[1] He studied law in his father's office, and was admitted to the bar in 1850.
[2] Before the American Civil War, Kennon was a Democrat, but was nominated to the legislature by the Union Party of Belmont County.
[1] In May 1862, fellow Belmont Countian Benjamin Rush Cowen resigned as Secretary of State after a few months in office to go to war.
[5] After his term in office expired, Kennon became a Paymaster in the United States Army, and served throughout the American Civil War.
[6] After the war, Kennon engaged in private practice of law at Cincinnati, in partnership with Milton Sayler and John W. Okey, for five years.