Fountain County IN Archives Biographies.....Kerr, Barzilla M. 1833 - 1878
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com November 16, 2006, 6:05 am

Author: H. W. Beckwith (1881)

   Barzilla M. Kerr (deceased), Newtown, was born in Butler county, Ohio, July
8, 1833, and is a brother of Samuel Kerr, whose biography may be found in
"Richland township." He was reared a cultivator of the soil, and was principally
self-educated. He came to Fountain county with his father's family in 1837. On
October 19, 1855, he married Eliza M. Griffith. She made him the father of three
sons: John G., Ira, and Liew, and died June 2, 1875, aged thirty-eight years. He
was married again, May 18, 1876, to Caroline F., widow of David Brown. She was
born September 18, 1839, in Preble county, Ohio, where her relations all live,
and was the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Cunningham) Lybrook. Her first
marriage occurred June 18, 1861. Mr. Brown was a carpenter and gunsmith, and
also worked at sawing lumber and farming. They had two daughters: Clara, born
January 28, 1865, died of brain fever October 11, 1868; Allie M., November 24,
1867. Mr. Brown died in Ohio of brain fever July 25, 1868, at the age of nearly
thirty-one years. During his whole life Mr. Kerr was engaged in farming. His
estate contained 300 acres of excellent, highly improved land, lying just north
of Newtown. He was a man of strong resolution and dauntless spirit, and when
convinced that he was right, without any artificial attempt at decision acted on
the advice of David Crockett and "went ahead." In every particular his character
was of the highest order. He was county commissioner two terms, and had nearly
completed his last when he was suddenly removed by death. In this position he
discharged his duties with sound judgment, and to the great satisfaction of the
people. He was successful in securing an economy in the public affairs of the
county which had not hitherto prevailed, and which had become of pressing
importance. He was a member of the New Light church the greater part of his
life, and filled the office of deacon for a long period. In his death,
universally lamented, Fountain county lost one of her most useful and respected
citizens. He was forty-five years old.

Additional Comments:
Richland Township

Extracted from:

HISTORY OF FOUNTAIN COUNTY,

TOGETHER WITH
HISTORIC NOTES ON THE WABASH VALLEY,

GLEANED FROM EARLY AUTHORS, OLD MAPS AND MANUSCRIPTS
PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE, AND OTHER AUTHENTIC, THOUGH, FOR THE MOST
PART, OUT-OF-THE-WAY SOURCES.

BY H. W. BECKWITH,
OF THE DANVILLE BAR; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF
WISCONSIN AND CHICAGO.

WITH MAP AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

CHICAGO: H. H. HILL AND N. IDDINGS, PUBLISHERS.
1881.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/fountain/bios/kerr803nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/infiles/

File size: 3.2 Kb