on a long 
 walk to visit a kinsman who was danger- 
 ously ill. With this last fatherly and 
 fraternal pious work performed he returned 
 to his dwelling at about half past nine 
 -o'clock. On his way home he began to 
 feel severe pains in both arms, and also in
 
 WILLIAM KENDRICK. 8 1 
 
 the region of the stomach and heart. An 
 emetic was taken, but it gave no reHef. His 
 sufferings rapidly became more excruciating. 
 There was no time to secure the services of 
 the family physician, Dr. Garvin, his son-in- 
 law. Dr. Holloway being called, kindly 
 hastened to the bedside of the sufferer. 
 But the case had passed beyond the reach 
 of medical skill. At twenty minutes past 
 ten o'clock, he became suddenly convulsed, 
 his pulse ceased to beat, he breathed his 
 last breath, all pain was ended, ceaseless 
 joys began. It is doubtful whether the 
 death of any one man was ever more sin- 
 cerely lamented. Of this much might be 
 written, but it is unnecessary here as the 
 Appendix to this volume will speak on this 
 subject most eloquently and forcibly.
 
 Died, at his residence on Broadway, near 
 Sixth Street, in the City of Louisville, 
 at twenty minutes past ten o'clock, on 
 the night of the i6th of March, 1880, of 
 Angina Pectoris, William Kendrick, aged 
 seventy years, one month and five days. 
 
 ' ' He taught us how to live, And Oh too high 
 A price for knowledge, taught us how to die."
 
 %^ffcmUx. 
 
 ^ 
 
 [Courier-Journal, March 17, 18S0.] 
 
 JFHE announcement of the sudden death last night 
 of Mr. William Kendrick, will be a shock to 
 the city. He was one of the purest and best of men, 
 and one of our most useful, public-spirited and val- 
 uable citizens. His death is, indeed, a severe [niblic 
 loss. He was one of those manly, old-fashioned 
 gentlemen whom it does one good to see now-a-days. 
 There was a courtesy about him suggestive of the 
 olden time. Though modest by nature, Mr.Kendrick 
 was a public-spirited citizen, and when occasion arose 
 he was outspoken and firm in upholding the best in- 
 terests of the city. He afforded a splendid example 
 of moral purity. 
 
 The death of such an upright gentleman and con- 
 sistent member of the church will be the occasion of 
 general sorrow. Many a poor fellow in this city can 
 testify to his charity; many a sad heart will beat to- 
 day in remembrance of some unostentatious kind- 
 ness. A kindlier, gentler spirit never lived, and the 
 memory of so pure a life is the best consolation for 
 his death.
 
 84 APPENDIX. 
 
 [Evening Post and News, March 17, 1880.] 
 
 Mr. William Kendrick, the well-known jeweler, 
 died very suddenly last night, at his residence on 
 Broadway, between Fifth and Sixth. After returning 
 home from business yesterday evening he ate a hearty 
 supper, seemingly in the best of health, and then 
 went out to visit Mr. Wm. Drysdale,*an employe of 
 his who has been ill. About half-past nine Mr. Ken- 
 drick came home, complaining of a severe pain in 
 the chest and around the heart. A dose of medicine 
 which he took affording no relief, Dr. HoUoway was 
 sent for, but he had passed beyond the power of med- 
 ical skill, and continued to grow worse until about 
 half-past ten, when he expired in a convulsion. 
 
 Mr. Kendrick had not been ill recently, excepting 
 slight symptoms of dyspepsia, and his death was en- 
 tirely unexpected. Some of his children did not 
 know of his sickness, until they were notified of his 
 death. The. malady which carried him off so sud- 
 denly is the terrible complaint known as angina pecto- 
 ris, a sort of spasm of the heart, the same disease 
 that carried off Judge Ballard. 
 
 Mr. Kendrick was a native of Patterson, N. J., 
 where he was born in 1810, being seventy years of 
 age at the time of his death. He came to Louisville 
 in 18 18, and after living for sometime on a farm near 
 here, in 1824 he became an apprentice to E. C. Beard, 
 jeweler and watchmaker. In 1832 his savings a- 
 mounted to enough to enable him to engage in bus- 
 iness for himself in partnership with Mr. James I. 
 
 ■■■Since deceased.
 
 APPENDIX. 85 
 
 T-cmoii, under the firm name of Lemon & Kendrick. 
 In the great crisis of 1838 the house went under, li 
 was a course of action characteristic of the man that 
 by industrious and untiring efforts he paid off his 
 entire indebtedness, although relieved of it by a dis- 
 charge in bankruptcy. 
 
 In 1842 Mr. Kendrick commenced business for 
 himself, and has been a prosperous merchant ever 
 since, his establishment being considered one of the 
 most reliable in the city. He has always been a 
 public-spirited man, and has served several terms 
 in the School Board and City Council. At the time 
 of his death he was a director of the Blind Asylum 
 and also of the Widows' and Orphans' Home. Had 
 it not been for his retiring habits he could have ob- 
 tained nearly any office that he might have asked at 
 the hands of the people. 
 
 He was a life-long member of the Chestnut Street 
 Methodist Church. In 1832 he married Miss Maria 
 Schwing, who survives him. He leaves seven chil- 
 dren — five daughters and two sons — and an only sis- 
 ter, Mrs. Wm. Kaye, all of whom reside in this city. 
 
 As to Mr. Kendrick's character as a citizen, as a 
 merchant and as a man, it is too well known to need 
 extended mention. His strict honesty and integrity 
 in business, his kind and friendly nature, his constant 
 benevolence and his great moral activity in matters 
 of education, morality and religion, all tended to 
 make him a man esteemed by all, and without an en- 
 emy in the world. He was a respected citizen, an
 
 86 APPENDIX. 
 
 enterprising business man, a refined gentleman, a 
 loving husband and father, and an upright Christian, 
 who died without fear, as he lived above reproach. 
 
 The news of Mr. Kendrick's sudden death caused 
 the greatest pain among his many friends, and this 
 morning his late home was crowded by those who 
 had come to take a last look at his famiUar features and 
 to express their sympathy for the members of his 
 family in their great sorrow. The funeral will take 
 place to-morrow at 10:30 o'clock from the residence. 
 The remains will be buried in Cave Hill Cemetery. 
 
 The Mayor has called a special meeting of the 
 Council to-night to take action on the death of Mr. 
 Kendrick. He has further directed that the flag on 
 the City Hall building be displayed at half-mast to- 
 morrow, and that the fire bells be tolled. 
 
 The theme to-day among all classes of people has 
 been the sudden death of Mr. William Kendrick, 
 and admiration for his character has been the burden 
 of everything said. Such a life as his was, is a silent 
 power for good in any community. It is a constant 
 present example that in the highest sense of honor 
 and the strictest practice of itiies the most complete en- 
 joyment of one's own life, as well as the surest plan for 
 success in business. Gentle to all, loving in his fam- 
 ily, affable, polite, firm and unyielding for the right 
 that he saw so plainly, Mr. Kendrick at home led a 
 life of happiness, and in the world of business had
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 «7 
 
 not an enemy. His was a beautiful life as well as a 
 successful one, and in his death we all mourn the loss 
 of one of our best citizens. 
 
 Mr. W. C. Kendrick, eldest son of the late William 
 Kendrick, is a juror in the Green-Hargis case, and 
 on account of his father's sudden death the great libel 
 suit has been postponed until next Monday at 12 m. 
 
 ACTION OF THE TWO BOARDS DEVOTED TO THE 
 
 INTERESTS OF THE BLIND. 
 
 [Courier-Journal, March i8, 1880.] 
 
 The funeral of the late Wm. Kendrick will take 
 place this morning at ten o'clock from the family 
 residence. His sudden death was the subject of 
 general and outspoken regret yesterday. Mr. Ken 
 drick was so widely known as a man of almost ideal 
 integrity and honesty, that he was exceedingly beloved 
 by all classes. The jewelers of the city held a meeting 
 yester<lay, and it was agreed to close all their stores 
 this morning at ten to attend the funeral of the 
 deceased. They will meet at the store of C. F. 
 Bennett, and attend in a body. 
 
 The members of the Board of Trustees of the Blind 
 School and of the Board^f Trustees of the American 
 Printing House for the Blind held a meeting yesterday 
 and adopted the following : 
 
 In the death of Mr. Kendrick these boards have 
 lost one of their most worthy and righteous members. 
 The "memory of the good is the best monument.
 
 88 APPENDIX. 
 
 Others are subject to casualty or time : we know that 
 the pyramids themselves, dotted with age, have for- 
 gotten the names of their founders." Mr. Kendrick 
 has been before this community more than fifty years, 
 and all his ways have been well known to his fellow- 
 citizens. Of all the men we have known, he was one 
 of the most lovable ; he attracted by the beauty of a 
 life that was well-nigh perfect in all its ways. It was 
 well said in ancient times that " the path of the just 
 is as a shining light," and in no one was this ever 
 more exemplified than in the life of Mr. Kendrick. 
 He was quiet, unostentatious, but firm and manly in 
 all things. If at any time we felt dubious about the 
 righteousness of our acts, in the management of 
 affairs for the blind, we felt strengthened and sustained 
 when these acts met the approval of Mr. Kendrick. 
 We look back through the many years of his mem- 
 bership of these boards : there were times of trial and 
 perplexity, but we refresh our memories by recall- 
 ing his good deeds, his wise counsels, his judicious 
 advice, in following which we were never misled. 
 AVhere may we hope to find his counterpart. 
 
 As he was in these boards, he was in all the ways 
 of his life. He w\as very attentive to the demands of 
 his growing business: no pne excelled him in his 
 constant, earnest industry and devotion to his 
 vocation ; yet when its cares were ended for the day, 
 and the affairs of his family permitted, there were 
 avocations for the distressed, the sorrowful and the 
 weary that awakened his evening labors, and he
 
 APFENDIX. 89 
 
 never was found wanting in these labors. It is im- 
 possible to describe in appropriate terms the beauty 
 of these evening efforts ; when Ave call them up and 
 look at them in their fullness, it is difficult to conceive 
 that they could have been so regularly, so thoroughly, 
 so uncom])lainingly performed by one who labored 
 unceasingly throughout the day. He labored thus, 
 in these works of beneficence, in the very imagery of 
 that Greek statuary, which expressed these things by 
 a figure holding the plow with one hand, while the 
 other was lifted toward heaven, or rather, as Da\ ics 
 says: "Under the influence of that spirit, for whom 
 we are taught to pray, after whom we are required to 
 Avalk, whose influence we are commanded not to 
 quench, and whom we are not to grieve." He worked 
 in these matters, under the full beams of that heavenly 
 light showered upon us by the Apostle Paul : "Work, 
 for it is Ciod that worketh in you." Yet this noble 
 specimen of humanity had an immense business of 
 his own, that required his attention; he had a large 
 family that was a source of constant, earnest solici- 
 tude; he never failed in his duties as a citizen, and 
 with all these pressing upon him, he managed to 
 perform almost an unexampled amount of beneficence 
 to hundreds of the sorrowing and the necessitous. 
 We earnestly rejoice that we had such a man as this 
 upon our boards for the benefit of the blind. Though 
 he is no longer with us, we shall gratifyingly cultivate 
 the living memories he has bequeathed to these two 
 boards.
 
 90 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 To the mass of the present generation Mr. Ken- 
 drick was known as a prosperous, very successful 
 business man. To a very few of these now present 
 he was intimately known in his days of adversity, and 
 a glimpse at those days enables us to see him in the 
 fullness of a noble example. In that time of adversity 
 he was the same cheerful, patient, notable man then, 
 throughout all the wearying journey up hill that we 
 have known him in his jxosperity. He labored with 
 zeal, with industry, and fortunately with success. 
 Upon one great point he kept a firm, unwavering 
 eye : that was a determination to blot out from the 
 memory of 111 men, all recollection of his failure. It 
 was not as vivid in any man's memory as in his own. 
 When by patient labor, strict economy and industry 
 he gathered enough for the occasion he called upon 
 his creditors in New York, and tendered to them the 
 remainder of his old indebtedness, with the full 
 amount of interest due. They declined to take it, 
 assuring him that they were satisfied he had done all 
 in his power in the former settlement. But he insis- 
 ted upon this payment. The creditors accepted his 
 terms ; they presented him a beautiful silver service, 
 on the pitcher of which they caused to be engraved : 
 "An honest man is the noblest work of God," We 
 never were in his presence, we never had anything 
 to do with him, without feeling this sentiment. 
 
 Mr. Kendrick leaves a widow, dreadfully afflicted 
 v/ith spinal disease; two sons and five daughters, all of 
 whom have married; two of the daughters are widows.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 91 
 
 In view of the heartrending catastrophe that has 
 befallen the city, the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, the two Boards devoted to the education of 
 the blind, the Methodist and tlie Masonic Widows' 
 and Orphans' Homes, we feel tlie difficulty of doing 
 justice to such a theme as this. 
 
 Resolved^ That we deeply deplore the great loss the 
 education of the bhnd has received in the death of 
 such an earnest friend as Mr. Kendrick was. 
 
 Resolved, That we tender to his bereaved family 
 our heartfelt sympathies in the calamity that has 
 befallen them. 
 
 Resolved, That a siiitable likeness of Mr. Kendrick 
 be procured, to be placed in the institution for the 
 Blind as a memorial of his services to the cause 
 which we regard, and he ever regarded, as a sacred 
 cause ; and that these proceedings be engrossed and 
 hung with the portrait. 
 
 Resolved, That, as a body, we attend the funeral 
 of Mr. Kendrick, and join in paying our respects to 
 his mortal remains. 
 
 Resolved, That these proceedings be placed on the 
 records of the two institutions devoted to the 
 interests of the blind. 
 
 Resolved, That these proceedings be published in 
 the city papers. T. S. Bell, 
 
 President of the Board of Trustees for the Blind School. 
 
 Wm. F. Bullock, 
 
 President of the Board of Trustees of the American 
 Printing-house for the Blind. 
 
 T. L. Jeffeuson, Walter N. Halueman, 
 
 James Harrison, Henry J. Stites, 
 
 James A. Carter, John P. Morton, 
 
 Gavin H.Cochran, J. G. Barret. 
 B. B. Huntoon, Secretary.
 
 92 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 ACTION OF THE COUNCIL. 
 
 The Council met in joint special session last night 
 to take action on the death of Wm. Ke*ndrick. 
 
 President Gilbert, of the Board of Aldermen, 
 called the meeting to order. 
 
 The following members were present: Aldermen — 
 Griffiths, Murrell, Godshaw, Roberts and Stucky. 
 Councilmen — President Joseph, Speckert, Sullivan, 
 R. C. Davis, Ullman, Kean, McAtee, Long, Harris. 
 Erdman and Wahking. 
 
 The following message was received from His 
 Honor, the Mayor : 
 
 I have called you together this evening to announce 
 the sudden death of Wm. Kendrick, Esq., one of our 
 most admirable citizens: a man without reproach, of 
 strict integrity and an honest gentleman. Mr. Ken- 
 drick was a member of your honorable body in 
 1863-4. In his death our community has been 
 deprived of one of its most useful citizens. 
 
 Respectfully, John G. Baxter, Mayor. 
 
 After the reading of the Mayor's message, Mr. 
 Long offered the following resolutions, which were 
 unanimously adopted : 
 
 Whereas, The general Council has been informed 
 of the sudden death of Wm. Kendrick, Esq., a 
 member of said body in 1863-4, and desiring to 
 express the sorrow with which said sad intelligence 
 has affected us, therefore. 
 
 Be it resolved, That in the demise of Wm. Kendrick 
 the city of Louisville has lost one of her most useful 
 citizens, a gentleman of probity and well-known,
 
 ATTEND J X. 
 
 93 
 
 honest and charitable, both in deed and thought, 
 ever ready. to perform all his duties as a good citizen 
 in whatever capacity he was called to fill, and was 
 pre-eminent for all those characteristics which marked 
 the true and noble gentleman. 
 
 Resolved, That we tender to the bereaved family 
 our heartfelt sympathy in this hour of affliction and 
 mourning, and that the General Council, as an addi- 
 tional evidence of their respects for deceased, do at- 
 tend his funeral. 
 
 Resolved, That an official copy of these resolutions 
 be transmitted to the family of the deceased. 
 
 The meeting then adjourned. 
 
 THE BOARD OF TRADE. 
 
 In the Board of Trade to day the following com- 
 mittee was appointed to report to-morrow suitable 
 resolutions on the death of Mr. Kendrick : George 
 W. Morris, B. F. Avery, Arthur Peter, N. Bloom, 
 R. A. Robinson, W. B. Belknap, Charles Tilden, F. 
 P. Schmitt, J. L. Wheat, B. P. Scally. 
 
 IN MEMORY OF WM. KENDRICK. 
 
 At a meeting of the jewelers and watchmakers of 
 the city of Louisville, held 'March i8, 1880, C. 
 Fletcher Bennett, President of the Jewelers' Associa- 
 tion, was in the chair, and Henry L. Werne, acted as 
 Secretary. 
 
 The President announced the death of Mr. Wm. 
 Kendrick. Whereupon a committee was appointed 
 to draft apppropriate resolutions, and the following 
 were unanimously adopted :
 
 94 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Whereas, On the i6th day of March, 1880, death 
 came into our circle of friends, and when least looked 
 for, took away from us our associate Wm. Kendrick, 
 therefore, 
 
 Resolved, That in his death our association has lost 
 one whom we love to remember in kindness and to 
 honor for his integrity of character, one who having 
 that conscience bearing witness of a life well lived — 
 that record in his memory of a multitude of good ac- 
 tions done, which is a rich legacy not only to his 
 bereaved family, but also to his friends and the com- 
 munity in which he lived ; for he was well and hon- 
 orably known to all. " Death is not terrible to those 
 whose praise can never die." 
 
 Resolved, That we close our places of business and 
 attend the funeral in a body, and that we tender to 
 his bereaved family our deep sympathy and condo- 
 lence in their affliction. 
 
 Resolved, That after these resolutions have received 
 the signatures of the members of this Association, a 
 copy be sent to the family of the deceased. 
 
 Chas. F. Carpenter, ~| 
 
 Joe Werne, \ Committee. 
 
 Levi Sloss, ) 
 
 C. Fletcher Benneft, President. 
 
 H. S. Werne, Secretary. 
 
 The names of all the jewelers and watchmakers in 
 the city were appended to the above. 
 
 the first death in the board of trade. 
 
 [Evening Post and News, March i8, 1880.J 
 
 In the Board of Trade to-day the following papers 
 were read and the resolutions unanimously adopted :
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 95 
 
 Louisville, March 19, 1880. 
 
 To the Board of Trade : 
 
 The undersigned, appointed to prepare suitable 
 resolutions on the death of Wm. Kendrick, and re- 
 port the same at the meeting to-day, respectfully sub- 
 mit the following : 
 
 George W. Morris, Chairman, R. A. Robinson, 
 Charles Tilden, N. Bloom, Arthur Peter, W. B. 
 Belknap, B. F. Avery, J. L. Wheat, B. P. Scally, 
 F. P. Schmitt. 
 
 Whereas, It has pleased Almighty God to remove 
 from among us in a manner so sudden and unexpect- 
 ed, Wm. Kendrick, who from his boyhood has 
 dwelt among us, and in whom our citizens took an 
 universal interest, he having possessed in an eminent 
 degree those qualities of head and heart that endeared 
 him to all who came within the sphere of his influ- 
 ence, and 
 
 ^VHEREAS, It is proper that the Board of Trade 
 should perpetuate the name of one so dear to all, and 
 to whom the city is so much indebted for an example 
 worthy of imitation, be it therefore 
 
 Resolved, That in the death of William Kendrick 
 the City of Louisville has lost one of its brightest and 
 most cherished ornaments, society has lost a gentle- 
 man by nature possessed of those qualities which 
 adorn human character. His pure life and noble 
 example furnish to the young men of our day an al- 
 most faultless mould of that which is good and great 
 in human life ; the poor whom we always have among 
 us, are bereft of a friend indeed; the church to which 
 he belonged, of an humble, devoted and consistent 
 member, who constantly let his light shine before his
 
 96 APPENDIX. 
 
 fellowmen ; his family a devoted husband, a loving 
 father, a kind benefactor; and the Board of Trade 
 one of its most highly prized members, whose name 
 will dwell greenly in our memories and affections. 
 
 Resolved, That we tender to the bereaved family 
 of our deceased friend our heartfelt sympathy in 
 this hour of their sore affliction. 
 
 Resolved, That these proceedings be entered on 
 record and a copy of the same transmitted to the 
 family of the deceased. 
 
 THE FUNERAL. 
 
 The funeral of Mr. William Kendrick took place 
 at half-past lo o'clock this morning. In accordance 
 with the wishes of the family the services were held 
 at his late residence, on Broadway, between Fifth 
 and Sixth. The house was thronged by the friends 
 of the deceased come to pay the last tribute to his 
 mortal remains. There was a profusion of flowers 
 whose beauty was a fitting emblem of the character 
 of the departed. The regular funeral service of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church was performed, the Rev. 
 J. C. iVIorris officiating. After the brief ceremonies 
 were over, the long procession wound its way to Cave 
 Hill Cemetery, where the remains were buried. 
 
 MEMORIAL SERVICE. 
 
 No sermon was preached at the funeral this morn- 
 ing, but on next Sunday morning, at the Chestnut 
 street Methodist Church, there will be a memorial 
 service in honor of the deceased. At this meeting
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 97 
 
 a number of former pastors of this church, witli 
 uhicli Mr. Kendrick has been so long connected, 
 will be present, among them Revs. Brush and Messick, 
 of this city, and Rev. Mr. Bottomley, of Hopkins- 
 ville. The regular funeral discourse will be preached 
 upon this occasion. The loss which the Chestnut street 
 Church sustains is an irreparable one. Mr. Kendrick 
 at the time of his death, was Sunday-school Superin- 
 tendent, Church Treasurer, Trustee and Steward, 
 thus holding every church office possible for a layman. 
 
 THE SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. 
 
 Very recently Mr. Kendrick was elected President 
 of the Methodist Sunday-school Union of this ( ity. 
 That Society will hold its regular meeting to-night 
 at the Walnut-street Methodist Church, and the meet- 
 ing will take the character of a memorial service, in 
 view of the death of their President. 
 
 John P. Morton & Co.'s establishment was closed 
 yesterday on account of the death of Mr. William 
 Kendrick. 
 
 OUR PUREST CITIZEN. 
 [Courier-Journal, March 22, 1880.] 
 
 The love and admiration entertained by the com- 
 munity at large for the late ^Villiam Kendrick, and 
 the deep sense of its loss in his death, were most 
 strongly attested yesterday in the two memorial ser- 
 vices in his memory. In the morning a service was
 
 98 APPENDIX. 
 
 held at the Chestnut-street Methodist Church, of 
 which Mr. Kendrick was a member. The church 
 was elaborately draped in mourning; in the recess 
 behind the pulpit, the Scripture motto, " He being 
 dead, yet speaketh," was hung in letters of evergreen. 
 The house was filled to its utmost capacity by the 
 congregation and the old friends of Mr. Kendrick. 
 Short addresses were delivered by Rev. Messrs. G. 
 W. Brush, Thomas Bottomley and B. M. Messick, 
 all of whom had formerly been pastors of the church. 
 A short and informal service was also held at the 
 Sunday-school in order to give the children an op- 
 portunity to join in the tender expression of love for 
 the deceased friend of whom they had been so fond, 
 and who had been such a faithful guide to their little 
 efforts. The service was very touching ; all the more 
 so, perhaps, for its informality. 
 
 The Citizens' Memorial Service was held at the 
 Broadway Tabernacle at 3:30 o'clock P. M. The 
 large house was filled from bottom to top by all classes 
 and conditions of men, women and children. 
 
 The order of the exercises was as follows : 
 
 Voluntary by the organ, followed by singing " Rest 
 in the Lord." 
 
 Opening remarks by Hon. Wm. F. Bullock, pre- 
 siding. 
 
 Scripture Lesson, read by Rev. Mr. Brush. 
 
 Prayer by Rev. Mr. Deering. 
 
 Chant, by the choir. 
 
 Address, by Rev. Jas. Craik, D. D.
 
 APPENDIX. 99 
 
 Address, by Rev. E. P. Humphrey, D. D. 
 
 Singing of " Come ye Disconsolate," by the bHnd. 
 
 Addresses, by Dr. T.S.Bell and Rev. J.L. Burrows. 
 
 Hymn, " Nearer My God to Th^e." 
 
 Doxology. 
 
 Benediction, by Bishop T. U. Dudley. 
 
 Judge Bullock spoke very feelingly. He said that 
 he had lived beyond the period usually allotted to 
 men ; that this was the first occasion on which he had 
 witnessed such a spectacle. In view of the purposes 
 of the meeting, he said he was o[)pressed with his 
 own unworthiness to preside. He spoke of his long 
 acquaintance with Mr. Kendrick — nearly half a cen- 
 tury — and of how he had been intimately associated 
 with him in his work of charity and benevolence. 
 He said that of a truth, when in his company, he al- 
 ways felt that he was in the presence of a beloved 
 disciple. He was a living episde of the Gospel of 
 Christ. In the various societies to which he belong- 
 ed he was a light read of all men. In the life of Wm. 
 Kendrick Louisville found one of its greatest honors 
 and glories. No achievements in a public capacity 
 could add to his stature. He was an unassuming 
 private citizen, whose example should be constantly 
 before the eyes of our people; particularly should 
 the rising generation look to him as to one whose 
 self-made position pointed them the road they were 
 to follow. 
 
 Rev. James Craik said although painfully feeling 
 that after the usual three score years and ten had
 
 I OO APPENDIX. 
 
 passed, man's life was but a labor and an effort, yet 
 he could not permit the opportunity to pass by which 
 he might testify to the noble Christian manliness of 
 William Kendrick. The testimony of any individ- 
 ual was set at naught by that of the immense throng 
 that had gathered to do honor to the deceased. Dr. 
 Craik said he had come to Louisville thirty-six years 
 ago and found this young man with his reputation 
 already established as pre-eminently a good man, an 
 ornament to human kind in all things. It was a 
 minister's duty to preach the gospel, Mr. Kendrick 
 had lived it. There was no necessity for any com- 
 ment, no passage had to be explained. His Hfe was 
 an exposition of the Christ-like character of man, 
 and in it no objector could find a fault. His life 
 was a Christ-likeness, and the death was in the same 
 manner. He had left home on a mission of charity, 
 and it was on his return from his Master's work that 
 he received his Master's call. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Humphrey spoke more at length than 
 did the rest, and with very great feeling and effect. 
 He spoke of the spectacle before him as one most 
 unusual. He did not know that such tribute had 
 ever before been paid to any man in Louisville. Mr. 
 Kendrick's funeral had occurred last week; yesterday 
 a memorial service had been held in the morning at 
 the church of which Mr. Kendrick was a member. 
 Under ordinary circumstances it should seem that 
 one service was enough to satisfy the respect for a 
 departed friend. But the citizens of Louisville de-
 
 APPENDIX. I o I 
 
 sired an opportunity of meeting in the mass to med- 
 itate on the excellence of their deceased friend. 
 Here was a great crowd of witnesses, who, having 
 observed his manner of life day by day, had gather- 
 ed together to testify to their admiration and love of 
 William Kendrick. He was a man who had never 
 been prominent on account of any high office of 
 ])ul)lic trust in the Commonwealth. His highest 
 office was that of a steward to the Lord. He had 
 never been distinguished by literary attainments, or 
 even by great wealth ; he had nwved in the quiet 
 walks of life, prominent only as a perfect man. 
 
 His example to the young was a thing that should 
 be firmly impressed and indelibly fixed upon their 
 minds. The oldest citizens of Louisville will remem- 
 ber the name of E. C. Beard, a jeweler on Main 
 street. Mr. Beard was formerly of the firm of Ay res 
 & Beard. Forty-five years ago the firm consisted of 
 Beard &: Fletcher. About the same time a boy, 
 William Kendrick, came to this city from New Jer- 
 sey. He went as an apprentice into the establish- 
 ment of E. C. Beard. There in his humble position 
 this boy was an example to mankind. After serving 
 his apprenticeship and acting as a journeyman, young 
 Kendrick was joined in business by Mr. Lemon, of 
 Lexington. The latter was a silversmith, while 
 Kendrick had great skill as a watchmaker. Ken- 
 drick & Lemon were worthy the confidence of each 
 other, and of the public. People that dealt with them 
 knew that they were dealing with honest men, whose
 
 102 APPENDIX. 
 
 word was as good as their bond. Their trade flourished; 
 but, in one of those business panics that swept the coun- 
 try, the firm failed. Dr. Humphrey said he well re- 
 membered the distress that prevailed when it was an- 
 nounced that Lemon & Kendrick had failed. They 
 were obliged to compound their debts, and the mer- 
 chants to whom they owed money had such confi- 
 dence in their honesty that they received, without 
 hesitation, their proposition to compound. After 
 this the two gendemen thought it best to separate, 
 and to begin business again. They agreed, however, 
 to work diligendy and to live frugally till they could 
 pay the principal and interest of the money they 
 owed, not by men's laws but by conscience. First, 
 Kendrick and then Lemon paid the debt, every dollar 
 of it. All honor to the long-forgotten name of 
 Lemon '& Kendrick, and all honor to the hallowed 
 memories of both of them, for Lemon, too, is gone. 
 These are the examples well for every young man 
 to imitate. Behold both: "■ Ecce Signum." Mr. 
 Kendrick has acquired the love of this community 
 first of all through honesty ; then by industry, being 
 always engaged in his lawful avocations. Not least 
 to be considered were his amiable manners and con- 
 duct; we saw him seldom, but to meet him was a 
 pleasure. He showed himself a Christian, and one 
 never saw him without feeling that. His example is 
 one particularly to be imitated, and his memory to be 
 cherished by the young who are laboring for a place 
 in the world : whose life is one of toil.
 
 APPENDIX. 1 03 
 
 Dr. Humphrey said that the citizens of Louisville 
 were doing an honor to themselves in thus meeting 
 to honor the man who had sunk suddenly out of 
 sight like the winter's sun, but leaving behind him 
 the radiance of a summer's day. 
 
 Dr. T. S. Bell said that he had been requested to 
 take part in the exercises, partly on account of his 
 long and intimate acquaintance with Mr. Kendrick, 
 but chiefly to testify to his great work in the first of 
 Kentucky's charitable institutions. Congress estab- 
 lished an asylum for the deaf and dumb; but the 
 State did not establish an institution for any of her 
 afflicted classes till 1840, when the Blind Asylum was 
 built at Louisville. Dr. Bell and Judge Bullock are 
 the only members left of the first Board of Trustees 
 for this institution. In 1846 William Kendrick be- 
 came a member of the board ; for a number of years 
 he served faithfully and efificiendy. He retired for a 
 period, but in 1861 he again became a member and 
 served until his death. On the very day he died the 
 Governor sent his name to the Senate, and that body 
 confirmed his nomination as trustee for four more 
 years. Dr. Bell said that in all his long acquaintance 
 with Mr. Kendrick he had never known him to give 
 his support to any measure that was not proper and 
 best. It is nearly forty-eight years since he first knew 
 Mr. Kendrick, and in all that time he felt his acquaint- 
 ance a blessing. He could only reiterate what had 
 been already said on the occasion. Eulogy might 
 exhaust itself, but it could not exhaust the merits of
 
 104 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 William Kendrick. He rejoiced to know that among 
 the pleasures of the life to come would be the society 
 of his old friend. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Burrows said that nearly a hundred years 
 ago, John Howard had inscribed on his simple tomb- 
 stone the words "He lived for others," and that it 
 seemed that no more fitting epitaph could be written 
 on the tomb of William Kendrick. His character 
 was purely unselfish, and his life was devoted to the 
 good of those who surrounded him. When his name 
 is forgotten by our children's children, his influence 
 will yet be felt in this community. Mr. Kendrick 
 was one of that rare class of men who do all they 
 undertake. His work was always complete. In his 
 family, in his church and in his city he was a work- 
 man that is rarely seen. Dr. Burrows concluded by 
 picturing the rejoicing of the angels over the per- 
 fection and consummation of the angelic character 
 as contrasted with the sorrow felt in this world at the 
 loss of such a man. He said it was natural to mourn, 
 but that it would be more in keeping with the occa- 
 sion to rejoice in the man made perfect. 
 
 That was a noble tribute to departed worth which 
 was paid the memory of William Kendrick, at the 
 Broadway Tabernacle yesterday afternoon. It rose 
 spontaneously out of the hearts of all classes of the 
 community. In commemorating the life and death 
 of one whose moral worth and kindly nature reached 
 the dignity of true genius, sectarianisms and partisan-
 
 APPENDIX. \o: 
 
 ships were for once united; and, standing near his 
 new-made grave, by-gone bickerings and curreni re- 
 sentments were forgotten. For this was a man of the 
 rarest type. As apprentice, as journeyman, as mer- 
 chant — as a Christian and as a citizen — in prosperity 
 and in bankruptcy — he set an exhilarating illustration 
 of fidelity, of pains-taking handcraft, of conscienti- 
 ous devotion to duty, of sturdy integrity and cheer- 
 ful courage, which the world sees so seldom tliat 
 cynics doubt the sincerity either of tlie cliaracter or 
 the description. Mr. Kendrick never had an enemy, 
 or a quarrel, or a law-suit. He was as transparent 
 and simple as a child. Yet was he a man among 
 men, over-flowing with well-pointed energy, a de- 
 lightful combination of sagacity, intrepidity, purity and 
 common sense. The young as well as the old will feel 
 his loss, and his memory, like a perfume, will be felt 
 long after his example, with his name, has passed 
 behind the shadow of the generations that come and 
 go- 
 
 [Louisville Commercial, March 23d, 1880.] 
 
 The memorial service held at the Presbyterian 
 Tabernacle, on the corner of Fourth and Broadway 
 streets, last Sunday, in honor of the late William 
 Kendrick, was a most fitting tribute to the memory 
 of a man whose friends were among all classes. No 
 citizen of Louisville was ever more honored ; and 
 beautiful tributes were spoken by Hon. W. F. Bul- 
 lock, Rev. Dr. Craik, Rev. E. P. Humphrey, Dr.
 
 I06 APPENDIX. 
 
 T. S. Bell, Rev. J. L. Burrows, and many others. The 
 many noble deeds of Mr. Kendrick during the pil- 
 grimage of life are known best to the hearts of those 
 whom he had loved and left. 
 
 [Western Recorder, Baptist) March 25th, 1880.] 
 
 We have known Mr. Kendrick for. years, and we 
 can add our cheerful tribute to the rare excellence of 
 his character and life. He was "the Lord's man" 
 in the truest and best sense. He made every one 
 feel that he was a Christian, not by scriptural phrase- 
 ology or an affected pietistic tone, but by a certain 
 indefinable sweetness and light that shone from his 
 face, his voice, his manner, his whole daily life. He 
 was a wise, earnest, vigorous man, in doing his part 
 of this world's work. Indeed he came nearer to 
 being an embodiment of the apostle's ideal than any 
 man it was ever our privilege to know. He was 
 "diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the 
 Lord." Much of this was probably due to tempera- 
 ment and natural disposition. There was a rounded 
 fullness and evenness of contour in the character of 
 the man, that no doubt had its influence in deter- 
 mining the rare perfection of his Christian life. He 
 himself, however, had no faith in his own natural 
 goodness, and with unaffected humility often confes- 
 sed with tears the "exceeding sinfulness" of his own 
 heart. William Kendrick's whole life was a shining 
 and eloquent sermon.
 
 APPENDIX. 107 
 
 , . [Clark County Democrat, March 24th, 1880.] 
 
 William Kendrick, of Louisville, well known to 
 many of our readers, died suddenly last night was a 
 week ago. Although only a quiet, unassuming, un- 
 ambitious private citizen, the honors paid to his mem- 
 ory were remarkable. ■ His life was an open epistle 
 read of all men, and exemplified what a christian 
 should be. In Louisville, where his life was spent, 
 he was frecjuently called the -'thirteenth apostle," 
 and never in derision. 
 
 [Union Local, March 20, 1880.] 
 
 William Kendrick, the well known Louisville jew- 
 eler, died very suddenly last Tuesday night. There 
 will be a wide spread feeling of deep regret at the 
 death of this good man. The State had no \vorthier 
 citizen than he, and the business community, none 
 more honorable. 
 
 [Nashville Christian Advocate, March 27th, 1880. J 
 
 With profound sorrow we record the death of Mr. 
 William Kendrick, of Louisville, who died suddenly 
 on Tuesday evening, March i6th. A pillar has in- 
 deed fallen. No layman in Southern Methodism 
 better illustrated the noblest elements of Christian 
 character. No man was more beloved in Louisville. 
 Our readers may expect a suitable memoir. 
 
 I have been greatly shocked by the reception of a 
 telegram announcing the sudden death of Brother 
 Wm. Kendrick, of Louisville, Ky. It is not my
 
 I08 APPENDIX. 
 
 purpose in this brief notice to anticipate the obituary 
 which his excellent pastor will be sure to send you. 
 As the old pastor of Brother Kendrick, I desire to 
 express my appreciation of his high character, and 
 my deep sense of the great loss which the Church 
 sustains in his death. 
 
 Brother Kendrick was a model man. He was the 
 soul of honor, and the embodiment of truth. He 
 possessed high social qualities, and entertained with 
 a most generous hospitality. He was a man of in- 
 domitable energy and great business qualifications. 
 He was public-spirited, and his benevolence had a 
 wide range. All the great charities of the city se- 
 cured his sympathies and received his hearty support. 
 To the poor he was ever a friend, and to the sorrow- 
 ing he was always a good angel. I have been with 
 him at the jail, at the House of Refuge, and at the 
 Orphans' Home, and at all these places he exhibited 
 the loving spirit of a John, as full of sympathy as he 
 was abundant in charity. I have often gone into his 
 class-room that I might be benefited by his wise 
 counsels and his rich and deep Christian experience. 
 He was the best of class-leaders, and the wisest and 
 noblest of stewards. He was gifted in prayer, de- 
 lighted in song, and rejoiced in hearing the religious 
 experience of others. 
 
 While pastor of the Chestnut-street Church I was 
 brought near to death by a dangerous sickness ; his 
 prayers at my bed-side, so full of the spirit of the 
 Master, fell upon my ear and upon my heart as though
 
 APPENDIX. 1 09 
 
 indited by the Holy Ghost. He believed in holiness 
 of heart, and felt that the blood of Christ cleanseth 
 from all sin. He was always ready for every good 
 word and work. His faults were the fewest, and liis 
 virtues the highest. The whole Church in Louisville 
 feels the death of Brother Kendrick as a universal 
 calamity. He visited more sick people, and assisted 
 at more funerals than any man I have ever known. 
 He was a universal favorite, and, as one of his fellow- 
 members said to me, " everybody that is sick wants 
 Brother Kendrick's prayers." A gentleman of ele- 
 gant and refined manners, he always made himself 
 agreeable. An active man of business, he won the 
 respect of the best business men. A catholic Chris- 
 tian, he was welcomed at the altars of the various 
 Protestant Churches. A decided and thorough 
 Methodist, he was looked to by all Louisville, and 
 by a large portion of Kentucky, as a great represen- 
 tative layman, worthy of the confidence, respect, and 
 love of the whole Church. Li his own dear family 
 his character shone with its mildest and purest light. 
 He was the best and most devoted of husbands, and 
 to his dear, invalid wife I tender the deepest sympa- 
 thies of an old pastor's loving heart. He v/as a 
 father almost without a fault, and to his sons and 
 daughters his good name must ever be as ointment 
 poured forth. May God bless them in this sad, sad 
 hour! He was one of the oldest members of the 
 Chestnut-street Church, and had the love and respect 
 of both old and young. I pray God that his mantle
 
 1 lo APPENDIX. 
 
 may fall upon some one worthy to bear it. Except 
 his own excellent family, none will feel his loss more 
 than the pastor. His bereavement is great. May 
 God temper this sorrowful affliction to both pastor 
 
 and flock. 
 
 R. H. Rivers. 
 Eufaula, Ala., March i8, 1880. 
 
 [The Central Methodist, March 27th, 1880.] 
 
 William Kendrick, a prominent member of the 
 Methodist Church for more than forty years, died 
 suddenly at his home in Louisville, Kentucky, on 
 the evening of the i6th inst. At dark he was in 
 good health, and died at ten minutes past ten o'clock. 
 He was a true Christian and noble man. 
 
 The busy telegraph has just brought us the sad in- 
 telligence that William Kendrick, of Louisville, Ken- 
 tucky, has gone home. We do not propose an 
 obituary; that will be furnished by other hands; but 
 simply to drop a tear to his memory and a sprig of 
 Cassia on his grave. We knew him for many long 
 years, part of the time as his pastor ; have seen him 
 tried in the clouds of adversity and sorrow and in 
 the sunshine and joy of prosperity, and we have 
 never known a truer, better man. No name was 
 more widely known and respected in the Mississippi 
 valley, in the circles of trade, the firesides of friend- 
 ship, the associations of benevolence, or among the 
 followers of Christ.
 
 APPENDIX. I I I 
 
 His character had one marked feature, which lifted 
 itself like a lofty peak in a mountain range — it was 
 his goodness — admired by man and honored by Ciod. 
 In all the relations of life he has left the impress of 
 his character and the fragrance of a good name. In 
 his history we see the power of personal purity, the 
 goodness and gentleness of divine grace. When a 
 poor orphan boy, our noble church took him, educa- 
 ted him in her training schools — Sunday schools and 
 class meeting — and gave to his religious character its 
 manhood and its maturity. Well did '' our fathers" 
 know how to gather and to polish Christ's jewels — ti*e 
 ornaments of his glory crown. His piety was of the 
 strictest sort, plain, earnest, loving, decided, practi- 
 cal, faithful. He was a thorough Methodist, and a 
 most liberal Christian. His church and his religion 
 were always first in his love, first in his practical at- 
 tention. Whoever failed to be present at prayer 
 meeting, or class meeting, or at church, Kendrick 
 was there, if within the possibilities. No witness for 
 Christ ever bore more ready, modest, grateful, deci- 
 ded testimony to the excellence of "the power of 
 godliness." 
 
 When his pastor we hardly thought our meetings 
 complete without his presence, his mellow voice in 
 praise, or his earnest, tearful language in prayer. It 
 was a pleasure to preach the peculiar doctrines of our 
 church before him — especially "regeneration," the 
 witness of the Spirit, and " adoption." His heart 
 flashed out through his joy-lit face, or welled over in
 
 1 I 2 APPENDIX. 
 
 the falling tear or the subdued "amen " responsive 
 to the truth. He loved to hear Christian experience 
 preached, for he enjoyed it as a familiar friend — he 
 loved to hear of heaven, for he was on his way. 
 
 William Kendrick's hospitable home — it was one 
 of the institutions of Louisville shared by his inti- 
 mate friends, the preachers of all the different church- 
 es, the passing stranger. It was a home adorned by 
 genuine piety, and enriched by a generous Christian 
 hospitality. 
 
 Louisville has lost one of her most enterprising, 
 reliable, and honored citizens, but what shall we say 
 of the loss sustained by Methodism — and especially 
 by his own loved Chestnut-street church ? It is a 
 loss in every regard, in man and means; in the living 
 presence of the living Christian and in the power of 
 his living Christianity. The preacher has lost his 
 steady, true friend and adviser, and reliable support. 
 The church mourns a model member and official 
 servant. What is now an official meeting without 
 William Kendrick? The prayer meeting is in sack 
 cloth. The class room waits in vain for the coming of 
 the leader. "The Master had need of him." The 
 great congregation miss the genial fiice and gentle 
 presence, as the weekly public offerings are collected. 
 The poor miss him as one of their best and tried 
 friends. 
 
 His smitten family — the bereaved widow, the fath- 
 erless ones — but we will not intrude on their sacred 
 grief. Mav God soothe their sorrowing hearts.
 
 APPENDIX. I I 3 
 
 They were rich in his life, but richer in his death, 
 the inheritance of his worth, better than gold, and 
 in the dear hopes of speedy re-unions in heaven. 
 "God buries his workmen, but carries on his work." 
 
 Brooksville, Ky. W. H. Anderson. 
 
 RESOLUTIONS OF THE NEW YORK JEWELERS. 
 
 Set in an elegant frame, and forwarded to Louis- 
 ville, to be permanently placed in the Kendrick bus- 
 iness house. 
 
 DIED. 
 
 At Louisville, Ky. , March, i6th, 1880, 
 
 W^^ KENDRICK. 
 
 The sad tidings of his death having reached his 
 friends in ..„,„ ,„,„,. ^,„,, 
 
 NEW YORK CITY, 
 
 We, the undersigned, representatives of our re- 
 spective houses, deem it fitting and requisite in con- 
 sequence of our past relations with J/r. Kendrick, and 
 in view of his long and prominent connection with 
 \hQ Jeiuelry Business, in some united ?nanner io evince 
 the high regard we held for him during his life, as well 
 as to manifest our deep sorroiv at his death, so 
 unexpected. 
 
 Therefore Resolved, That we bear jnost willing testi- 
 mony to the integrity of his whole business life, to the 
 uniform gentleness of his conduct, and to his urbanity of 
 manfier, qualities which have made it a pleasure to us 
 all, from the youngest to the oldest, to meet hiin 
 socially and to transact business with him.
 
 114 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Resolved, That among the whole circle of our wide- 
 ly extended trade we have known no man who better 
 deserved, or who has more fully enjoyed the confi- 
 dence and affection, even, of his business friends. 
 
 Resolved, That we desire to unite with the more im- 
 mediate relatives of the deceased in sorroiv for present 
 great bereavonent m\di. that we most respectfully tender to 
 Xvi'i family our sincere sympathy in their loss, at the same 
 time deeply realizing that while they have been de- 
 prived of an affectionate husband and father we have 
 also lost a universally acknowledged friend. 
 New York, March 27th, 18S0. 
 
 Geo. Nelson Fenn. Frank H. Carpenter. 
 
 Court. E. Hastings. Frank E. Knight. 
 
 John D. Lyon. W. A. Bryant. 
 
 S. Y. D. Arrowsmith. S. W. Pickering. 
 
 M. L. BowDEN. Chas. E. Dorr. 
 
 C. W. Buechner. Geo. Smith Rice. 
 
 J. W. Watson. Geo. A. Lawrence. 
 
 Thos. H. B. Davis. W. P. Melcher. 
 
 F. S. Gorton. W. F. Cory. 
 
 Philo W. Scofield. A. L. Peck. 
 
 Geo. W. Shiebler. Harry Osborne. 
 
 C. L. White. Henry E. Ide. 
 
 H. Howard. James C. Rich. 
 
 RoBT. M. Wilcox. J. F. Crane. 
 
 Chas. D. Kent. D. L. Kennedy, Jr. 
 
 S. H. Hale. G. E. Luther. 
 
 [The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review.] 
 
 William Kendrick, a well known jeweler of Louis- 
 ville, Ky., died March 16, in the 70th year of his
 
 APPENDIX. I I 5 
 
 age. Mr. Kendrick was born in Patterson, N. J-, 
 but located at Louisville when about twelve years of 
 age. He became identified with the jewelry interest, 
 and was a large buyer in this and other eastern cities. 
 At one time he became embarrassed in business, and 
 was forced to go into bankruptcy. He subsequently 
 re-established himself in business, was prosperous, and 
 voluntarily paid off all his former indebtedness, from 
 which a discharge in bankruptcy had relieved him. 
 Mr. Kendrick occupied a high social position, and 
 had filled various public offices with honor to himself 
 and credit to his adopted state. He was beloved for 
 his many charitable bequests, and for his high and 
 honorable personal character. His death was sincere- 
 ly lamented by the entire community, of which he 
 was a distinguished ornament. 
 
 Mr. Kendrick's death was lamented and his char- 
 acter eulogized in an address by our most eloquent 
 temperance orator, Mr. George W. Bain. Also in a 
 speech in a case before the Fleming Circuit Court, 
 by Mr. L. W. Andrews, one of Kentucky's oldest 
 and most eminent jurists. 
 
 All over Kentucky, and in other States of the 
 Union, deep feeling was expressed by all classes of 
 our best citizens; but we have not space for half of 
 what has been so well spoken or written. Still the 
 following lines by a well known Railroad official must 
 not be omitted.
 
 1 1 6 APPENDIX. 
 
 [Courier- Journal. J 
 WILLIAM KENDRICK. 
 
 The angels have hushed their songs of praise, 
 
 The river its rippling laugh, 
 And those by the Throne with goblets raised 
 
 The nectar refuse to quaff. 
 
 All heaven is still ; e'en the perfumed air 
 
 Does not ruffle the golden stream, 
 And the flowers that grow on its margin fair 
 
 With additional beauty beam. 
 
 For the warrior is crossing the stream so cold, 
 
 The stream that they all have crossed, 
 And they know it requires a Christian bold 
 
 To stem it — so tempest-tossed. 
 
 But he walks erect with his peerless Guide 
 
 That he's known by faith for years 
 Would, thro' the dark river, be by his side 
 
 To quiet all doubts and fears 
 
 As he steps from the wave on the golden sand 
 That adorns Heaven's beautiful shore, 
 
 A chorus of angels, a numbeidess band. 
 Receive him to dwell evermore. 
 
 Then the harps are all strung to anthems of praise 
 For the gift of our Saviour — His Son — 
 
 And it's wafted through Heaven, in beautiful lays, 
 That a warrior his crown has won. 
 
 C. p. A.
 
 APPENDIX. I 1 7 
 
 Nor these from Mrs. Dr. Dougherty, of Jackson- 
 ville, Illinois: 
 
 [Courier- Journal.] 
 
 IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 Died — March i6, Wm. Kenukick. 
 
 Gone — perished from our mortal siglit, 
 
 Within a moment's space: 
 A mighty man— a tower of strength 
 
 With none to fill his )>lace. 
 Stunned with the blow, Oh miglity God ! 
 
 Beneath thy hand we lie— 
 Unmembered, broken, bleeding hearts, 
 
 Nor dare to question why. 
 
 Thou art almighty — yet thy love 
 
 Is boundless as thy might ; 
 Oh hide us 'neath that sheltering love 
 
 Who cry to thee to-night. 
 We know thy hand in love was laid 
 
 Upon his reverend head, 
 And yet our hearts refuse to own 
 
 Aught else but — he is dead ! 
 
 His holy life — ^reflecting thine — 
 
 Is ended here below ; 
 Alas! alas! that blinding tears 
 
 Shut out Heaven's richer glow : 
 We recognize thy right to him 
 
 Who made his life so fair ; 
 And yet our selfish hearts exclaim 
 
 "Too much for earth to spare." 
 
 Oh lift us up with thy strong arm 
 
 To where our faith may see 
 The narrow space between our souls 
 
 And ail we need in Thee. 
 Then let the radiance from his life 
 
 As lived out day by day, 
 Stream backward o'er each stricken heart 
 
 And show our feet the way. 
 
 Jacksonville, 111. L. c. s. D.
 
 I I 8 APPENDIX. 
 
 Nor these copied by an unknown friend : 
 
 [Courier- Journal.] 
 FOR DEAR MRS. KENDRICK. 
 
 I copy these sweet lines for her comfort. 
 
 T. S. . . . D. 
 
 He hath fallen asleep. It is well. 
 
 He hath thus laid his life burden down. 
 Long years did he bear the stern cross, 
 
 But it Jilted his droiv for the crown. 
 He may have forgotten e'en now, 
 
 That ever earth taught him to weep. 
 Let us say, while in sorrow we bow, 
 
 It is We'll. He hath fallen asleep. 
 
 He hath fallen asleep. Fold the hands 
 O'er the 7neek heart so pulseless and still ; 
 
 He hath gone to his Father and ours. 
 The 7-est which He gives His beloved 
 
 Is his, untroubled and deep. 
 And because we loved Iwn we say 
 
 It is well. He hath fallen asleep. 
 
 He hath fallen asleep. It is well. 
 
 He will not be weary again. 
 We will lie down beside him ere long ; 
 
 Then why should our weak faith complain ; 
 We shall claim, on the morn of our rising, 
 
 Victory palms which the seraphim keep. 
 Oh, what glory will crown the beloved 
 
 In Christ who have fallen asleep ! 
 
 ' 'Servant of God, well done ! 
 
 Thy glorious warfare's past ; 
 The battle fought the victory won. 
 
 And thou art crowned at last."
 
 APPENDIX. I I 9 
 
 Nor these from the Woman at Work : 
 
 [Woman at Work.] 
 ACROSTICAL TRIBUTE. 
 
 15Y C. .S. L. MATTHEWS. 
 
 Toll the bells gently, softly and slow, 
 
 O'er the remains of the honored dead ; 
 
 Weary of life, freed from earthly woe. 
 
 In a last, long sleep, rest thy j)eaceful bed. 
 
 Lowly in heart, ever kindly in deed. 
 
 Lovingly ministering to all in need ; 
 
 In life thou wert blameless, beloved by all. 
 
 Around thy green grave, our l)itter tears fall I 
 
 Mercy, justice and honor did with thee abide! 
 
 Kindness of manner to each friend at thy side — 
 E'er proved thy love, that no fear possessed ! 
 None knew thee, but richly in knowing were blessed I 
 Deplore we our loss, O, when brave soldiers fall. 
 Rests the banner they held ? who can answer the call ? 
 In wisdom God gave us the years that are flown, 
 Christ, that he loved, has taken His own ; 
 " Kings and Princes " of grace encircle His throne. 
 
 Nor can we exclude the following extracts from 
 lengthy papers prepared by those who knew him 
 longest, and were most intimately associated with 
 him in benevolent efforts and christian fellowship : 
 
 EXTRACT FROM PROCEEDINGS 
 
 Of a Joint Meeting of the Board of Education, and 
 the Managers of the Widow's and Orphans' Home: 
 
 Brother Kendrick's connection with these Christian 
 enterprises has been a constant testimony to his wis- 
 dom, his untiring industry, and his consecrated de-
 
 I 20 APPENDIX. 
 
 votion to the sacred cause of education, and the care 
 of the widow and the fatherless. In all these 
 elements he has been conspicuous, and did we not 
 know that God has done this thing our hearts would 
 be faint. We thank the God of all wisdom, the 
 friend of the widow and the orphan, for these faith- 
 ful services so long given by his blessing. 
 
 Our sorrow at this bereavement we cannot express. 
 We record on this page that we are sad, but how sad 
 we are God and our own hearts only can know. It 
 cannot be expressed in words. It cannot be appre- 
 ciated even by us, except through the years as we 
 shall meet together and miss his cheerful face, his 
 inspiring spirit, his patient labors, and his steadfast 
 faith in God. 
 
 FROM OBITUARY NOTICE, BY REV. GEORGE W. BRUSH. 
 
 Punctuality was cardinal in all his transactions. 
 He followed up closely his calling. He used econ- 
 omy, generosity, labor and vigilance. He took note 
 of time. I never knew him to be one minute late. 
 His residence was several squares from his shop and 
 his church, yet he was always on time at both. So 
 accurate was he in the use of time that he knew with 
 wonderful exactness the number of minutes required 
 to walk a square or the number of hours required 
 to complete a job. This practical " note of time " 
 was kept by him in all the affairs of life. He nota- 
 bly attended funerals among all classes, and, though 
 the custom is too much to be behind time, he was 
 never late, but there to weep or to help.
 
 APPENDIX. 1 2 I 
 
 We knew him at a period in the history of his 
 life when he ate bread in the sweat of his face ; 
 even then he was at the burial of his friend, or listen- 
 ing to the sermon of the presiding elder on quarterly- 
 meeting Saturday. For very many years he met a 
 Sunday-morning class, composed largely of elderly 
 ladies and widows; he lived to see most of them 
 safely off to that better country. When a little while 
 before the time of preaching to begin, he with his 
 class would slowly walk into tlie preaching-room, 
 their faces aglow with revived prospects, it seemed as 
 a fresh call to the minister. He was never a fault- 
 finder, but a peace-maker. He didn't argue the 
 brethren into peace, but peace affected all who were 
 near him. He was not a man of much demonstra- 
 tion, yet the glow of his heart seemed to be kept up 
 by that fire that never went out from the hearth of 
 the old temple. He was gifted in prayer, sung read- 
 ily, and in a frame that said, " Let every thing that 
 hath breath praise the Lord." A successful and con- 
 stant visitor of the sick, he went far beyond the 
 bounds of his own communion, and when an old ex- 
 perience had fallen into decay, Carvosso-like under 
 God he became a messenger of consolation. 
 
 HIS CHRISTIAN CHARACTER AND CHURCH WORK. 
 
 From a paper read by his pastor, Rev. J. C. Morris, 
 at a meeting of the officers of the Chestnut-street 
 Methodist Church.
 
 I 2 2 APPENDIX. 
 
 This love for the church he manifested, ist, By 
 his faithful attendance upon her services. He took 
 an interest in every part of the church's worship. 
 Hie was interested in all her work. He was at the 
 public services on Sabbath in the morning, and was 
 not less faithful in the evening. He was in his place 
 at the meetings of the Official Board and Quarterly 
 Conference. He attended the prayer-meetings, Wed- 
 nesday evenings at the church, Friday evening at the 
 homes, the Christmas morning hour of prayer, and 
 any other services that the church might appoint. 
 When an effort was made to organize a young people's 
 meeting, he was one of the most interested attendants 
 upon all the services held for them. He was at the 
 Quarterly meeting on Saturday morning, at the Love 
 feast ; and during a protracted meeting he was a part 
 of the congregation from the beginning to the close 
 through all the weeks ; and in addition to all this, he 
 found time to visit the other churches occasionally. 
 His attendance upon the sanctuary was not a question 
 of feeling, or convenience, or weather, or time. It 
 was his religious principle to be found in the house 
 of God, and he compelled everything to yield to 
 that. He was as sure to be in his place when his 
 pastor preached, as if Bishop Marvin, or any other 
 great light of the church were to be there. 
 
 2d, He showed his devotion to the church by his 
 liberal support of the church's institutions. He did 
 not offer burnt offerings unto the Lord of that which 
 cost him nothing. God blessed Bro. Kendrick with
 
 APPENDIX. 123 
 
 success in his business, and he returned unto God 
 who gave it the first fruits of all. He was intimately 
 connected with all the church's Work, and he knew 
 what she needed. No one knew much of what he was 
 doing in this respect. There was no display made 
 of it; yet, we know that he did much. He gave 
 freely to every claim that was presented. 
 
 He had no favorites which he supported to 
 the neglect of others. For the support of the min- 
 istry, for the current expenses of the church, for 
 her unusual demands, for the cause of missions, 
 for the widows and orphans, for the Bishops, 
 he gave as God had prospered him. This house 
 witnesses to his liberal gifts. The church had no 
 enterprises v/hich he did not patronize. This 
 characteristic was specially manifest in the deep in- 
 terest he took in the matter of a parsonage for this 
 church. At the last session of the Quarterly Con- 
 ference, a committee was appointed to digest a plan 
 for securing such a house. His heart was deeply 
 interested to see the enterprise succeed, and more 
 than once he spoke to Bro. Morton of a house which he 
 had thought of as a suitable one, and of his purpose 
 to give a liberal subscription to purchase the same. 
 
 3d, He showed his love for the church by his many 
 and faithful labors for her. He was pre-eminently a 
 working member of the church. He worked in many 
 places and he worked well in all. There was no part 
 of church work that he was not ready to do. He did not 
 consider that when he had done one thing, or half a
 
 1 24 APPENDIX. 
 
 dozen things, he was for this exempt from doing any- 
 thing else that presented itself to be done. He was 
 a class leader, but this did not excuse him from the 
 work of the stewardship. He was class leader and 
 steward, but, these did not excuse him from being 
 treasurer of the church and dispenser of her alms. 
 Nor did all of these excuse him from the responsible 
 and onerous duties of superintendent of the Sunday- 
 school. And in addition to all these he found time 
 to visit the sick, the old and infirm and the bereaved, 
 to speak with those who were overtaken in a fault 
 that he might restore them, and to do abundant work 
 of humanity and charity without. At the time of his 
 death he held many places of trust and work for the 
 church. He was a member of the Board of Edu- 
 cation for the Conference, a member of the Board of 
 Trustees for the Widows' and Orphans' Home for 
 the Church in the State, the President of the Metho- 
 dist Sunday-school Union for the city, and a Trustee, 
 Steward, Treasurer, Superintendent of the Sunday- 
 school for Chestnut-street Church. In each and all 
 of these he was as active and efficient as the most 
 active and efficient of all the men with whom he was 
 associated. He sought none of these places. The 
 church sought him always for the places, because 
 she knew he was worthy, and because he did the 
 work well. 
 
 Well might the church drape herself and her 
 altars in mourning, and pour out a tearful lamenta- 
 tion to God at the death of such a man.
 
 APPENDIX. I 2 5 
 
 As to Brother Kendrick's christian experience, I 
 need say but Httle. You knew something of this. 
 Through a Ufe-time he was growing in grace and in 
 the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through 
 these years he beautifully illustrated the power of 
 God to make much of human nature. His character 
 was a rare symmetrical work chiselled by the hand of 
 a master. He was a man of prayer. Any one who 
 looked into his face would know that he prayed. He 
 lived and talked much with God, and was never at a 
 loss to lead the devotions of God's people anywhere. 
 He could pray beside the bed of the sick, in the 
 home with the bereaved and sad, at the altar where 
 there were mourning penitents, or in the public con- 
 gregation. He had access to God. 
 
 He was a man of faith — the truest and most stead- 
 fast confidence in God. His faith brought peace 
 and quietness of soul. I have thought him a fit il- 
 lustration of the prophet's words. "Him wilt thou 
 keep in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee." 
 It was the peace that flowed like a river. Not the 
 fitful spurting of a wet weather spring, but the calm, 
 quiet flow of the great " Father of Waters." 
 
 He was a man of joy — a happy man, one whose 
 religion gave him sunshine to live in. He had made 
 God his trust — he lived trusting in Christ, and he 
 was full of cheer. Did you ever see him when he 
 could not smile ? Did you ever hear him talk when 
 he did not see some light about him ? That face 
 never lost its brightness. He smiled all through the
 
 126 APPENDIX. 
 
 cares and storms of life, and he met death with a 
 smile. Lying in the grave he wore on his face the 
 emblem of holy victory, as if already he had cried, 
 " O death, where is thy sting ! O grave, where is thy 
 victory ! " 
 
 HIGHLY ORNAMENTAL INSCRIPTION 
 
 On the record of Chestnut-street Church. K copy 
 of which, on muslin, was presented to the family. 
 
 In Memory of 
 
 WILLIAM KENDRICK, 
 
 Who died March i6th, 1880. Aged 70 years. 
 
 He filled many offices in this church, and dis- 
 charged their duties faithfully, diligently and wisely. 
 His public and his private life are worthy of all 
 praise. He lived and died in favor with God, in 
 peace and charity with man, and in hope of life 
 everlasting. 
 
 To the memory of this faithful officer, the first 
 among us whose office has been made vacant by 
 death, this memorial is affectionately inscribed. 

 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
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