He had known the Kendricks ever since he had known anyone.

Every person in East Wellmouth of middle age or older remembered when the two brothers, Samuel Kendrick and Bailey Kendrick--Bailey was John's father--lived in the village and were the "big" men of the community.

Bailey was the more important and respected at that time, for Samuel speculated in stocks a good deal and there were seasons when he was so near bankruptcy that gossip declared he could not pass the poorhouse without shivering.

If it had not been for his brother Bailey, so that same gossip affirmed, he would most assuredly have gone under, but Bailey lent him money and helped him in many ways.

Both brothers were widowers and each had a son; but Samuel's boy Erastus was fifteen years older than John.
The families moved from Wellmouth when John was six years old.