Albert “Bert” Flemming Kennedy: A Life in the American West

Albert Flemming Kennedy was born on February 28, 1875, in the bustling city of Chicago, Illinois, to William C. Kennedy and Amelia Flemming. As the second youngest of seven children, Albert grew up in a family that was both resilient and enterprising, surrounded by his siblings. Albert’s early years saw the Kennedy family move from Chicago to the plains of Iowa, where they met up with his uncle, Captain Flemming, who ran a riverboat. His oldest brother, George, worked alongside the captain, and it was here that young Albert developed a fascination with adventure and exploration, traits that would define much of his life.

Albert attended the Michigan Military School, a formative experience that instilled in him a sense of discipline and a drive to succeed. By the time Albert was a teenager, the family had moved again, this time to Denver, Colorado. The death of his father, William C. Kennedy, when Albert was just 17 years old marked a turning point in his life. Alongside his brothers, Albert turned to mining and orchard work, seeking to carve out a living in the rugged American West.

Albert’s mining ventures took him to some of the most storied locations in the region, including Bisbee and Tombstone, Arizona. In Bisbee, he was involved in copper mining, working in one of the most productive copper regions in the world at the time. The Copper Queen Mine and others like it were the lifeblood of the area, attracting miners from across the country. Later, in Tombstone, Albert became part of the silver boom, a period that brought immense wealth to the town. However, as with many booms, it eventually went bust, and Albert found himself caught at the tail end of this silver rush.

During these ventures, Albert formed a close friendship with Gail Holmes, with whom he partnered in the Silver Reef Mine in the White Mountains of California. Although their venture was short-lived, it was emblematic of the entrepreneurial spirit that drove Albert throughout his life.

In the summer of 1912, Albert’s life took a new turn when he met Irene Louisa Ward. Irene had just returned from teaching in Northern California and was surprised to find Albert, a charming yarn-spinner, in her parents’ home in Glendale, Los Angeles, California. The two quickly fell in love and were married on October 26, 1912. Together, they moved to the White Mountains, near Bishop, California, where Albert worked in the Montgomery mine for several years. Later they moved closer to family and built a life in San Fernando, Los Angeles, California, where they would build an adobe house and raise their surviving five children.

The years following World War I were difficult for Albert, as the mining industry declined. He turned to cement work in his later years, a testament to his adaptability and determination to provide for his family.

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Albert Flemming Kennedy passed away of tuberculosis on January 2, 1928, in Glendale, leaving behind a legacy of hard work, adventure, and a deep love for his family. His story is one of resilience, shaped by the challenges and opportunities of the American frontier, and his ventures into the copper and silver mines of California and Arizona are a testament to the enduring spirit of exploration that defined his life.

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