Samuel Kennard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samuel Kennard
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Samuel Mummey Kennard
January 11, 1842 Lexington, Kentucky
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| Died | December 7, 1916 (aged 74) St. Louis, Missouri
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| Occupation | Businessman |
Samuel Mummey Kennard (1842-1916) was a successful businessman and a former soldier from St. Louis, Missouri. He was very involved in his community. An elementary school in St. Louis was even named after him. However, in August 2020, the St. Louis Board of Education decided to change the school's name.
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Early Life
Samuel Kennard was born in Lexington, Kentucky, on January 11, 1842. His parents were John and Rebecca Kennard.
He went to school in Lexington. When he was 15, he moved to St. Louis with his father. His father started a carpet business there.
Civil War Service
When the American Civil War began, Samuel Kennard joined the Confederate Army. These were the soldiers from the Southern states. He was part of a group called Landis' Missouri Battery.
He fought in a major battle called the Siege of Vicksburg. After this battle in 1863, he was captured and became a prisoner of war. This means he was held by the opposing army.
Later, he was exchanged and became a lieutenant, which is a military officer rank. He commanded a section of Henry Guibor's Battery during the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, in 1864. For the last six months of the war, he served with General John Bell Hood in Georgia and Tennessee. For some of that time, he was a personal assistant, called an aide-de-camp, to General Nathan B. Forrest.
After the War
After the war ended, Samuel Kennard went back to St. Louis. He became a partner in his father's carpet business. When his father passed away in 1872, the company became known as J. Kennard & Sons Carpet Company.
Samuel Kennard was very active in the community. He helped organize the Saint Louis Exposition, which was a big public event. He was on its board of directors for twelve years. He also led the first meeting of the St. Louis Autumnal Festival Association. He was also a vice president for the company that promoted the St. Louis World's Fair.
He held important positions in many groups. He was a grand treasurer for the Missouri Masonic Order. He was also the first president of the Mercantile Club and the St. Louis Business Men's League. He was a director for the National Bank of Commerce and the Commonwealth Trust Company.
Kennard also helped organize the Planters Hotel Company. He was a leader in building a special hall for the Republican Party to hold their national meeting in 1896.
Death
Samuel Kennard passed away on December 7, 1916, at the age of 74. He died at his home at 4 Portland Place, which he had built around 1891.
He was survived by his wife and six children: John B., Samuel M. Jr., R.S., Mrs. Luther Ely Smith, Mrs. J.H. Brookmire, and Mrs. HB. Wallace.
Legacy
Gifts to Charities
Samuel Kennard was an active member of St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church. When he died, he left money to many charities. These included the St. Louis Provident Association, St. Louis Widows' Home, Home of the Friendless, and Methodist Orphans' Home. He also gave to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Jewish Charitable and Educational Union, Kingdom House, and Barnes Hospital.
He also gave money to Jewish Associated Charities. The St. Louis Jewish Voice newspaper reported that this was the first time they had received a gift from someone who was not Jewish.
Elementary School
A new school building at 5032 Potomac Street was named in Samuel Kennard's honor. It was officially opened on January 22, 1930, with about six hundred people attending. This new school replaced an older, temporary school that was also named after him. The new building had 18 classrooms and a kindergarten.
A painting of Samuel Kennard was given to the school by his six children. One of his grandchildren unveiled the portrait on April 17, 1931. His family also gave many books to the school library.
In 1990, the school became a special "magnet school" for gifted children. These schools offer special programs for students who learn quickly. In 2015, a parent named Joanna Abrams learned that Samuel Kennard had been a Confederate officer. She, along with other parents, started asking for the school to be renamed.
In 2015, the school's students were about 58.5% white, 30.5% black, 9.2% Asian, and 1.7% Hispanic.
