Cumberland County, Maine - Charles Austin Kennard
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Biography
Charles Austin Kennard
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 429-430


Charles Austin Kennard, of Portland, where he has resided for the last thirty-
six years, a citizen of sterling worth, was born in Bridgton, Cumberland County,
October 28, 1839, the youngest son of Nathaniel and Abby (Wales) Kennard. His
grandfather, Edward Kennard, was a resident of Limington, but subsequently
removed to Bridgton when Nathaniel was a small lad.

Nathaniel Kennard, son of Edward, was engaged a large part of his life in
agriculture, but also did a good business as a manufacturer of wagons and
agricultural tools. He was a veteran of the War of 1812-14, serving as Drum
major of the Thirty-third Massachusetts Militia Regiment, and taking part in
the-battle of Plattsburg. Peace being concluded, he again settled down to
farming and mechanical pursuits. His wife, Abby, was a daughter of Thomas Wales.
Her father was a seafaring man, who met his death in the pursuit of his calling,
his vessel being ran down at sea in a gale. Mr. and Mrs. Kennard had eight
children, four of whom still survive, namely Benjamin F., now a resident of
Portland; James E., also a resident of this city; Elizabeth S., who became the
wife of Osborne Fernald; and Charles A., whose name appears at the head of this
sketch. Amanda P. became the wife of Walter Corbett, of Newport, R. I., and both
she and her husband have passed away; Abby (deceased) married J. T. Shattuck;
Mary E. died at the age of thirty years. Mrs. Nathaniel Kennard died in 1869,
and her husband in 1868. They were both members of the Baptist church.

Charles A. Kennard spent five precious years of his boyhood on an island far
removed from educational advantages, devoid even of a primary school. He
subsequently attended North Bridgton Academy, pursuing his studies with the
object of fitting himself for college. The breaking out of the Civil War,
however, changed all his plans. Filled with patriotic ardor, he was only
prevented from going to the front with the earliest regiments raised in this
State, by a violent attack of typhoid fever; but on his recovery he wasted no
time, giving up a fine position to enlist as private in Company B, Twenty-third
Regiment, Maine Volunteers, and serving to the end of the term of enlistment.
His greatest regret connected with his military experience is that, the
regiment's term of enlistment having expired just before the battle of
Gettysburg, they declined an opportunity afforded them to volunteer for a share
in that momentous struggle, which was the turning-point of the war, and, filled
with a desire to see their kindred, once more availed themselves of their
privilege of returning home.

After the war was over, he came to Portland and found employment with Emery &
Fox, large outfitters in the West India trade, loading and fitting as many as
one hundred vessels a year. Leaving them he next engaged in the printing
business for about a year, at the end of which he secured the contract for
sprinkling the streets of the city, which enterprise he managed for eighteen
years, giving general satisfaction. He began this business with only one horse,
but on his retirement from it he had forty-four horses and a large number of
employees. During his management of this important branch of the municipal
service he introduced a new and improved system, his own patent, which he
subsequently supplied to other cities, Ottawa, Canada, being one of the larger
municipalities to appreciate and profit by his inventive genius. Mr. Kennard was
engaged largely at one time in the trade with Cuba. He also invested to a
considerable extent in building and real estate.

In politics he has always been a Republican, and he was once prevailed upon to
accept service for one term as a member of the Common Council; but, not desiring
public honors, he has since refrained from active politics. His fidelity to his
party is tempered only by a manly independence which reserves the right to
"scratch" the name of any candidate who in his opinion is unfitted for the
position with which the name is associated on the ticket.

Mr. Kennard was married at the age of thirty years to Miss Etta Holden, daughter
of Benjamin T. Holden, of Otisfield, this State. Their home for some years has
been at 150 Federal Street, opposite Lincoln Park. Mr. Kennard is now retired
from active business pursuits. By diligence and economy he has achieved a fair
competency, which it may be hoped he has many years to enjoy, being but little
past the prime of life. Throughout his active career it has been his custom to
extend ready aid and counsel to those battling with the tide of adversity, and
more than one human bark has he rescued from the rocks of business failure and
the quicksands of despondency to set a straight course for the haven of success.
His helping hand has also rescued from the gutter many a wretched victim of
drink, who, by his friendly counsel and such aid as medical science could
bestow, has been delivered from the fatal bondage of a master habit, to become
once more a useful member of society. Mr. Kennard has followed close the Golden
Rule, believing that the highest object of this earthly existence is to build
character for the limitless life beyond the veil.