John Richard Kerr

  General Notes:

research of D. Volzka on www.rootsweb.com

GedCom of R. Kerr (sent June 2006)
!1842, Gallia Co., OH. Resided this co.
By 1860 he was listed as a merchant,age 19,living with his mother,her new
husband Stephen Gooch, and sibling from father Richard Speer Kerr.
Listed in 1870 in Raccoon Twp,Gallia,OH as a farm laborer. In 1880,
listed as a carpenter. In 1910 census he and wife Frances listed, and
in 1920 census,at age 79 he is living alone in OH.
Built house in Harrisburg w/his 21st b.d. He indicated on census
that he was born in Wales (Perry Twp,Gallia,OH), which is located
in section 6 adjacent to Jackson Co. There seems to be some
confusion regarding the village of Wales.
In History of Gallia County,OH, p xxiii, discusses Wales:
"There are three (Post) Offices now in the township, viz:
Patriot in the Southeast part of the township; Wales, in the
northwest part of the township, on section six, and Cora, situated
on Big Raccoon Creek, near davies mill in section eleven."
"Wales, sometimes called Center Point, is a small village
located on section six in the northwestern corner of the
township. It contains one store, one wagon shop, two
blacksmith shops, a fine baptist church and a well appointed
school building. There is one physician and one justice of
the peace in the village."
1870, Raccoon Twp, Gallia Co., OH. On census w/wife Fanny, son Richa rd,
and daughter Mary.
1880, Raccoon Twp, Gallia Co., OH. On census w/wife Fanny, son Richard, dau
Mary, son Edward, & son Rossie. Was a Carpenter. His brother Joseph
and family were neighbors.
1900, Raccoon Twp, Gallia Co, OH. On Soundex, Vo. #56, ED. 34/(39?) , w/ wife
Fanny & gr dau, Estella Wood, age 15.
1. The Early Kerr Family.
Burial details from Cemeteries of Raccoon TWP, Gallia CO, Ohio, by the
Gallia Historical Society, US/CAN, 979.189, V39r, P31 and from the
John and Christiana Nisewanger Kerr Jr., by Edythe T. Kahn.
In his will, John R. left his inheritance to his son Edward. This
included his house and lot no 24 in Harrisburg Village.
(Gallia Co.,OH Probate Ct.: No.5627, Doc. 16, Pg. 297)
At time of his death he was a widower and his occupation was
given as farmer. Edward Kerr provided details for certicate.
He left all of his possessions to son Edward, will mentions no
other children. Other than house, estate had little value.
My Grandfather, Richard Wellesley Kerr, son John R, remembered
his father as wearing the kilts and playing the bagpipes of his
scottish heritage (Recollections of Robert Maurice Kerr &
his father, Maurice Frederick Kerr)

John married Frances E. Warner, daughter of Arthur Wellsley Warner and Mary Jane McCarley, on 21 Mar 1861 in Gallia County, Ohio. (Frances E. Warner was born on 13 Sep 1842 in Raccoon Township, Gallia County, OH and died in 1914 in Gallia County, OH.)