My Genealogy Hound

JOHN KEMEDY, chairmaker, Bloomington. Another important feature of the Bloomington Chair Factory is the finishing department; this is under the charge of John Kemedy, who is a native of Ontario, Canada. In the fall of 1839, he came to Detroit, Mich., and, in 1841, began learning the trade of making and finishing chairs. He remained in Detroit until 1843; then removed to Milwaukee, Wis., where he stayed but a short time, coming to Chicago in September of the same year; here he made his home for nearly eight years, and for the next twenty years spent his life in Wisconsin and Chicago. In 1873, he accepted a situation with a manufacturing company in Clinton, Iowa; remaining there about four years, then removing to Bloomington to accept the position of superintendent of the finishing department of the Bloomington Chair Manufacturing Company; this position he has filled with perfect satisfaction to all parties interested; he employs from seven to nine hands in this department, they being usually girls; he is a thoroughly reliable gentleman; by his honesty, sobriety and industry, he is now holding a good situation.