Polk County, Missouri Biographies - Asa KERBY
History Of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade And Barton Counties,
Missouri; 1889, published by Goodspeed, Pgs. 663, 664
Polk County Biographies Section

    Asa Kerby, one of the prominent citizens of Polk County, Mo.,
was born in Howard County, Mo., in 1829 (October 4), his parents
being John and Mary (Whorton ) Kerby, who were born in Kentucky
and Virginia, respectively.  They were married in the 
"Blue Grass State," February 2, 1825, and there continued to 
reside until 1828 when they came to Missouri, and located in 
Howard County, where they spent the rest of their days. The father
was born February 2, 1806, and died February 16, 1870.  The mother
was born the 17th of January, 1806, and died in 1882.  They were
members of the Missionary Baptist Church for many years, and took
great interest in church work.  During the late was Mr. Kerby
served in the Confederate army, and was at the battle of Silver
Creek, where he was wounded in the shoulder by a musket ball.  
He was soon after captured, and after taking the oath of allegiance
returned to farm life, at which he was quite successful.  He was a
Democrat throughout life, but was never an aspirant for office.  
His father, John Kerby, was born in Virginia, and died in Howard 
County, Mo., having followed the occupation of farming throughout 
life.  The Kerby family are of English descent.  Asa Kerby the 
immediate subject of this biography, received his early education 
in the old log school of early times, and, as he has been very fond
of reading all his life, he is now one of the intelligent and well
posted men of the county.  After remaining at home until he 
attained his majority, he hired out as a farm hand for eleven
months, but since that time has successfully farmed on his own
account in Howard, Randolph and Polk Counties.  He moved to 
Randolph County in 1855, and to the latter county ten years 
later.  Previous to the late was he was a Democrat in politics, 
but since 1860 he has affiliated with the Republican party, 
by whom he was elected to the office of public administrator 
in 1872, and held the position four years.  February 13, 1851, 
he was married to Susan J. Warford, a daughter of John and 
Mary Warford.  She was born in Howard County, Mo., November 28,
1832, and her union with Mr. Kerby has resulted in the birth 
of six children, four living: Mary A., wife of D. K. Griffen, 
a farmer of Meade County, Kan.; Sarah E., wife of George W. 
Edmiston, a farmer of Laclede County, Mo. ; John W., farming 
near home; and Fanny M., wife of H. J. F. Caldwell, a farmer 
of Polk County, Mo.  Those deceased are James B., who was five
years of age at the time of his death; and Jennie M. who was 
about four years old.  Since twenty-one years of age Mr. Kerby
has been an earnest member of the Missionary Baptist Church,
of which he has been a deacon for a number of years, his wife
being also a member of that church.  He belongs to the 
Agricultural Wheel.  During the late was he espoused the cause
of the Union, and for a short time served in the State militia.
His family were all Southern sympathizers.
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