1836 - 1907 (70 years)
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Name |
William Kerr |
Born |
22 Jul 1836 |
Eniskillen, Fermangh, Ireland [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] |
Gender |
Male |
FindAGrave |
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/203238746 |
Interesting |
pioneer, farmer, politics |
Immigration |
1842 |
, Canada [2] |
Residence |
1852 |
Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [5] |
Church of England |
Occupation |
1861 |
Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [9] |
Laborer |
Residence |
1861 |
Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [9] |
Anglican |
Occupation |
1870 |
Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [6] |
farmer |
Marriage Contract |
Jun 1870 |
, Ontario, Canada [7] |
Occupation |
1871 |
Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [7] |
Farmer |
Residence |
1871 |
Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [7] |
Church of England |
Occupation |
1881 |
Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [3] |
Farmer |
Occupation |
1891 |
Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [8] |
Farmer |
Residence |
1891 |
Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [8] |
Anglican |
Occupation |
1901 |
Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [2] |
Farmer |
Eby ID Number |
Waterloo-78585 |
Died |
23 Apr 1907 |
Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [4] |
Buried |
Saint James Anglican Cemetery, Wilmot Township, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [4] |
Person ID |
I78585 |
Generations |
Last Modified |
26 Feb 2024 |
Father |
Hugh Kerr, b. 1813, of, Eniskillen, Fermangh, Ireland , d. 19 Jul 1842, Montreal, Ile De Montreal, Quebec (Age 29 years) |
Mother |
Ellen Rebecca White, b. 26 Oct 1817, , Fermanagh, Ireland , d. 10 Dec 1901, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada (Age 84 years) |
Family ID |
F4633 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Family |
Hannah Elizabeth Illingworth, b. 15 Mar 1840, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada , d. 3 Dec 1929, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada (Age 89 years) |
Married |
2 Jun 1870 |
Haysville, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [6] |
Children |
| 1. William H. Kerr, b. 1870, , Ontario, Canada , d. Yes, date unknown |
| 2. Robert James Kerr, b. 9 Mar 1873, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada , d. 1 May 1929, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada (Age 56 years) |
| 3. Annie Illingworth Kerr, b. 13 May 1875, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada , d. 14 Jan 1885, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada (Age 9 years) |
| 4. Alfred Edward Kerr, b. 22 Apr 1880, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada , d. 29 Jun 1953, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada (Age 73 years) |
| 5. Arthur Lewis Kerr, b. 22 Feb 1882, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada , d. 26 Dec 1958 (Age 76 years) |
| 6. Walter F. Kerr, b. 20 Oct 1886, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada , d. 1957 (Age 70 years) |
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Last Modified |
2 Mar 2024 |
Family ID |
F20464 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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Notes |
- WILLIAM KERR.
There is probably not a farmer in Western Wilmot more familiarly known than the subject of this sketch. He was born in Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1836 and came with his parents to this country in 1842. At Montreal the family met with a sad misfortune in the death of the father who became ill of Lake fever while on the voyage across the Atlantic and died in a Hospital of that city. The mother with her three children Rebecca, Robert and William, the latter then about six years of age, came in to Toronto where they lived about a year. The mother was again married to the late William Collum, who came to Wilmot with the family in the Winter of 1842. They settled on the corner lot No. 24, 2nd Con. block A two miles east of William's present home. This farm was made memorable in the neighborhood by the untimely death of its former owner, Robert Puddicombe, who was killed by a falling tree many years ago.
William Kerr, the subject of this sketch, was married in 1870 to Hannah Elizabeth daughter of William IIlingsworth. She was born on lot 28 first Concession, of Scotch parentage, in 1840. Her father who was one of the popular and conspicuous figures of this Township in its early days, died on June 16, 1891, at the advanced age of 84 years 10 months and 19 days. He came to this country in 1825. Mr. Kerr's mother is still living in New Hamburg yet hale and hearty at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Mrs. Kerr's father assisted in cutting the first logs for the old building, now used by the C. P. R. for a station in the town of Guelph, and it may be of interest to state that he was present at the cutting of the first tree on the present site of that town.
Mr. and Mrs. Kerr have been blessed with five sons, namely; William II, the eldest is at present in Manitoba; Robert J. is a prominent machine agent at New Hamburg; Alfred Edward, Arthur Louis and Walter are at home.
The father has been honorably recognized by his neighbors and friends. He was for five years a member of the Township council, ten years a director of the North Blenheim Fire Insurance Company, Treasurer and Salesman of the German Union Cheese Company and has been about twenty years a member of the Board of Directors of the Wilmot Township Agricultural Society. It is scarcely probable that one will find another farmer in Wilmot Township who has had more honors thrust upon him in the same number of years than has Mr. Kerr, and owing to them requiring so much of his attention necessary on his farm he has declined furthur municipal honors.
The Kerr farm, part of lots Nos. 28, and 29, on south side of Huron Road, two hundred acres in area, was part of a 600 acre tract purchased from the Canada Company by the late Henry Puddicombe early in the thirties. It was purchased by the late William Collum, Mr. Kerr's step-father, on April 9, 1861, at the rate of $20,000 for four hundred acres. Two hundred acres of this tract was transferred to the subject of this sketch and his brother Robert in 1868. But few improvements had been made on the premises prior to Mr. and Mrs. Kerr taking charge and it therefore can be surmised that they have experienced their share of hardships ere they accomplished the task of completing the comfortable suroundings they now enjoy. The home is a lovely one, and one of its pecular features, but most admirable, is the numerous maples. For two sides of the farm are fringed by these beautiful native trees while on each side of the long lane they are in luxuriant profusion. The largest orchard the writer has yet met with on any farm in Ontario is here to be found. It contains something like four hundred thrifty young apple trees all of choice standard fruit.
A fine brick residence, large bank barn and all necessary outbuildings were erected after Mr. and Mrs. Kerr took possession. Here they live in their declining years deservedly enjoying the fruitful results of their earlier years of toil and frugality, surrounded by their stalwart progeny. They are members of the English church and it can be truthfully said that no citizens in the township are held in higher esteem.
Waterloo County Chronicle, 2 Nov 1899, p. 6
___________________
Kerr, Wm. - Was born in Fermanagh, County Cavan, Ireland, in 1836, and came to Canada in 1841 at the age of five with his mother, afterwards Mrs. Wm. Collum, with whom he remained until he located on the farm on which he died and which was part of the Collum holdings. In 1870 he was married to Miss Hannah Illingworth. Six children were born to them, five sons and one daughter, Annie, who died at the age of nine. The sons are; Wm. H., in Lumsden, Sask., Robert James, in Berlin, Alfred, on the homestead, Arthur, Brussels, and Walter, with his mother. Mr. Kerr was one of St. James' oldest and most generous supporters and was several times Warden. He died in 1907 aged 71.
Church of England, An Historical Sketch of the Parish of Wilmot 1828-1913, Diocese of Huron, Ontario, New Hamburg, Canada by Charles James Fox, Sep 1913
___________
Died In Wilmot, on Tuesday morning, April 23rd, 1907, William Kerr Aged: 70 years, 9 months and 1 day. Funeral will leave his late residence, Huron Road, on Friday, the 26th inst., at 2 o'clock p.m., for St. James' Cemetery.
Funeral Card
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In Memoriam In Loving Memory of William Kerr who departed this life on Tuesday Morning, April Twenty-third, Nineteen hundred and seven, In his Seventy-first year, at Maple Grove Farm, Huron Road, Wilmot Peaceful be thy silent slumber, Peaceful in thy grave so low; Thou no more wilt join our number, Thou no more our sorrows know. Yet again we hope to meet thee, When the day of life is fled; And in heaven with joy to greet thee Where no farewell tears are shed
Funeral Card
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Sources |
- [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 17092-1902.
Robert James Kerr, 29, Merchant, b. Wilmot, Res. New Hamburg, son of William Kerr and Hannah E. Illingworth, married Ada Mitchell, 26, b. Wilmot, Res. New Hamburg, daughter of Thomas Mitchell and Catherine Heiseman, Witnessed by: D. A. Mcdonald of Palmerston and Ida Millar of New Hamburg, 2 Sept 1902 at New Hamburg
- [S133] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1901, Wilmot H-1 Page 8.
- [S140] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1881, Div. 4 Page 22.
- [S320] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - St. James Anglican CC#4571 Internet Link.
William Kerr/ Born July 22, 1836/ Died Apr. 23, 1907/ his wife/ Hannah Illingworth/ 1840-1929
- [S134] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1851, Div. 1 Pg. 8.
- [S721] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, marriage certificate (1870), Kerr-Illingworth.
William Kerr, 34, farmer of Wilmot, b. Enniskillen, Ireland, s/o Hugh and Ellen Kerr, married Hannah Elizabeth Illingworth, 29, residence Wilmot, b. Wilmot, d/o William and Ann Illingworth. witnesses, Simon James Callum and Jane Calum, both of the Township of Wilmot, Ontario, married 2 Jun 1870 at. St. James Church on the Huron Road, Haysville, Wilmot,
- [S190] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1871, Div. 2 Page 55.
- [S939] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1891, Div. 1 Page 22.
- [S844] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1861, Sect. 4 Page 21.
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Event Map |
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| Born - 22 Jul 1836 - Eniskillen, Fermangh, Ireland |
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| Immigration - 1842 - , Canada |
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| Residence - Church of England - 1852 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada |
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| Occupation - Laborer - 1861 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada |
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| Residence - Anglican - 1861 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada |
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| Occupation - farmer - 1870 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada |
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| Marriage Contract - Jun 1870 - , Ontario, Canada |
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| Married - 2 Jun 1870 - Haysville, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada |
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| Occupation - Farmer - 1871 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada |
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| Residence - Church of England - 1871 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada |
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| Occupation - Farmer - 1881 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada |
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| Occupation - Farmer - 1891 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada |
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| Residence - Anglican - 1891 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada |
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| Occupation - Farmer - 1901 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada |
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| Died - 23 Apr 1907 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada |
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