Union County, SD Biographies.....Kerr, John R. June 26, 1833 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 14, 2022, 6:33 pm

Source: MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF Turner, Lincoln, Union and Clay Counties, South Dakota. (1897)
Author: Geo. Ogle & Co.

JOHN R. KERR, an excellent type of the pioneer class who possess in a large degree
the affability and hospitality that universally characterizes the hardy men who
blazed the trail into the western wilds, now has his home in Brule township, Union
county. He was born June 26, 1833, in Harford county, Md., and is a son of Robert
and Mary (Rowlings) Kerr, natives of that state. His early life was spent in
Maryland, where he derived his education from the subscription schools of the
district.

Mr. Kerr first saw the territory of Dakota in 1862, having resided since 1857 in
Sioux City, Iowa, where he returned after having spent two months assisting as a
mechanic in the construction of the first hotel in Yankton, Dak. In 1864 he went to
eastern Iowa for four years, after which he returned to Sioux City, residing there
till 1869. The same year he located 172 acres where he now lives, on which .land he
moved his family in 1870. He constructed a small frame building at first for a
dwelling, and then began breaking up and clearing the land which constitutes his
present farm.

A few words regarding our subject’s ancestors will be of interest. His grandfather
Kerr was an Irishman by birth, and was the founder of the family which bears his
name in this country, his grandmother Kerr having been born in America. His maternal
grandparents were of Scotch-Irish origin. Mr. Kerr’s parents had eleven children,
four sons and seven daughters; there are seven living, viz.: Lorena, Mary, Caroline,
Hannah, Sarah, William and John R. Those deceased are Rebecca, Agnes, John and
Robert. His father served in the war of 1812-15 in a Maryland regiment, was a
pensioner and received a land warrant from the government. He resided within five
miles of his birthplace all his life, and died aged eighty-nine years.

Mr. Kerr was married near Sioux City, Iowa, in 1863, to Miss Sarah A. Clark, who has
borne him eight children, all living, viz.: John R., Jr., Frank F., Lena C., James
W., Johnson H., Thomas J., Mary S. and Florence M. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr are members of
the Methodist Episcopal church, with which they have been connected for many years -
 he for forty-five, and she, for thirty-five years.

In politics, he was formerly a Whig, and subsequenty, a Republican, of which party’s
principles he is a strong supporter. He has held the office of school director of
his district several years, is widely known and highly-respected, and has a
beautiful home where he and the partner of his life are surrounded by every comfort
that the fruits of his toil can furnish.


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