Mercer County PAGenWeb

James Kerr


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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