| John J. Kennedy | |
| Birth Date: | c. 1813 |
| Death Place: | Hallsville, Texas |
| Placeofburial: | Hallsville, Texas |
| Nickname: | "Colonel" |
| Allegiance: | |
| Serviceyears: | 1832–36 (USA) 1836–1846 (Republic of Texas) 1861–65 (CSA) |
| Rank: | First Lieutenant (USA) Captain (CSA) |
| Branch: | Texan Army |
| Commands: | Company K, "Clough Rangers" 17th Texas Cavalry |
| Battles: | Black Hawk War Second Seminole War Regulator-Moderator War American Civil War |
| Laterwork: | Sheriff of Harrison County, Texas |
John Joseph Kennedy (c. 1813–1880) was a Scotch-Irish American lawyer and sheriff of Harrison County, Texas that helped end the Regulator-Moderator War in East Texas. He was an artillery officer in the United States Army and a cavalry captain for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. Kennedy was also a Freemason and member of Marshall Lodge #22.[1]
He served as a first lieutenant in the United States Army under General Abraham Eustis in the Black Hawk War and Second Seminole War. In 1836 he immigrated to the Republic of Texas receiving a 1,240 acre land grant from Anson Jones.[2] He and his brother-in-law, Joseph Upton Fields, ended the Regulator-Moderator War while he was sheriff of Harrison County, Texas.[3] Kennedy was also a Harrison County commissioner.[4]
Kennedy ran for the Texas Senate campaigning against the Compromise of 1850. He was initially declared the winner, but then was defeated.[5] According to the 1860 United States Census Kennedy owned 21 slaves, making him a planter.
During the American Civil War Kennedy served as Captain of Company K, 17th Texas Cavalry, also named Clough Rangers.[6] [7] He fought in the Battle of Arkansas Post where he evaded capture.