Progressive legislator and cooperative leader D.D. Kennedy (Dougald Duncan “Manley” Kennedy) was born in the town of Farmington, Wisconsin on November 28, 1879. His father, also known as D.D. Kennedy, had immigrated to Wisconsin from Scotland. After receiving his education in the Amery schools, the younger Kennedy migrated to North Dakota in 1904 where he homesteaded. In 1908 he moved to Alberta, Canada. There Kennedy assisted in the organization of the farmers' cooperative movement. In 1914 he returned to Polk County and settled on a farm in the town of Garfield where he resided for the remainder of his life. In addition to farming he also operated a saw mill and a grist mill on his property.
In Polk County Kennedy also resumed his work in the cooperative movement. Not only was he active in the organization of local cooperatives, but he also was involved in the effort to organize the Farmers Equity Union in Wisconsin. Kennedy served on the board of the Wisconsin Farmers Equity Union and for several years was chairman of the county organization. He also served on the board of the Farmers Union Central Exchange of St. Paul, the Farmers Union Livestock Commission of South St. Paul, and the Polk County Farmers Union Co-op Oil Company. In addition, Kennedy was active in elective politics, serving as town chairman for Garfield and as a member of the Polk County Board of Supervisors. In 1936 he was elected to the state Assembly on the Progressive Party ticket. Kennedy was serving his third term in the Legislature at the time of his death on April 15, 1941.
