Kerr, James 1820-1914
KERR, BINNIE, MCLAREN, YOUNG, FAIRWEATHER, MEDBERRY, PARDEE, PADDLEFORD, MOATS, BAILEY, LAMPHIER, MCMULLEN, ROBERTS
Posted By: Gael
Date: 11/4/2003 at 18:46:00
James KERR 1914
Transcription of clipping copy with bracketed edit notes):
..[begin]..JAMES KERR __ [illegible, edge of original pager missing]
On Thursday afternoon, Feb. 2_ [illegible; 26 or 28th] a large number of friends gathered in the Illyria church, to pay their last tribute of respect to their former neighbor and friend, James KERR, of Chicago, Ill., who died on the morning of Feb. 23rd.
James Kerr was born on May 12th, 1820, in the town of Drumnstrade, [Drumnastrade, Clonfeacle Parish, Dungannon Barony, County Tyrone, Ulster] Ireland. His early life was spent on his father’s farm, where he busied himself in acquiring a knowledge of farming and the rudiments of an education, that proved to be a valuable asset in after years.
At the age of nineteen he heard the call of the New World and sailed for America alone, without friend or relative, and landed in New York City. Immediately he began to seek employment and secured a position as cook on board a sloop, sailing between New York and Kinsgton [Kingston] on the Hudson River. Two years later he was engaged on a regular line of briggs, sailing between New York and Savannah, Ga. He was also employed on vessels that sailed between Toronto, Canada, and all points on Lakes Ontario, Erie and Michigan.
In 1848 he went to farming near Elgin, Ill. On March 5th, 1850, he was married to Elizabeth BENNIE [b.1833, Airdrie, SCT; dau of Rbt & Agnes (McLAREN) BINNIE, Binney], at Big Foot Prairie, Wis. [McHenry Co., IL] After their marriage they moved to Kane County, Ill, remaining there until 1852. During their stay in Kane County they united with the Presbyterian church of Dundee. In 1854 they came to Clayton County, Iowa, and located in Highland on the farm now occupied by his son, John KERR.
His wife died on March 4th, 1896. Shortly after the death of his wife he moved to Chicago, Ill., and on Monday, Feb. 23rd, he calmly answered the message to leave this world, repeating the first verse of the 23rd Psalm, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” To the union of marriage there were born fifteen children, eleven of whom remain to mourn him:
[Lydia, Urias & Eddie d. bef. 1910; Amelia at age 2]Agnes YOUNG, Maria FAIRWEATHER, Hannah MELBER [MEDBERRY/MEDBURY] and James KERR, of Chicago, Ill.; Anna PARDEE, of New Mexico; Robert [m. PADDLEFORD], John [m. MEISNER?], Thomas [m. MOATS], Elizabeth BAILEY and Jessie LAMPHIER, all who reside near the old homestead and Henry KERR [m. McMULLEN], of Waterloo, Iowa; also thirty-one grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren.
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Richard ROBERTS, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Volga City, in the Illyria church. Interment in the Illyria cemetery.
An aged man has fallen asleep, but death is impartial to age. “Be ye also ready for ye know not the day or the hour when the voice shall be heard, ‘Behold the Bridegroom cometh.’ “ Faith in God and in His word will respond to the voice, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
____
CARD OF THANKS.
The children of the late James Kerr desire to thank the friends and neighbors who so kindly assisted them in their bereavement. The flowers sent by neighbors and the little deeds of kindness were greatly appreciated.
..[end]..[Transcriber's notes: Obit from unknown Clayton County Newspaper
Posted by Gael
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Added by Reid R. Johnson 12/31/2019:
Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 26 Feb. 1914. Volga City Views column.
James Kerr died at the home of his daughter, in Chicago, Monday morning, at the age of ninety-three years. The body was brought here Wednesday for interment. Mr. Kerr was a resident of Highland township for a great many years and has many friends who were grieved to learn of his death.
Clayton Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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