Wyandotte County Biographies
"Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas--Historical and Biographical"
Goodspeed Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890
John Keefer. Among the many industries in Kansas City, Kas.,
that call for special notice in a work of this kind is that which deals
in the necessaries of life, principal among which is that of groceries.
Kansas City contains some first-class stores in this line of business,
principal among the number being that of Mr. Keefer, who has been
established in this business since the fall of 1887. He was born in
Chicago, Ill., September 12, 1859, to John and Ellen (Harris) Keefer,
who were native Germans, but who came to America single and were
married in Chicago about 1852. Of a family of nine children born
to them � five were sons and four daughters � of whom two sons and
three daughters are now living. Their names in order of birth are as
following: Mary, Peter, John, Joseph, Ellen, Anna, August, Peter and
Katie. Mary, John, Joseph, Ellen and Katie are living. The mother
of these children died on May 29, 1882, but the father is still living
and makes his home in Chicago. The subject of this sketch spent
his early life in his native city, and received a very good early education, and at twenty years of age he became employed in an oleomargarine factory, and at the expiration of six months he was made foreman of the same, continuing in that capacity for about two years. On
June 16, 1882, he came from Chicago to Kansas City, Kas., and a
few days after his arrival he entered the employ of the Armour Packing Company and remained with it about four years, all of which
time, with the exception of one month, he was foreman of the oleo-margarine factory at this place also. In the fall of 1887 he engaged
ill the grocery business on his own responsibility at No. 1922 North
Third Street, but about two months after starting, the building in
which his business was conducted caught fire, and although it was
not entirely destroyed, it was rendered unfit for further use, and the
stock of goods was severely damaged. The rooms above his store he
occupied as a residence, and had a short time before gone to considerable expense to furnish them nicely, but, as the insurance was small,
the loss was severely felt. He removed his family to a residence farther up the street, that stood on the, ground now occupied by his
present business building, and in the course of two months he had
again opened a store at his old stand, the building having been repaired. Here he continued to remain until August, 1888, when he
traded his stock for a vacant residence lot on the corner of Sherman
Avenue and the Quindaro Boulevard. Meanwhile, in January, 1884,
he had purchased a lot 54x120 feet, No. 2018 North Third Street,
and upon it, in the fall of 1888, he erected the business building he
now occupies. It is an excellent room, 22x48 feet, and is well situated.
Here, in September, 1888, he opened a first-class grocery and meat-market, and has conducted it very successfully ever since, for he is
accommodating, genial and honorable in his dealings with the public,
and this, together with his desire to please his patrons, has enabled
him to build up a substantial business. He now has one of the best
retail groceries on Third Street, and it is recognized by the public as
a first-class place to trade. His residence is located upon the south
half of his lot, its number being 201(1 Mr. Keefer was married,
February 0, 1883, to Miss Lena Anna Kuhr, who was born in Chicago on March 5, 1862. she being a daughter of Adam and Mary
(Riplinger) Kuhr, who were both born in Germany, and accompanied
their respective parents to America, the former at the age of sixteen
and the latter when fourteen. They were married in Chicago about
1844, and of a family of thirteen children born to them Mrs. Keefer was
the ninth. The names of the family are as follows: John, Kate,
Adam, Lena A., George. Peter and Maggie. Those deceased are
Michael, Anna, two named Mary, and another daughter that died
very young. The mother of these children died in February, 1884,
but the father still resides in Chicago. The marriage of Mr. and
Mrs. Keefer resulted in the birth of three children: Matthew (born
January 19, 1S84), Mary (born February 22, 1886, and lived only a
few hours), and John (born March 5, 1887). Both Mr. Keefer and
his wife are members of the Catholic Church, and are accounted
among the foremost and intelligent citizens of Kansas City.
John Kern has been a resident of Wyandotte County, Kas., since
1869, and during this time he has identified himself with the farming
and stock-raising interests. He has become well known for his habits
of industry, perseverance and integrity, as well as for his exceeding
liberality in the support of worthy enterprises. His birth occurred in
Baden, Germany. April 27, 1831, and he is the third child born to Sebastian Kern, who was also born there. He remained in his native
land engaged in farming until 1869, when he crossed the ocean to
America, landing at New York City, and the same week came West and
settled in Wyandotte County, Kas., where he purchased a fertile little
farm of eighty acres, a considerable portion of which was covered with
timber. He set to work immediately to improve his land, and now has
it well improved with a good orchard, residence, barn and other out-buildings, and has an abundant amount of stock with which to successfully conduct the same. In 1861 he was united in marriage to
Miss Teresa Schooren, who has proved a true helpmate in their endeavors to secure a home in the West. They are thrifty, like all their
countrymen, and have thus far proved valuable residents of Wyandotte County. Mr. Kern is a Democrat in his political views, he and
wife are members of the Catholic Church, and the children that have
been born to them are four in number: Emma, Mary (wife of Oscar
Smith), Anna (wife of Decatur Durham) and Joseph (who assists his
father in the care of his farm).
Charles E. Kern, fruit-grower and gardener, Kansas City, Mo.
This prominent business man emigrated from Ohio to Wyandotte
County. Kas,, in 1882. engaged in his present business, and is the
owner of thirteen acres. Mr. Kern spends a great deal of his time
gardening, and his home is surrounded by a large lawn which he has
planted with many choice and beautiful flowers and shrubbery, making it one of the most attractive adjoining Kansas City. He has also
devoted considerable time and expense to water gardening, using about
300 sashes and making about 7,200 feet of glass. He has been
unusually successful in business. Mr. Kern was born in Tyler County,
West Va., on August 19, 1854, and is the only child born to the union
of W. B. and Elizabeth (Rhodes) Kern, natives of West Virginia
and Belmont County, Ohio, respectively. The father was a merchant
in Bridgeport, Ohio. In 1866 he moved to Bridgeport, Ohio, where
Charles E. was reared to manhood and educated in the common
schools. But for an accident in boyhood he would have taken a collegiate course. He remained at Bridgeport until 1882, and then came
West, where he purchased his present place of L. Walgamot. Mr. Kern
was married on November 12, 1878, to Miss Eliza V. Lowry, daughter of
Malcom and Mary Lowry, natives of West Virginia. Mrs. Kern was born
in the Buckeye State on September 28, 1859. To their union the following children were born : Elizabeth L. and Mabel. Mr. Kern is a Republican in his political views, and has held the office of school director
several terms. He is active in his support of all worthy enterprises.
Although he started without means he has accumulated a comfortable
living for future days.
H. N. Kerr is a pioneer of Wyandotte County, Kas., and has been
a resident of the State since 1859. He was born in Miami County,
Ohio, September 9, 1820, and there grew to manhood, and was educated in the common schools, but also received considerable instruction
under West Lake, and also at his home. He commenced for himself
a poor boy, and after his marriage, which occurred on December 31,
1840, to Miss Sarah Morris, he rented land for about ten years, then
purchased 242 acres, but afterward sold his lease for $1,000. About
this time he was taken with the measles, which so impaired his health,
that his doctors ordered him to the West, and he soon after went by
stage to Urbana, Ohio, thence to Illinois, and purchased land near
Bloomington, and here moved his family March 5, 1855. He continued to reside and farm in Illinois until 1859, then removed with his
family to Kansas, and rented land with the intention of seeing how he
liked the country before he made a purchase. Being much pleased
with this section, and predicting that a great city would spring up,
where Kansas City now is, he determined to locate here, and time has
shown the soundness of his judgment, for he is now well-to-do in
worldly goods. He purchased a farm here in June, 1859, and until
April 4, 1864, was engaged in raising stock on the same, after which
he purchased the land on which he is living at the present time, consisting of 1050 acres. He bought, sold and traded land, until he now
has 380| acres, Chelsea Park being on a portion of his farm. He gave
money to the amount of about $60,000 for the founding of a college
near his place, and donated and built the building on the base-ball
park, Chelsea Park, ten acres to a cable line, and has otherwise assisted
in building up Kansas City to its present admirable proportions. He
has a tine home on his property, and here he has reared his six children: Sarah A., J. Wayne, Laura L., C. W., Emma L. and H. L.,
who all have excellent homes of their own. Mrs. Kerr is still living,
and is five months younger than her husband. Mr. Kerr's parents,
James and Sarah (Thompson) Kerr, were born in Ohio, the former a
native of Warren County, and both died in their native State. Kerr
is a Scotch name, and was formerly spelled Ker. The paternal grandfather was a spy for the colonists during the French and Indian War.
C. W. Kerr, real estate agent, Kansas City, Kas. The almost unparalleled growth of Kansas City, Kas., and the rapid increase in
population in Kansas, have opened up a wide and important field of
enterprise in the line of real estate. Among the prominent men in
the city who are engaged in this business is Mr. C. W. Kerr. He
was born in Bloomington, Ill., in 1857, and came to this State with his
father when he was four years of age. Here he has been reared and
educated, first attending the common schools, and later the business
college in Kansas City, Mo. He then followed tilling the soil for a
certain length of time, and then embarked in the commission business
in Denver, Colo., where he remained two years. He then returned to
Kansas, and has been in the real estate business since, under the firm
title of Cox & Kerr. They first did business chiefly with their own
property, but now they do a general broker business also. That which
has contributed largely to their success has been the thoroughly reliable and methodical business principles which have governed their
dealing with this community, and established for them a popular favor which strict probity alone can secure. In his political views Mr.
Kerr is a Democrat. He was married to Miss Anna Armentrout, and
by her became the father of two children: Edna and Willie. Mr.
Kerr has ever taken a lively interest in all that concerns the city, and
is an enterprising citizen. He is proud to say that he is a member of
no secret organizations.
James W. Kerr is an Ohioan by birth, but was reared in the State
of Kansas, and since his residence in Wyandotte County has identified
himself with every interest. His birth occurred in January, 1848,
and he is the second of the following family of children: Sarah (whose
husband is a farmer and horticulturist of this State), James W.,
Laura (who is also married, her husband being an agriculturist and
fruit-grower of this region), Emma (whose husband is in the same business), Corydon (who is a real estate dealer of Kansas City, Kas.), and
Lester (who is a farmer by occupation, but is now on a tour in the
Rocky Mountains). The parents of these children were born in Ohio,
and are still living, the father being a farmer by occupation. James
W. Kerr attended the common schools of Ohio, and has since been a
warm friend of education and believes in the employment of competent teachers, and especially teachers who do not make the calling a
stepping-stone to some other profession. He started out in life for
himself at the age of eighteen years, a poor boy, but by the industry,
perseverance and prudence which have ever characterized his disposition he has made a success of his life. He was eight years of age when
his parents came with him to Wyandotte County, Kas., at which time the
country was almost a wilderness, inhabited by the Wyandotte Indians
and various wild animals. Kansas City, Kas. had hardly 100 houses,
and as the "Border Warfare" had just come to a close, the country
was in a very lawless condition and the prospect for the early settler
was indeed a dismal one. All the trouble, vicissitudes and hardships
he has passed through have been inadequate to quell his energy, and
although the grasshopper scourge destroyed all the crops, yet Mr.
Kerr's faith in the future prosperity of the country did not waver.
The land around Kansas City, Kas. could be purchased for $12 or
$15 per acre, and where Mr. Kerr now resides it was worth only 15
or $6. The wonderful growth and prosperity of the country is in a
great measure owing to just such men as Mr. Kerr, who had the hardihood to stay and make a home for his family, notwithstanding the
many obstacles he had to surmount, and he has lived to see his farm of
132 acres, for which he paid $40 per acre, reach a value of $800 per
acre. He raises a large amount of fruit, such as apples, peaches, pears,
cherries, grapes, strawberries, blackberries and raspberries, to which he
devotes thirty acres of his land. His residence is pleasant, neat and commodious, and on this farm, which they have toiled so hard to win, he and
his wife expect to spend the rest of their days. His marriage to Miss
Elizabeth Johnson took place April 5, 1880, and to them have been
born four children: Hanford (aged ten years), Fowler (aged eight), Mabel (aged three), and an infant. Mr. Kerr is independent in his political views, and always endeavors to support men of principle and
honor. He has always been liberal in the support of worthy enterprises, and is a man who commands the respect of all who know him.
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