J.R. was the son of David Kennamer and Kitty Hodges. He
was born in the east room of a log cabin in Kennamer Cove at the David
Kennamer place. The family physician was Dr. Lafayette Derrick. His
swaddling clothes were made of all wool flannel. It was the custom in those
days for babies to wear yarn flannel, even in the poorest families.
He was raised on a farm and taught farming techniques
beginning at an early age of seven years old. He married Sarah (Sallie) Page
in 1896. He tells how he was plowing May 28, 1900, when the sun was in
eclipse. It was so dark chickens went to roost; some people thought the
world was coming to an end. They had no source of communication to inform
them as to what was happening.
He was a teacher, postmaster, merchant, writer and author
of many books, and a great historian. He moved to Woodville in 1903 and
bought an old hotel building until he was able to build a new brick home in
1929. He built on the same property he had lived since 1903. He lived here
until his death in 1952. In 1913 he donated land for the Church of Christ
building. J.R. and Mrs. Sallie raised a large family that became very
successful in life.
