Crawford Co., AR - Biographies - J. M. Kerens

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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed 
Publishing Co., 1889.
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J. M. Kerens was born in Ireland in 1839, of Irish parents. His 
father, Thomas, was born in 1812, and his mother, Elizabeth Gegerty, 
was born in 1819. After their marriage they left their native land, 
and sailing for America, landed at Montreal, Canada. They remained 
there but a few years, and then went to Rochester, N. Y., but the 
following year went to Chicago. In 1851 they left the latter place for 
Jackson County, Iowa, where they remained eleven years. They next 
removed to Kansas, where Mr. Kerens died August 10, 1862, the mother 
afterward coming to Fort Smith, Ark., where she now lives. Mr. Kerens 
was by trade a tailor. The grandfather, James Kerens, passed his life 
in Ireland, but the grandmother, Margeret Kerens, accompanied her son 
to America, and died at Rochester, N. Y., aged eighty-seven. J. M. 
Kerens received a good education, and in 1857 began life for himself. 
During the war he was stationed at Fort Smith in the quartermaster's 
employ, and he participated in the battle at Cabin Creek. In 1875 he 
married M. J. Simpson, daughter of H. W. and Harriet (Hunter) Simpson. 
The father was born in Kentucky in 1802, and was married in 1832. The 
mother was born in Nashville, Tenn., in 1823, and in 1836 came to 
Washington County. Ark., where she is now living, having married S. F. 
Gray after the death of Mr. Simpson in 1862. He was killed by Indians. 
Our subject came to Crawford County several years ago, locating upon 
his present farm in 1884. This contains 280 acres of valley land, 
fifty of which are under cultivation. He has a family of three 
daughters and one son, and is a member of the Catholic Church. In 
politics he is non-partisan. 

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