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James Kerr
JAMES KERR, late of Bethel township, Armstrong County, was a resident of
that township for over half a century, living on the farm where three of his
children still reside. Mr. Kerr was a native of Scotland, born Jan. 9, 1822.
His grandparents were John and Agnes (Dorman) Kerr, of Kirkcolm, Wigtownsire,
who died in 1802 and 1812 respectively.Stair Kerr, father of James Kerr, was born and reared in Scotland, and
lived at Kirkcolm, where he was engaged as superintendent of farms and in the
manufacture of cheese. In his native land he married Jennet Wither, who was
born and reared there also, and they came to the United States in 1838.
Settling on a farm at Worthington, Armstrong Co., Pa., they lived and died
there, Mr. Kerr passing away in November, 1865 aged ninety three years, his
wife Dec. 31, 18-, at the age of eighty-six. They were Covenanter
Presbyterians. Their family consisted of fourteen children, none now living,
though they were noted for longevity. The sons, Nevin and William, twins,
lived to be over ninety, Nevin dying May 2, 1912, aged ninety-five years, and
William Dec. 13, 1911, aged ninety-four. The former married Catherine
McClatchey and had a family; the latter never married.James Kerr passed his early life in Scotland, coming to America in his
seventeenth year and settling in Armstrong county, where he became a
prosperous farmer and passed the remainder of his life. He died June 23, 1897,
at the age of seventy-five years, a prominent member of the Presbyterian
Church , in which he was a faithful worker, serving continuously as elder from
the time he was first elected to that office, in 1855, until his death.On Feb. 12, 1851, Mr. Kerr was united in marriage with Margaret Walker, who
was born Nov. 7, 1825, in Armstrong county, daughter of Robert , and Mary
(Walker) Walker, cousins. Mr. James Kerr died May 26, 1891. Seven children
were born to this union, of whom Mary and Hugh are diseased, Mary dying at the
age of sixteen years, and Hugh when seven weeks old. The five who survive the
parents are: Robert W. married Ida H. Hoffman, of Eddyville, and lives in
Burrell township (they have nine children, R. Clifton, Reuben A., Grace E.,
William Gregg, John B., Ruth, Earl, Martha, and Mildred); James W. married
Maggie Young, of Kellersburg, Armstrong county, and had two sons Hugh and
Dwight, the latter dying when five years old; John S. married Maggie B.
Lawther, of Whitesburg, Armstrong county, who died in 1909, the mother of
Velma J., Pauline, Blanch E., James L., and Jessie (who died when four years
old); Misses Elizabeth and Jennet W. live with their brother John, on the old
home farm in Bethel township. All the family are members of the Crooked Creek
Presbyterian Church, and Miss Elizabeth is particularly interested in the work
of the Sunday school, being superintendent of the “cradle roll.”John S. Kerr and his sisters conduct the farm very successfully, keeping
the property up to the high standard it long ago attained under the management
of this thrifty family.Source: Pages 891-892, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and
Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed November 1998 by Nanci Michalkiewicz for the Armstrong County
Beers Project
Contributed for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
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