JAMES
KERR is one of the retired veterans of the railway service in
Pennsylvania who has well earned his retirement, having served more
than thirty years for two railway corporations within the commonwealth.
He was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, August 1, 1839, a son of
Patrick and Ann (Hallagan) Kerr. The father was born in county Armagh,
Ireland, and died in New York City in 1865. The mother was born in
county Tyrone, Ireland, and died in her native land. This couple were
the parents of three Sons and four daughters, two of whom are still
living: James, of this biography, the second child, and
Patrick, now residing in New York City.
The first of the
family to come to this country was Ann, a sister of James. James came
here in 1860 on a sailing vessel and was thirty-one days crossing the
Atlantic ocean. He landed at New York City, and in 1862 wended his way
to Corey, Pennsylvania, and worked on the Atlantic & Great Western
Railroad, helping to grade and lay the rails on that great
thoroughfare. Later he was made section foreman and afterwards removed
to Greenville. After the Great Western was merged into the Erie
Railroad system he still remained foreman. He served from 1877 to 1902
for the Erie company, and then retired after a thirty years' service.
Politically Mr. Kerr is a Democrat. In religious faith he and his
family are ardent supporters of the Roman Catholic church.
In
1863 he was united in marriage to Mary O'Riley, in Pennsylvania; she
died in 1902. She was the daughter of John and Ellen O'Riley, both born
in county Cavan, Ireland.
Mr. and Mrs. Kerr are the parents of
five sons and four daughters, three of whom died in infancy. The others
are as follows: John, residing in Meadville, Pennsylvania, is an
engineer on the Erie railway, married and has two children; Patrick,
lost his life by accident on the Erie railroad, while running his
locomotive, he being an engineer, though only twenty-two years of age;
James, living in Greenville, an engineer for the Bessemer & Lake
Erie Railway: Harry, residing at Greenville, assistant store-keeper on
the last named system of railway; Charles E., of Greenville, an
engineer on the same road above named; Annie.
Twentieth Century History of Mercer County, 1909, pages 489-490
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