David T. Kennerly was born in Barnwell County South Carolina on July 2, 1847 where his father, Joseph Kennerly, owned a large plantation near the little towns of Glenmark and Barnwell Village, which were about 50 miles from Charleston.  According to the writings of his daughter, David was in school when the Civil War started.  Feeling his need to support the Confederacy, David ran away from school and enlisted for service. At the start of the Civil War in 1861 David was only 14 and not old enough to enlisted.  According to his own writing, David served more than a year with the 2nd South Carolina Artillery, however being underage he was unable to officially enlist and merely served with this company in a non-commissioned capacity. In October of 1863 opportunity came for David to officially enlist for service.  While in the small town of Pocotaligo, South Carolina David Kennerly was mustered into service with Company I of the 5th South Carolina Calvary.  Again David was not yet old enough to enlist for service since he was now only 16 years old, however his age was overlooked and was allowed to continue his services. Between September and October of 1864 David's company was engaged in the Battle of Petersburg, Virginia when at the Poplar Springs Church he was wounded under Union fire.  David Kennerly was shot in the chest with a Union minnie ball, however wounds were not critical and he soon returned to service.  David continued his service with his company and remained loyal to the very end.  In May of 1865 the 5th North Carolina Calvary was engaged with Confederate General Joe Johnston near Durham, North Carolina in one of the last skirmishes of the Civil War.  During this skirmish, known as Crescent Ridge [Greenville, South Carolina], Kennerly was again shot with a Union minnie ball, which struck him in the left arm. After their skirmish near Durham, Kennerly's company surrendered along with General Joe Johnston and soon after were discharged.  Kennerly and his company were among the last of the Confederate's to surrender at the end of the Civil War. After the war David returned to Barnwell County, South Carolina and soon found himself working on one of the many farms throughout the area.  By 1870 David had acquired a small section of property that he farmed himself.  On January 31, 1872 David Kennerly was married to Julia Catherine Fogle in a small ceremony in the little town of Glenmark, South Carolina.  This small wedding was conducted by the Reverend Coffin, an ordained minister of the gospel in South Carolina.  The Fogle Family were local plantation owners in Glenmark where they lived near to the Kennerly plantation.  David and Julia continued to live in Glenmark, South Carolina for a time when in January of 1878 they had their first child, Gasdon. The following year, in 1879, David and Julia moved south to Florida where they settled in Pasco County in 1879.  The Kennerly's settled on a 160 acre of property located on the northwest side of Buddy Lake where David made application for homestead of his property.  David proceeded to build his family a home situated in the rolling hills surrounding Lake Buddy, David Kennerly's homestead is further described as being located in section 7, township 25, range 21.  Soon after arriving and settling in Pasco County, David and Julia had another baby.  In November of 1882 daughter Hattie was born at the Kennerly homestead in Pasco County On January 6, 1883 David purchased an additional 40 acres of property from the State of Florida, which adjoined to his 160 acre homestead.  David's additional 40 acres of property is further described as being located in section 12, township 25, range 20.  In June of 1887 David and Julia had another daughter, who they named Maude. In 1927 David Kennerly was recorded as being one of two last surviving Confederate Veterans in Pasco County, the other was Col. Ebenezer Liles.  Col. Liles having died the later part of 1927, David Kennerly was the only Confederate Veteran still living in Pasco County.  On April 28, 1931 David Kennerly died carrying his title as Pasco's last Confederate survivor with him.  Julia interred her dear husband, David, in the Williams Cemetery not far from where they had settled in 1879.  After his burial the family erected the headstone, pictured above, to his memory. (Research and photo by Jeff Cannon- Copyright © 2008)