John Irvin Ker (1830-1911)

KER, PHELPS, EVANS, MILLER, CHRISTIAN, GRAVES

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 6/12/2021 at 21:05:24

John Ker Dead

O'Brien County Pioneer Passes Away at the Age of 81.

John Ker died at the home of his son Edward, in Baker Township Saturday and was buried Monday. He had not been seriously ill, although he was feeble, but his demise was not looked for.

John Irvin Ker was born in County Cork, Ireland, May 20, 1830. When he was 19 years of age, he came with his parents to Canada.

He came to the United States when a very young man and settled in Bradford, Iowa, where he was married to Lorena Phelps, January 1, 1854. Seven children were born to them, six of whom are still living -- Phebe Evans of Peterson, Robert Ker of Sheldon, Edward Ker, of Paullina, May Miller of Los Angeles, Maude Christian of Pontiac, Michigan and John Ker of Great Falls, Montana.

He is also a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted when the war broke out and serving until its close. He was in 13 (?) battles and was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea. After the war he returned to his home in Minnesota, where he lived 35 years ago. At that time he came to O'Brien county, homesteading in Baker township, where he lived until ten years ago, when he moved to Primghar.

There, in 1901, he was married to Mrs. Emily Graves of Waseca, Illinois, who passed away ___ary 27, 1910. He then lived with his son Edward, for __ two years, being feeble in both mind and body.

He passed away peacefully in his chair, at 1, Saturday, April 8.
-- Contributed

Paullina (Iowa) Times, 14 Apr 1911, p1