KERRICK, Frank D. - 1912 Bio (1867-1925)

KERRICK, HOLLENSBE, KING

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/18/2007 at 16:51:28

History of Jefferson County, Iowa -- A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol II, Published 1912, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 189-190

Frank D. KERRICK.

Among the mercantile enterprises of Fairfield is the furniture and undertaking business owned and conducted by Frank D. KERRICK, who started out in this line on the 23d of August, 1895, and has since maintained a place among the leading and prosperous merchants of the city. His business methods have ever been such as would bear close investigation and scrutiny and his course has therefore awakened admiration among his colleagues and contemporaries.

Mr. KERRICK was born in Marshall county, Illinois, June 4, 1867, and is a son of Walter and Sarah (HOLLENSBE) KERRICK. The father was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1812, and during the greater part of his life devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits. His mother was born in Clarksburg, Indiana, June 14, 1831. They resided upon a farm in Illinois where they reared their family of four boys, namely: Oliver M., who is now living in Grand Junction, Colorado; John E., a resident of Parma, Idaho; Frank D.; and Edwin S., a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah. The father died in Marshall county, Illinois, in 1882, and is survived by his wife who is now a resident of Los Angeles, California.

Frank D. KERRICK resided on the old home farm, which was the place of his birth, until he came to Fairfield. He supplemented his early educational training by three years' study in the state normal at Valparaiso, Indiana, and by a two years' course in Parsons College of Fairfield, coming to this city in January, 1891, since which time he has continuously resided here. He first purchased a quarter of a section of land northwest of Fairfield as an investment and owned and superintended this while pursuing his college course. In 1893 he was united in marriage to Miss Lina C. KING, who was born in Ohio, August 4, 1870, and is a daughter of Perry KING, mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. KERRICK now have a daughter, Mary Louise, who was born December 5, 1894.

Following his marriage Mr. KERRICK worked for one year as foreman for Bryan, Risk & Salzman at Merrimac, Iowa, in the milling and stock business, and on the 23d of August, 1895, established a furniture and undertaking store in Fairfield of which he has since been proprietor, conducting business at his present location for the past five years. He was at first in partnership with Z. H. Held under the firm style of Held & KERRICK but after three years the senior partner retired, owing to ill health. He was succeeded by Dr. Bradshaw who remained in the business until his death, when his interests were taken over by his son, J. C. Bradshaw. They carry a large line of modern furniture secured from some of the leading manufacturers of the country and their reasonable prices and straightforward business dealings are the salient elements in their success.

Mr. KERRICK belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, associations which indicate much of the nature of his interests and the principles that govern his conduct. The republican party finds in him a stalwart advocate and for six years he filled the office of city councilman, exercising his official prerogative in support of various measures for the general good. He retired from that office at the time he was elected city treasurer, which position he has now filled for three years, proving a worthy custodian of the public funds. He is a man who can be depended upon under any conditions and in any emergency. Starting out in life without any vaulting ambition to accomplish something especially great or famous, he has followed the lead of his opportunities, doing as best he could anything that has come to hand and seizing legitimate advantages as they have arisen. He has never hesitated to take a forward step when the way was open and, fortunate in possessing ability and character that inspire confidence in others, the simple weight of his character and ability have carried him into important relations with the mercantile interests of his adopted city.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.