MONTGOMERY COUNTY OHIO BIO: KERN, John F. (published 1882)
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"The History of Montgomery County, Ohio." by W. H. Beers & Co., pub. 1882
page "The History of Montgomery County, Ohio." by W. H. Beers & Co., pub. 1882
page 286    

    JOHN F. KERN, banker, Germantown.  His father, Frederick Kern, a native 
of Maryland, died when our subject was quite young, and his mother married 
Jacob Beard, and soon after the family came to Ohio.  John F. was born in 
Frederick City, Md., October 2, 1805, and grew to maturity working on his 
stepfather's farm, but upon reaching his twenty-first year, he inherited a 
farm and saw-mill property located hear Franklin, Ohio, on the Big Miami 
River.  Here he remained two years, when, his health failing, and thinking 
the locality did not agree with him, he disposed of his property, and entered 
the dry goods store of Winter & Fisher, at Germantown.  After learning the 
business, he concluded to start for himself, and in 1835 he made a trip to 
Cincinnati on horseback, purchased a stock of dry goods, and, returning to 
Germantown, began business, which he continued for thirty-three years.  In 
1859, he was elected a Justice of the Peace, served the people faithfully, 
and was again tendered the office, but declined.  He has been chosen several 
times to represent his township in the county conventions.  During his 
mercantile career, he disposed of his business twice, finally retiring from 
merchandising about 1867.  He was one of the organizers of the First National 
Bank of Germantown, of which he has been President nineteen consecutive 
years.  Mr. Kern served as President of the Germantown Board of Education 
eleven years, and since his majority has been a member of the Reformed 
Church, holding official position for many years in that body, and during his 
entire membership his contributions have been constant and generous.  
Politically, he believes in principles rather than partyism, and in all 
affairs of life he has been always desirous of doing good and of benefiting 
the community in which he has been so long a leading citizen.