Cowlitz County WA Archives Biographies.....Kerr, Mark P. June 8, 1866 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wa/wafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 16, 2009, 5:14 pm Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company MARK P. KERR. One of the most highly respected citizens of Longview, Washington, is Mark P. Kerr, who for several years has rendered able and satisfactory service as justice of the peace and police judge. Born near Titusville, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, on the 8th of June, 1866, he is a son of David G. and Elizabeth A. (Gilson) Kerr, both of whom were born in that locality. Their marriage occurred two days after the historic Drake oil well came in at Titusville, on August 25, 1859. This branch of the Kerr family was founded in this country by James Kerr, who was born in the north of Ireland, though of Scotch ancestry, and who came to the United States in 1800, settling in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Later he and his brother William, with two cousins, went to the present site of Titusville and James Kerr took up five hundred acres of land south of what is now the city. David G. Kerr cleared his portion of the tract and there engaged in farming during the remainder of his life. David G. Kerr was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in 1862 in the Eighteenth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, with which he served until the end of the war under General Custer, in the Army of the Potomac. He participated in all the battles of the Wilderness campaign and the battle of Gettysburg, but was never wounded. Mark P. Kerr attended the public schools of his home community and graduated from the State Normal School at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, in 1884. He taught school for two years, and in 1889 moved to Buffalo, New York, where he lived until 1916. He engaged in the real estate and loan business, but later entered the Buffalo Law School and in 1898 was admitted to the bar. He practiced his profession there until 1916 when he came to Washington, locating in Spokane, where he practiced law until 1923. He then showed sound judgment when he came to Longview, arriving here on the town's opening day, June 10, 1923, and during the subsequent years has seen the place grow from nothing to a thriving, prosperous city of twelve thousand population. During his first year here Mr. Kerr devoted his attention to building and selling houses, and in 1924 he was appointed justice of the peace and police judge by the mayor, and in the following year was elected to these positions for a four-year term. His law studies and experience made him particularly well qualified for this dual position and in the performance of his duties he has shown ability, impartiality and a sense of justice which have gained for him the sincere respect of the people of the community. Mr. Kerr has been married twice, first, on April 16. 1891 in Titusville, Pennsylvania, to Miss Susie C. Nugent, of that city, and they became the parents of two children, namely: Mrs. Mary E. Jacobson, who lives in Spokane, Washington, and has a daughter. Elizabeth Ann; and David C. who is employed by the Union Oil Company at Kelso. He is married and has two children, Mary and Pauline. Mr. Kerr's first wife died April 13, 1905, and on September 20, 1906, in Buffalo, New York, he married Miss Gertrude E. Gregory, of Pigeon, Michigan. To this union have been born three children, Ruth K., Sarah Jane and Darrell G., all of whom live in Longview. Mrs. Kerr's father, Moses C. Gregory, was born in Bangor, Maine, and went to Huron county, Michigan, where he engaged in the lumber business. He was the first man married in that county and his wife belonged to one of the first white families in the Michigan "thumb." Mr. Gregory was of English ancestry. Politically Mr. Kerr has always supported the democratic party and was an effective stump speaker for his party in Pennsylvania and New York. He was active in the Independence League movement of 1904 and in 1905 gave his active support to William Randolph Hearst in his race for governor of New York. A man of earnest purpose and consistent life, his record since coming to Longview has gained for him the uniform confidence of his fellowmen and throughout the community he has many warm and loyal friends, who esteem him for his genuine worth as man and citizen. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Pages 693-694 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wa/cowlitz/bios/kerr23gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wafiles/ File size: 4.8 Kb