The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.
FRANCIS L. KERR.
Xo profession has made greater advancement in the last half century than the agricultural profession ami today the farmer is making more money with less effort than ever before in the history of the world. The agricul- tural colleges which are springing up all over the United States are doing an incalculable amount of good for the fanners and the young man who takes a course in one of these schools is in a position to make farming a paying proposition. Every year finds an ever increasing number of bright young men in agricultural schools and the future history of farming is going to tell a different story as a result. The career of Francis L. Kerr shows what may be accomplished by a scientifically trained young farmer and the course in animal husbandry which he has taken in college will make him a leader in his county along stock raising lines.
Francis L. Kerr, the son of Calvin and Carrie (Lambert) Kerr, was born June 8, 1887, in Jasper county, Iowa. His parents were both born in Ohio. His father went to Missouri with his parents in 1866 and in about 1873 or 1874 located with them in Jasper county, Iowa. In 1S79 Calvin went to Saunders count}'. Nebraska, where he had entered a piece of railroad land and on this he lived for the next five years. He then returned to Jasper county, Iowa, and a few years later located at Manilla, Crawford county, Iowa. He now engaged in the vehicle and harness business and followed this line of activity for the next seven Years. In the meantime he had bought
eighty acres of land in Jefferson township in this county and in 1894 moved on this farm. Later he bought another eighty acres adjoining and on this farm of one hundred and sixty acres he lived until the fall of 1013 when he retired and moved to Manilla where lie is now residing.
Francis L. Kerr is the only child born to his parents and after receiving a good common and high school education entered the Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, and graduated from the course in Animal Husbandry in that excellent institution in 1900. While in college he took the course which he thought would benefit him on the farm and it is not too much to say he is one of the best equipped farmers in the county. His success since taking hold of his father's farm indicates that he will one day be classed among the best fanners of the state. He keeps fully abreast of everything pertaining to the farm and is rightly regarded as a leader in his county.
He has a good strain of Duroc Jersey red hogs and general purpose horses. In the fall of 1914 he purchased a bull gas tractor which is adapted to all kinds of farm work and will do the work of four or five horses. Mr. Kerr built a silo in 191 r. He was one of the first farmers to raise alfalfa in northern part of the county and now has about seventeen acres which he cut three times in 1914.
He is a breeder of Guernsey cattle and in 19 10 brought the first cattle of this breed into the county. At the present time there is only one other herd of the cattle in the. county. He now has fifteen head of full blooded regis- tered Guernseys and is all the time adding to his herd. He is secretary and treasurer of the Iowa Guernsey Breeders' Association and is actively inter- ested in the work of the association. In 1911 he exhibited three head of his cattle at the Iowa State Fair and took first prize on one of his three-year- old heifers. His mother has taken first prize on butter at the Manilla corn show for the past four years. He milks from twelve to fifteen cows the year around and has found it a very profitable business. Xo young man in the county is making a better showing on the farm and his striking success so far presages promising things for him in the future.
Mr. Kerr was married June 4, 1913. to Lottie Vennink. She is the daughter of William and Georgiana (Helm) Vennink and was born February 18, 1889. in Crawford county, Iowa. To this union has been born one daugh- ter, Madelyn Frances, born Jul}' 9. IQ14. Mr. Kerr and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is an independent voter and has never been an aspirant for public office. They are genial and friendly young people who have a large circle of friends and acquaintances through- out the county.
Source: Past and present of Shelby County, Iowa. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.
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