Robert Ker

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-101712
• Residence: 1851, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1881, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Auctioneer
• Misfortune: 1885, Puslinch Lake, Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario; death, drowning

Notes:

Mr. Ker's Body Found

The mystery attending the sudden disappearance of Mr. Robert Ker, of this town is a mystery no longer. On Saturday last two young men from Guelph, named Joseph Craig and Robert Dodds, started on a shooting expedition to Puslinch lake; but finding on their arrival that they could do nothing at the big lake, proceeded in their buggy toward the little lake. When but a short way from the hotel, near Pierce's house, one of the young men thought he saw a duck on the water, and jumping out of the buggy ran towards the spot. When close to the shores of the lake, he was horrified at seeing the body of a man lying partly in and partly out of the water, only about fifty yards from the road. He at once ran and notified his companion, both in a few minutes returning to Parker's hotel for assistance. Mr. Parker and others accompanied the young men back to where the body lay, and upon examining it Mr. Parker fully identified it as being the remains of Mr. Ker. Messrs. Craig and Dodds then drove over to Hespeler and telephoned friends in Galt, who arrived as speedily as possible and took charge of the remains.

It is impossible to even conjecture how poor Ker got into the position in which his remains were found. His hat was found lying on the bank as if he had taken it off and laid it there; and it may be possible that he met with his death while endeavoring to reach the water to bathe his head. When found, his left leg was buried in the mud up to the thigh, while his right was just in the water. He then appears to have fallen on his face in the mud and water, and being unable to extricate himself came to his death.

The funeral of Mr. Ker took place on Sabbath afternoon last, a large concourse of citizens attending to pay the last token of respect to their unfortunate townsman.

Galt Reporter Oct 16 1885 pg 1

Robert — Mary Ann Wilson. Mary was born 1845, , Ontario, Canada; died 2 Oct 1922; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Robert Kerr Mearns was born 9 Oct 1874, Great Falls, Cascade, Montana, USA; died 25 Sep 1926; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.

Other Events:

• Interesting: business, politics
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-43217
• Occupation: 1852, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; clerk
• Occupation: 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mayor of Galt
• Residence: 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; C. Presbyterian

Notes:

ADAM KER 1810-1879

Adam Ker was a native of Hawick, Roxboroughshire, Scotland and came to Canada in about 1832. He was the clerk and treasurer of Galt's first municipal council in 1850 and retained that position until 1858. After his return to Galt from an eight year stay in Brantford, Mr. Ker served as mayor of Galt from 1868 to 1874. In addition to his work for the municipality, Mr. Ker was the manager of the Dickson Grist mill. He died on September 2, 1879 and is buried in Mount View Cemetery.


Cambridge Mosaic, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge

_____________________________


Death of Adam Ker, Esq. - The severe illness which this gentleman has suffered from for some time terminated fatally on Tuesday afternoon last. In common with the rest of our towns-people we feel the most sincere regret at the loss of one who has proved himself a most successful, energetic citizen and public officer.

Mr. Ker was born in Hawick, Roxburgshire, Scotland and came with his wife and family to Canada about the year 1832, entering almost at once into a small store in Dundas as clerk. In a short time he entered into business for himself and subsequently went into partnership with Mr. Joseph Leslie - for the soap and candle business, throwing the same energy into that as he afterwards exhibited in every business undertaking into which he entered. This partnership being dissolved, Mr. Ker was employed by Mr. Ewart, who had then recently assumed the proprietorship of the "Dickson Mills" in Galt, to manage that business for him.

It was in 1843 that Mr. Ker, first came to Galt, and since that time, with only one interval of absence at Brantford, he has continuously resided in the town. During the years that Mr. Ewart remained the proprietor of these mills, Mr. Ker remained with him, and it was while filling that position that many of the friendships were formed, which we are happy to know have continued, unbroken still, save by the hand of death.

Of the deceased gentleman's public life we can speak with the utmost approval. Shortly after coming to Galt he discharged along with his other labors the duties of village clerk, filling that position until some years after Galt was incorporated as a town, and resigning only when the mills passing into other hands, he went into the grain business on his own account here, subsequently making the removal to Brantford which we have noted. Shortly after coming back to Galt Mr. Ker was elected its Mayor, holding that office consecutively for a number of years, being elected each year, if we remember correctly, by acclamation it was while filling this position that many of the important public works in connection with the town were undertaken, notably the Grand Trunk and Credit Valley Railways. The Grand Trunk extension was so purely a town undertaking, that we can speak more pointedly of that than of the other, and may here say that it was largely owing to the active exertions of Mr. Ker and the late Mr. Fleming that that important accession to our progress was secured. From the first inception of the scheme to its final completion, Mr. Ker worked indefatigably, sparing no trouble or labor on his own part, and overseeing largely the details of the work as it proceeded in the town. The proposal of the Directors of the Credit Valley Railway found in him a warm supporter, and all the influence he could exert in favor of carrying the By-Law granting the bonus was cheerfully given to the friends of the road. Acquiring considerable property in the town, Mr. Ker erected on Main Street, in place of the property destroyed by fire, the handsome stone block which now bears his name.

In private life the deceased was of a social temperament, although very abstemious in his habits. Never very robust, he yet enjoyed very good health up to about two years ago, when he was seized with an attack of congestion of the lungs, from which he had a hard struggle to recover, indeed from which we may say his constitution never entirely rallied. Of Mr. Ker's family, - it will be recollected that Mrs. Ker died about two years ago - there yet survive Mr. James Ker, of Brantford, Mr. Robert Ker and Mrs. Boden, of Galt, and his eldest daughter, who now resides in Detroit. At the time of his death Mr. Ker was in his 70th year.

Galt Reporter Sep 5 1979 pg 2

Adam — Martha Rutherford. Martha was born 1811, Hawick, , Roxburgh, Scotland; died 2 Sep 1877, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Martha Ker
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-52751
• Residence: 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; C. Presbyterian