John Kershner

As printed in 1881

JOHN KERSHNER, brick-mason and contractor, Springfield. His residence is No. 266 East street. Since 1860, he has been engaged quite extensively in contracting buildings. The firm is Kershner & Trimmer. They have done the mason work---being the contractors--of quite a number of the large brick buildings in Springfield, such as “ Mast, Foos & Cos.’ West End Shops,” the “Commercial Block,” Thomas & Son’s shops, ete. Mr. K. was born in what is now Springfield Township, this county, Oct. 4, 1829, on the farm which was entered by his grandfather in 1804. He lived at home working on the farm until 19 years old, when he began his present trade, at which he has worked ever since. He was married, March 30, 1853, to Adaline Knaub (sister of George S. Knaub). Six children have blessed their home, viz., Jacob A. (who died in infancy), Amand F., Mary A., Sarah C., George E. and Alice A. Mary was married, Feb. 8, 1876, to C. A. Schuster. Mrs. K. was born in Pennsylvania April 2, 1834. John’s father, Jacob Kershner, was a native of Hagerstown. Md., and came to Ohio and to this county with his parents in 1825. He was married the same year, Feb. 14, to Sarah Worble. He died in 1866, and she is still living at the advanced age of 74 years. In 1804, Jacob’s father came to this, now Clark County, for the purpose of entering land. Mr. Baum, the Government Surveyor, was at the time surveying this part of Ohio, and Mr. Kersh ner —being a relative of Mr. Baum’s—traveled with him some four months. This gave him an excellent opportunity of viewing the land. He therefore entered the farm (now owned by Isaac Jacobs), which lies about two miles south of Springfield, and, in the fall, returned to Maryland, where he remained until 1325, when he with his sons Jacob, Isaac and William, and Jacob’s wife, moved here, and erected a house and began clearing the farm. In the spring of 1825, went back to Maryland for the rest of the family. John, the subject of this sketch, was a member of the City Council of Springfield for the years 1876 and 1877. His father was the leader of the Democratic party in this county for twenty years. j

As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.