John Kerwin 1865-1958

KERWIN, BRODERICK, HILDEBRAND

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 3/2/2019 at 08:14:24

4 December 1958 - The Tipton Conservative

Funeral mass for John V. Kerwin, 93, was held Nov. 26 at St. Mary's Catholic church in Mechanicsville. The Rev. P. J. Casey officiated. Burial was in Rose Hill cemetery.

Mr. Kerwin, a lifelong Mechanicsville resident, died early Nov. 24 after a two-week illness.

He was born at Mechanicsville April 16, 1865, the day after President Lincoln was shot. Mr. Kerwin was the last surviving communicant of St. Mary's church and had attended it during all of the 86 years of the church's existence.

He operated the family farm southwest of Mechanicsville, now occupied by Frank Thomson, until 1920 when he moved to town. He was married to Julia Broderick at Clarence Sept. 23, 1908, and they observed their golden wedding anniversary this year.

Mr. Kerwin was a long-time member of the board of directors of the Mechanicsville Trust & Savings bank, serving for 42 years, with 30 years of that time being spent as vice-president. He was the bank's farm manager for several years.

Other activities included 12 years on the Mechanicsville town council, 16 years as township trustee and trustee of St. Mary's church for many years.

Survivors include his wife; a brother, Richard, and a sister, Mrs. W. J. Hildebrand, both of Iowa City.