Amos Kendall, editor of the Argus of Western America, was born on August 16, 1789 in Dunstable, Massachusetts. Graduated from Dartmouth College in 1811 and for two years read law with William Richardson an attorney of Groton, Massachusetts. Upon meeting Senator Jesse Bledsoe of Kentucky in Washington, he was offered a position as tutor to the Bledsoe children. When Amos arrived in Lexington to assume his position as tutor, he was informed by Mrs. Bledsoe there was a misunderstanding and his services were not needed.  An unexpected meeting with Mrs. Henry Clay secured Amos a job as tutor for the five Clay children.

In 1816 Amos moved to Frankfort, where he became the editor of the Argus.  His parents had bestowed on him a deep regard for public morality and with his political editorials, Kendall soon made enemies. The Argus was struggling financially when Amos began his campaign to help Andrew Jackson in the 1828 presidential election. He moved to Washington where he became a member of Jackson's Cabinet.  For six years Amos served as fourth auditor in the U. S. Treasury and five years as postmaster general in the Jackson and Van Buren administration. After public service, Amos was an exclusive writer for the Washington Globe and in 1843 his biography of Andrew Jackson was published.  He became involved with Samuel Morse, inventor of the telegraph, as a business agent an became very wealthy.

Sources:
The History of Franklin County, Kentucky, by L. F. Johnson
Capital on the Kentucky, by Kramer
The Kentucky Encyclopedia, by Kleber

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