John Kerr

As printed in 1912

JOHN KERR, who now lives somewhat retired after a busy agricultural life of many years, owns and occupies one of the comfortable homes and attractive residences that may be found in the city of Bucyrus, O., his being particularly marked on account of its tasteful arrangement of flower beds on the lawn and its great variety of choice shrubbery. Mr. Kerr was born in Dallas township, Crawford county, O., Sept. 6,

James Kerr, the grandfather, was born in Franklin county, Pa. He grew to man’s estate there and was married to Betsey Arbuckle. Late in the twenties they came to Ohio and settled in what was practically a wilderness, hoping to develop a farm and earn comfort for their old age. They lived beyond four score and ten and were permitted many years of comparative ease. They were among the early members of the Christian church in this section. They had the following children: Robert, Johnson, who was a farmer in Wyandot county; Alexander, who was a farmer in Allen county; James, who was a farmer in Crawford county, all of whom left descendants; Jane and Martha, who were both married and lived into old age; and Louisa, who married Robert Urich and who lived and died in Knox county, O.

Robert Kerr was born in Mifflin county, Pa, in 1807 and was reared in Knox county, coming there when 6 years of age. From Knox county he came to Crawford county when 20 years of age and here entered eighty acres of government land in Dallas township. 'This eighty acres was but the

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,u; I C v. 1-J-01 nucleus around which he built up a large fortune in land, acquiring acre after acre until he owned 4,500 acres of Ohio soil. He began life in a primitive way, starting in a log cabin that had a luncheon floor, and in this humble dwelling a number of his children were born, among whom was his son, John, who still owns the original eighty acres entered by his father. In the course of time Robert Kerr provided a more commodious residence and resided in it up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1889. He was known far and wide for the success he reached in his agricultural operations and his growing of stock and he became one of the largest sheep farmers in Crawford county, having an annual Hock of 10,000 head for many years. His first wife died in 1857 at the age of forty-one years and twenty days. She was a devout Christian, a member of the Disciples church. Three sons and four daughters were born to this marriage, three of whom survive: John; Mrs. Sarah Harris, who lives on a farm in Wyandot county; and Mary, who is the wife of Philip Linn, of Marion, O. PI is second marriage was with Mrs. Martha Williams, and they had one daughter: Mrs. Adelaide Barr, who is a resident of Kansas City, Mo.

John Kerr grew up on his father’s farm and had absolutely no educational advantages. Although this has been no serious drawback to his success in life, Mr. Kerr has given each one of his own children a college education. While he was not permitted the study of books, lie learned many lessons of value in the fields and forests of his father’s large estate and many of these he afterward practically applied. When he became a farmer on his own account he put aside many of the old, worn-out methods and theories of former days, and through his own experimenting reached conclusions which resulted in the adoption of many of the most modern methods of carrying on agricultural pursuits. He reached success in what he undertook and soon became recognized as one of the most practical and enterprising farmers and stock men of the township. In 1892 he retired from the farm to Bucyrus after erecting his handsome brick residence at No. 215 South Spring Street, already mentioned. Pie has seen many changes take place in this part of Crawford county and is well posted on all the leading events.

On August 30, 1869, Mr. Kerr was married to Miss Alice Chambers, who was born and reared in Carey, Wyandot county, O. Pier father, William Chambers, was born in West Virginia and was married in Wyandot county, O., to Keziah Carr. They were farming people in Wyandot county for some years when they moved to Sedgwick county, Kans., but later returned to Ohio. He died in Marion county in 1890 and his wife in Wyandot county, in 1900, aged respectively 81 and 86 years. To Mr. and Mrs. Kerr the following children were born: Eva, the wife of Daniel Locke, who resides at Everett, Wash., and has two sons — Gormley and Wayne; Maude, who is the widow of William Sholaker, and resides in Delaware; and Robert, a farmer in Richland county, O., who married Jessie Strawbridge and has three sons — John, Harrold and Donald. Mrs. Kerr is a member of the Christian Science church. Politically Mr. Kerr is identified with the Republican party.

As printed in History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.