History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky, ed. by William Henry Perrin, O. L. Baskin & Co., Chicago, 1882. p. 542. [Bourbon County] [North Middletown Precinct] WILLIAM H. KERR, farmer and breeder of fancy horses, P. O. North Middletown; was born Feb. 18, 1853, and is a son of John W. and Elizabeth A. (Seamands) Kerr, who were married on the 23d of July 1846. The result of this marriage was two sons, viz: John A., who died when eight years of age, and William H. (the subject of this sketch), born at his grandfather's, Preston J. Seamands, who is mention elsewhere in this work. His (subject's) father, died when he was but eight months old, and he lived with his mother at her father's until the age of six years, when, on May 16, 1859, his mother was again married to J. C. Long, a merchant of New York City. Four years afterward, subject, with his mother and her husband, to whom he was greatly attached settled in Brooklyn, where he (subject) was a student at the Polytechnic Institute for about three years; he then returned to his native State and entered the Kentucky University at Lexington, living in the family of Prof. Robert Graham for about one year; he then returned and finished his education at Brooklyn after which he was connected with the Brooklyn Gas Company for about one year; then in the Tribune office for a short time. But his natural love for the farm, and his interest in fine horses, brought him back to the home of his childhood, and in 1870 he came back to Kentucky, bringing with him his half-brother, E. C. Long, then only ten years of age, and his mother, who was again a widow, followed in a few months and has made her home her ever since. With that natural love for the horse characteristic of the true Kentuckian, Mr. Kerr at once embarked in the in the business of breeding and rearing fine horses; his first venture was the purchase of "Blue Bird" a roan mare by Kerr's Black Hawk, and out of a mare by Kerr's Copper Bottom; he paid $200 for this mare at a three-year old, and when six years old he could have sold her for $2,500. This noted mare competed at the Paris Fair, in 1874, with eight other speed mares--the best in the State--for the prize (silver pitcher and goblets) offered by the Kentucky Live Stock Record, and was the honored victor, bearing off the palm in the hotly contested ring. Mr. Kerr next bought the noted trotting stallion "Driftwood" for which he paid $1,000; he raised and sold a large number of his colts, besides buying and handling all his colts raised by other parties that he could get hold of. In 1880 Mr. Kerr took in his brother, E. C. Long, as a partner, the style of the farm being W. II. Kerr & Bro.; the firm now has a fine stable, 47x100 feet, finished off in the most approved style, with all modern conveniences, and own seventy head of horses, one of the most noted of which is "Ed. Clark," a black stallion, by "Driftwood" am by "Mambrino Medley:" this horse took the premium at the Sharpsburg and Paris Fairs, when only four years old, against more aged horses; "Woodbridge Girl" and "Woodbridge Boy" are both promising young trotters; either of them can show better records than 2.30. Mr. Kerr owns 315 acres of fine blue grass land, and controls 750 acres more. Upon his own farm he has a handsome residence, built at his special orders, and after his own plans and designs, and which is furnished and fitted up with most excellent taste. He was married, Jan. 12, 1875, to Miss Fannie L., daughter of William Skinner, of this county. She was educated at the schools of the neighborhood, and Hocker Female College, Lexington. They have three children, viz: Clarence, born Dec. 25, 1875, and Fred S. and William G. (twins), born Aug. 1, 1877. Mr. Kerr is an enterprising young man; liberal in every movement for the good and progress of his neighborhood, and a Republican in politics. Kerr Seamands Long Skinner = Fayette-KY NY http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/bourbon/kerr.wh.txt