Kern, Charles B. (1867-1942)

KERN

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall (email)
Date: 1/5/2004 at 06:55:29

Charles B. Kern
Senator from the eleventh district, which includes Clark and Warren counties, was born at Norwalk in Warren county, February 1, 1867. His parents, John and Miriam Black Kern, came from Ohio to Iowa in the year 1857 and settled in Linn township, Warren county, on the farm now owned and occupied by Senator Kern and family. He lived on the farm, spent his school days in the country district school, Indianola public schools and Simpsom college. Married August 25, 1893, to Mary Frances Spring. They have four children, all of whom are living. He is actively engaged in farming and feeding. Represented his county in the thiry-seventh and thirth-eighth general assemblies. Was elected to the state senate from the Clark-Warren district in 1924. A republican in politics.
source - Iowa Official Register 1927-1928 - Biographies of State Senators, pg. 232

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.385
CHARLES B. KERN
One of the most prominent young farmers of Linn Township is C. B. Kern, who is successfully engaged in general agriculture and stock-feeding on section 24, where he has an excellent farm of three hundred and twenty acres. He was born in the house where he now lives, it being built by his father, John Kern, who was familiarly known by the title of Major, having served with distinction as an officer in the Civil War.
Major Kern was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, October 11, 1833, and was a son of Joseph and Elizabeth Kern. He spent his boyhood and youth in his native state, and his early education, acquired in the district schools, was sup­plemented by a course at Wesleyan College, Delaware, Ohio. At the age of twenty years he came to Warren County, Iowa, where he taught school and also engaged in farming, locating on an undeveloped tract of land west of Norwalk. To the improvement and cultivation of that farm he devoted his energies till after the war and the remainder of his life was spent on the farm where his son now lives, erecting thereon good and substantial buildings. In connection with general farming he engaged in stock-raising and in his undertakings met with marked success.
In 1855 Major Kern was united in marriage to Miss Miriam Black, who was also a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, born November 24, 1837, and was a daughter of Benoni and Mary Black, early settlers of Linn Township, this county. Nine children blessed this union, namely: George A., who died at the age of twenty-five years; Clara Ellen, who died in infancy; Mary, who died in childhood; Joseph Edward, now a resident of Los Angeles, California; Har­riet A., deceased wife of C. W. Fisk, of Kingfisher, Oklahoma; C. B., of this review; Lillian Louise, deceased; Herman B., a resident of St. Paul; and Blanche, who lives with our subject.
When the country became involved in civil war, Major Kern resolved to aid in the defense of the Union and in 1862 assisted in organizing Company H, Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, of which he was made captain. For meritorious conduct he was promoted to the rank of major and as such was mustered out of service. He was a good officer, loved by those under him and respected by his fellow officers. He was a charter member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Norwalk and one of its early class leaders. Fraternally he was connected with the Masonic order and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. The Democratic party found in him a strong advocate of its principles and he took quite an active and influential part in political affairs, serving as treasurer of the county for two terms and completed a term by ap­pointment as representative at Des Moines. After a useful and well spent life, he passed away June 17, 1889, and his estimable wife died on the 6th of Jan­uary, 1908.
C. B. Kern acquired his early education in the district schools near his boyhood home and the public schools of Indianola, in which city the family lived while the father was serving as county treasurer. Since starting out in life for himself he has always followed farming and he purchased one hun­dred and sixty acres of land, on which were all the farm buildings from the heirs of his father's estate. To this he has since added another quarter section and also owns a forty-acre tract of timber land. His fields are under a high state of cultivation and in his pastures are found good stock, for he makes a specialty of feeding cattle for market and usually ships from six to ten carloads per year. He is one of the leading farmers of his community and a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family. On the 15th of August 1892, Mr. Kern wedded Miss Mary Spring, a native of Warren County and a daughter of Samuel and Amanda Spring, now living retired in Norwalk. Three children have been born to them, namely: Herman John, Mary Louise and Margaret Ellen.