Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 601 - 602 

JOHN M. KERR. Some men's lives are quietly passed in the enjoyment of their homes, while others are so rudely buffeted in the voyage through life, and they are thrown into such strange company, that the history of their wanderings reads more like the product of a fertile imagination of the romancer than sober biography. Among those whose life work has been carried on in scenes of this character, and whose wanderings have been far and wide, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is a native of Rock Township, Jefferson Co., Ohio, and was born Nov. 2, 1831.

            The parents of Mr. Kerr, James and Mary M. (Elliott) Kerr, were born, the former in New Jersey, Feb. 12, 1811, and the latter in Stark County, Ohio. They are now residing in Jefferson County, Ky., where they are spending their declining years, both having passed the allotted age of mankind. They were the parents of five children, as follows: John M., the subject of this sketch; James, who died in infancy; Robert C., who married Miss Julia Gibbon, and who died Feb. 12, 1888, in Louisville, Ky., and left a family of nine children; Richard B., a sketch of whom is given elsewhere iu this volume; and James E., who was born Dec. 25, 1854, and died Jan. 15, 1883.

            In his boyhood's happy days our subject drew his education from the district schools of his native State, which he supplemented with one term at the High School. In 1859 he removed to Brooks County, Va., where he was residing at the time of the breaking out of the Rebellion. Being intensely patriotic, he enlisted in the 1st Loyal Virginia Infantry, in the three-months service, and Aug. 11, 1862, enlisted in Company F, 25th Ohio Infantry. He participated in most of the battles in which his regiment was engaged. He was wounded by a rifle ball at the battle of Causville, and was taken prisoner, but was finally exchanged at Charleston, S. C., and was mustered out of the United States service and discharged, July 15, 1865, at Chester, S. C.

            At the close of his service our subject returned to Virginia, and remained a resident of Brooks County until 1868. About that time he commenced employment on the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad, better known as the "Pan-Handle," as conductor on the train running from Pittsburgh to Columbus. For a short time he was also in the employ of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, and of the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad. He then returned to Brooks County, Va., and, entering into a partnership with his father, took a contract in the construction of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad; also, later on, on the Big Lexington Railroad. His next move was to Mt. Sterling, Ky., where he remained about a year, after which he signed a contract for the construction of a portion of the Cincinnati, Southern & Chattanooga Railroad, which he finished after a time. About that time the Government desired the construction of a dam across the Wabash River at New Harmony, Ind., and our subject removed to that place, and, entering into a contract, completed the work to the satisfaction of everybody concerned. His next contract was for the construction of the water works at Louisville, Ky., after finishing which he removed to Brown County, Ohio, and was engaged in construction on the line of the Narrow Gauge Railroad, running from Cincinnati to Portsmouth. Growing tired of this he went back to Louisville, and took the contract to build a reservoir to supply with water the insane asylum at Anchorage, and finished the job in good shape. His next move was to our sister Republic, Mexico, where he was engaged in contracting on the National Railroad, and while in that locality both he and his wife learned to speak the Spanish language fluently. Growing tired of this wandering life, he came to Kansas, arriving here Oct. 28, 1883, and settled down on the farm where he now resides on the 12th of March following.

            Mr. Kerr was united in marriage, July 4, 1877, with Miss Emma Varner, a native of Posey County, Ind., born April 26, 1855, and the daughter of Asbury and Mary H. (Purcell) Varner, who were the parents of seven children, as follows: Albert, who died in infancy; Louisa, who married George T. Burton, and is residing, a widow with one child, at New Harmony, Ind.; Charles, Willliam, Walter, Lawrence and Emma, the latter of whom is the wife of the subject of this notice. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr have had a family of six children, whose names and natal days are as follows: Leslie, who was born May 1, 1878; Mary Belle, Feb. 3, 1881; John, June 5, 1883; Ethel, born May 12, 1885, and died Aug. 20, 1886; and Mitchell, who was born Nov. 15, 1886, and died December 19 following. A child was born March 24, 1888, and at the writing of this sketch is unnamed.

            The subject of our sketch has a very fine farm of 160 acres of land, lying on Dry Creek, on section 17, Waco Township, all of which be has brought to a high state of cultivation. He is a Republican in politics, although not partisan in his feelings. Socially he is a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity, and religiously, is in sympathy with the tenets of the Methodist Church.

            A view of Mr. Kerr's homestead is given in connection with this sketch.

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