Mathias Kerr (1839 - 1909)

KERR, STANSBERRY, ALLEN, TRUMBO

Posted By: Karen Brewer (email)
Date: 1/25/2018 at 21:43:32

The following newspaper clipping was located at the Clarke County Historical Museum, Osceola, Iowa.

MATTHIAS KERR
Born February 5, 1839, died Feb. 2, 1909, aged 69 years, 12 months and 28 days.

The death of Matthias Kerr came as a shock to the family and friends. He went to bed the evening before, in reasonably good health although he had complained for a few days of pains in the region of his heart.

The next morning his daughter, Mrs. Stansberry, on finding that he did not call her as usual went into his room, and found him lying in his usual position, but cold in death. He had apparently been dead several hours, probably passing away soon after retiring.

He was born in Harrison County, Ohio and came with his parents to Liberty township in the spring of '53 and at 20 years of age located in McLean County, Ill., where on July 2, 1861 he enlisted in Co.D, 7th Illinois, the first regiment sent to the front. He took part in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth and the campaigns around there, enlisting as a veteran in Sherman's army and was taken prisoner while scouting and confined in Andersonville where he suffered untold agonies of that awful place, losing a part of one foot from gangrene and finally was exchanged in November of 1864 and discharged for disability in June of '65. After the war he returned to Illinois and there married Mary Allen, going with her to the then virgin prairies of Madison County, Neb. and Built the first house in the county where the city of Norfolk now stands. There his young wife fell under the dreaded disease, consumption and with their little boy, Harland, he returned to Liberty township in 1867.

On July 25th, 1869 he married Hannah J. Trumbo, a daughter of the pioneer settler, John Trumbo.

To this union five children were born, Bertie May, Mary Ann, Frederick O., Don and Bessie.

Headstone Photograph
 

Clarke Obituaries maintained by Brenda White.
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