| JohnKerr |
JOHN KERR, Rushville.Americahas drawn her population from every continent and all the islands of thesea. Ireland has contributed her quota, sending many of her sturdy sons,who have aided in the development and growth of the New World, and pushedtheir way to the frontier, that the path might be made for the onward marchof civilization. John Kerr, proprietor of the Schuylerville coal mine andone of the prominent agriculturists of Schuyler county, Illinois, is anative of County Fermanagh, Ireland, born near Five-mile Town, July 15,1840. His father was also a native of the Emerald Isle, but the grandfatherwas born in Scotland, although he spent his last days in County Fermanagh.The father was a weaver by trade, and operated a hand loom with great skill;later in life he became the proprietor of a shop, and employed severalmen; the last years of his life, however, were devoted to farming, theland being leased; he married Rebecca Wier, a native of Scotland, and tothem were born eight children.John Kerr and his brotherAlexander emigrated to America in 1864, the latter settling at Newark,New Jersey; they were the only members of the family who came to this country.Our subject was reared and educated in his native land, and followed agriculturalpursuits. He did not bring his family with him to the United States, asit was to them an untried land, and he wished to be able to return if theprospects were not fair. He was first located at Whitestone on the Hudson,his wife and children joining him there the following year. Later on hewent to Newark, New Jersey, and was employed in the woolen mills until1872. In that year he removed to Illinois, and purchased eighty acres ofland, ten miles north of Rushville; here he lived a year, and then soldout, buying ten acres near Rushville. Two years later he had the good fortuneto open a coal bank, and since that time he has been busily engaged inoperating the same; he ships to northern Illinois and Wisconsin, and carrieson a profitable trade. He has invested in lands at different times, andnow owns one hundred and ninety and a half acres, lying three quartersof a mile from the courthouse.
Mr. Kerr was unitedin marriage in 1862, to Miss Eleanor Bell, a native of County Fermanagh,Ireland, and a daughter of Robert and Ann Bell. Eight children have beenborn to them: Joseph, Catherine, Robert, Annie, Fred, William, Burt andMay.
Politically, Mr. Kerradheres to the principles of the Republican party, and is a thoroughlyloyal citizen of his adopted country.
Biographical Reviewof Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical ReviewPublishing Co., Chicago, 1892, page 196.
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