BIO: William KELLER, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 203.
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  KERR, WILLIAM, was born in Bart township, Lancaster county, Pa., 
October 13, 1776.  His father dying early, he was left to the tender 
care of a pious mother.  After some years spent in the schools of the 
neighborhood, he was sent to Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, where he 
was graduated.  For some years thereafter he was principal of an 
academy at Wilmington, Del.  He subsequently placed himself under the 
care of the Presbytery of New Castle, and was shortly after ordained by 
that body.  He preached in Harrisburg about the years 1805-6, and upon 
the resignation of the Rev. Mr. McFarquhar was sent to supply the 
pulpit of the old Donegal church. In the fall of 1808 the congregation 
at Columbia made application to Mr. Kerr for part of his time.  It was 
not, however, until the year following that he assented to give them a 
portion of his ministerial labors.  He continued to be the stated 
supply there until the first Sunday in January, 1814, when he preached 
his farewell sermon.  Mr. Kerr also preached at Marietta in addition to 
his charge at Donegal.  He died September 22, 1821, aged forty-five 
years, and is interred in old Donegal church graveyard.  The Rev. Mr. 
Kerr married Mary Elder, daughter of James Wilson and Mary Elder, of 
Derry, born 1788; died February 22, 1850, at Harrisburg; and their 
children were:  Mary E., married Hermanus Alricks, of Harrisburg; 
William M., J. Wallace, James Wilson, and Martha, married Dr. Edward L. 
Orth, of Harrisburg, As a minister there were few who stood higher in 
the estimation of his brethren in the Presbytery than the Rev. William 
Kerr.