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Descendants of Matthew Kerr
Generation No. 1
1. MATTHEW1 KERR was born 1734 in Scotland, and died Abt. 1791 in Ohio. He married MARGARET.
Notes for MATTHEW KERR:
I received this information from Betty Topliff, btracer@webtv.net, in September 1999.
The Kerrs were of Presbyterians of Scotch descent. The name may be spelled Ker, Kerr, Carr, and Kear and in Scotland is pronounced 'care'. There are three conflicting accounts for Matthew's presence in America.
1) He came directly from Scotland.
2) He came via Londonderry, Ireland where he may have been born. or
3) He descended from Robert Kerr, the eldest of the three Kerr brothers (Robert, John & David) who arrived in the Port of Philadelphia in the spring of 1708. These Kerr brothers, having sojourned at Londonderry, Ireland for a few months only, were of the Ferneiherst family of Kers. The eldest of these three brothers, Robert Kerr, settled at Camden, New Jersey, just across the river from the City of Philadelphia, where he lived and raised a large family. He died sometime prior to 1745 and was buried in Camden. It is highly probable that Matthew Kerr of Philadelphia was the son or grandson of Robert Kerr of Camden, New Jersey.
Early in the married life of Matthew and Margaret, they lived in Philadelphia, where Matthew was said to be in the mercantile business.
At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, Matthew Kerr enlisted (as Carr) in the Continental Army for the duration. He served as a private in Capt. Wilkinson's Company, 5th Pennsylvania Regiment, commanded by Col. Robert Magaw and Lt. Col. Josiah Harmar between 1 Jan 1776 to 1 jan 1777. On 3 Jan 1777, he transferred to the 6th Pa, Reg. under Lt. Col. Harmar and was with that regiment in George Washington's army during 1778 and 1780, then in Gen. Green's Division in the south during 1781 and 1782. He was mustered out in January of 1783.
Sometime during the Revolutionary War, Matthew's family moved to Chartier Creek on the Pennsylvania frontier, six miles below Fort Pitt. From there, they moved to the Virginia frontier of the Ohio River at Wheeling Creek in the area of Fort Henry. The inhabitants were constantly harassed by the Indians and later, by the British in league with the indians. They often had to take refuge in the fort where the women fought along side the men when necessary.
After the War, Matthew joined his family at Fort Henry. They had as neighbors, the Isaac and Rebecca Williams family and a few others. Down a deep incline from Fort Henry was Wheeling Creek Bottom where the family had their home. They cleared and fenced in land to grow corn because of their liking of corn bread. They lived mainly off the land as game was abundant and there was plenty of fish in the river.
The older sons of the Matthew Kerr family, James, John, Daniel, and William, were among those who sought to secure homes on the rich land lying across the Ohio from the Virginia frontier. They made unlawful excursions onto the "Indian Shore", selected "Tomahawk Claims", and sought to establish homes. They were driven back across the Ohio by government forces but they persistently returned. They remained in the vicinity of Fort Henry eagerly awaiting and watching for a favorable opportunity to again possess themselves the coveted lands.
In 1787, when Matthew's old commander, Col. Harmar, was sent by the government to erect a fort in the Indian Country on the Ohio, just west of the Muskingham River, Matthew took his family and followed him. The Williams family moved at the same time and opened a plantation on the Virginia shore. This area is known as Willamstown, West Virginia today.
Matthew and Margaret and some members of their family settled on the Devil's Island in the Ohio River, under the protection of the guns of Fort Harmar. Matthew did not purchase the land. However, during and for some time after he occupied the island, it was known as Kerr's Island, now known as Buckley's Island. Here Matthew kept cows and supplied milk and butter to the officers of the garrison in what was the first dairy in the Northwest Territories. Three sons, Hamilton, George and Matthew Jr., were engaged by Col. Harmar to supply the garrison with fresh meat, such as rabbits, deer, and an occasional bear.
In 1787, the Ohio Company of Massachusetts, purchased a large tract of land, consisting of 1.8 million acres northwest of the Ohio River in the first public sale of land by the U.S. Government. In 1788, they built Fort Campius Martius, and established Marietta on the east side of the Muskingum in what was Washington County, Northwest Territories. These operations were under the direction of the General Rufus Putnum, a member of Washington's staff. A portion of the fort is still standing in a good state of preservation and may be seen in the Campius Martius Museum at Marietta, Ohio.
The above text is from Edythe Kahn's book,
Hamilton and Susannah Nisewanger Kerr/Karr: Their Ancestry and Descendants (1711 to 1990)
Family Tree Maker: Washington County, Ohio marriages 1789-1798
Bob Spurgeon (bobspu@compuserve.com
First Families, Pioneers, and Civil War Families of Athens Co. by Nancy E. Aiken seorf.ohio.edu/~xx023/update1.htm)
According to Nancy Aikin's website, this familhy arrived in Athens County, Ohio in 1790, one year after the Bents arrived.
More About MATTHEW KERR:
Burial: Mound Cemetary, Marietta Ohio
Children of MATTHEW KERR and MARGARET are:
i. JAMES2 KERR.
Notes for JAMES KERR:
James settled in the part of Jefferson County that became Harrison County Ohio
ii. JOHN KERR.
Notes for JOHN KERR:
John settled in the part of Jefferson County that became Harrison County, Ohio.
iii. THOMAS KERR.
Notes for THOMAS KERR:
Thomas settled in Cross Creek Township, later Jefferson County, Ohio
iv. DANIEL KERR.
Notes for DANIEL KERR:
Daniel settled in the part of Jefferson County that became Belmont County, Ohio.
2. v. WILLIAM KERR.
3. vi. JANE KERR, b. 1764, Ireland.
4. vii. HAMILTON KERR, b. 1764, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; d. February 1825, Meigs County, Ohio.
5. viii. GEORGE KERR, d. September 12, 1838, Ohio.
ix. ABIGAIL KERR, m. ANDREW DOWD, April 19, 1791, Marietta Ohio.
6. x. MATTHEW KERR JR..
xi. INFANT DAUGHTER.
xii. INFANT SON.
Generation No. 2
2. WILLIAM2 KERR (MATTHEW1) He married ELIZABETH HOWDERSHELL September 22, 1816 in Gallia County, Ohio, daughter of ADAM HOWDERSHELL and HULDA BURR. She was born 1801 in West Virginia, and died October 10, 1846.
Notes for WILLIAM KERR:
William and Elizabeth raised their family near Wheeling Ohio.
In a book by James Manford Kerr. "Notes on the Life of Hamilton Kerr"
He writes of William as spelling his last name as Karr.
William emigrated from Galliapolis to Franklin county, Illinois. William Karr located on government land six miles east of where Benton, the county seat of Franklin county, is now built, and there married and had issue, seven children.
Notes for ELIZABETH HOWDERSHELL:
Birth and death info from Ancestry.com.
Marriage Notes for WILLIAM KERR and ELIZABETH HOWDERSHELL:
Marriage info from Ancestry.com #0317652
Children of WILLIAM KERR and ELIZABETH HOWDERSHELL are:
i. GEORGE3 KERR.
ii. HAMILTON KERR.
iii. MATILDA KERR.
iv. ANDREW JACKSON KERR.
v. SARAH KERR.
vi. JOHN DOYLE KERR.
vii. RACHEL KERR.
3. JANE2 KERR (MATTHEW1) was born 1764 in Ireland. She married PETER NIGHSWONGER, son of JOHN NICEWANGER and MARY COOPER. He was born 1759 in Scotland.
Notes for JANE KERR:
Jane and her husband Peter, who is the second cousin to Susanna Neiswonger, lived in block house #4 of Campius Martius during the Indian War.
In a book written by James Manford Kerr "Notes on the life of Hamilton Kerr"
Jame was married, on Wheeling Creek, near Fort Henry, to Peter Nygshwanger, a son of Colonel Nygshwanger.
Peter Nygshwanger lated removed with Matthew Kerr and family to the Muskingum, where he became one of the band of Rangers and Scounts. He was attached to the Fort Harmar district, and had his "range" on the west side of the Muskingum river. For a time he resided in Fort Harmar with his family, but later removed his family across the Muskingum and resided in Block House No. 4, at "The point" He was subsequently killed by the Indians. At the time of his death, Jane and he had a family of three children.
Child of JANE KERR and PETER NIGHSWONGER is:
7. i. REISEN3 NIGHSWONGER, b. Abt. 1792; d. January 03, 1870, Illinois.
4. HAMILTON2 KERR (MATTHEW1) was born 1764 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and died February 1825 in Meigs County, Ohio. He married SUSANNA "SUKEY" NEISWANGER (NISWONGER) January 10, 1793 in Marietta, Ohio, daughter of JOHN NISEWANGER and MARGARET. She was born September 07, 1771 in Stephensburg, Frederick Co., Virginia, and died November 13, 1845 in Crawford Twp, Wyandot Co., Ohio.
Notes for HAMILTON KERR:
I received this information from phetrick@aol.com on 11/10/1999
Hamilton Kerr was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1764 moving with his father to near Pittsburgh, then to Wheeling. He learned woodcraft from the famous Indian scout Lewis Wetzel at Wheeling. He took part in the defense of Fort Henry in 1782. He was wounded by indians in fighting near the mouth of the Muskingum River.
11/23/00 from Genealogy Report: Descendants of William Green
Memoirs of the Early Pioneers of Ohio; Hildreth; 1852; State of Ohio Libray: Page 466
In the spring of the year 1784, before Fort Harmar was built or any settlements made by the shites, between Baker's Station and the mouth of the Big Kanawa, a party of young men left the post in a large canoe on a trapping and hunting expedition. It was composed of Lewis and George Wetzel, John Greene, Hamilton Kerr, and one other man.
They dropped down the river as low as Muskingum Island, where they encamped. The next day at evening they went over to the mouth of the Muskingum, and set their traps for beaver, returning to the island as a safe place for their camp, against the attack of Indians. The following morning they went down again, and thirty or forty rods above the mouth, landed two of their partyto recommoiter, and examine the woods for signs of an enemy, while the other three remained in the canoe, and went
to the Muskingum to examine their traps. They directly discovered that several of them were missing, and immediately concluded that a party of Indians had discovered their marks, and stolen them. George Wetzel soon returned to the canoe, and reported that he had seen no Indians, but plenty of signs of bears, which had been wallowing and tearing down the weeds in several places. This confirmed their suspicions that they were in the vicinity of a large party of Indians. Taking George on boar, they pushed up the Ohio, and had proceeded twenty or thiry rods on their return when four Indians stepped on the bak, and from behind trees fire upon the men in the canoe. George Wetzel was shot through the head and fell dead into the boat. Kerr was shot in the left arm above the elbow, splintering the bone, and received a bullet at the same time through the fleshy portion of his side. His dog, a noble, lare animal standing by his master was also killed. The other two men escaped injur; and pushing out into the stream before they could reload, were soon out of danger. John Greene, who rambled farthere into the woods than George, had returned to within a few rods of the bank, when the Indians fired, and hearing the report of their rifles, rushed up to see what his comrades had shot at. As he approached within twenty yards of the bak, he was an Indian behind a tree, in the act of pushing down a bullet in his rifle. Comprehending at once the condition of the parties, he instantly raised his piece, fired, and the Indian fell dead, tumbling headlong down the bank, near the brink of which he was standing, and rolled close to the water's edge. The other Indians, hearing the report of a shot, and seeing their dead companion, came rushing upon their new enemy before he coul reload. His only safety was now in flight; and running toward the swamp a short distance back from the river, in the windings and turnings of the pursuit, counted not less than ten or twelve Indians, whom the shots and the war-cry of the savages had called into the chase. After wading in the water for a time, and seeing no chance for escape by flight, he secreted himself under the tops of a fallen tree, whose leaves and branches, sheltered him from observation. As a further precaution, he buried himself beneath the water, leaving only so much of his face uncovered as allowed of respiration. This was a common mode of eluding pursuit, practiced by the natives, as well as cunning white men. The Indians, a few rods beneath whose top he lay concealed. Looking up through his leafy covert, he plainly saw his enemies, peering into every crevice, and behind every twig for their victim, vociferating of his flight. Greene lay perfectly quiet, hardly daring to breathe, fearing lest even the beating of his heart should agitate the water; watching with intense anxiety their movements, until finally, to his great relief, they gave up the search as hopeless. As soon as the darkness of night concealed his movements, he instantly commenced his march for home, thankful that he had been able to escape the scalping-knife of his foes. He traveled across ridges, the nearest route, well known to the hunters of that day. In the course of his journey he passed no less than three deserted Indian camps, so recently left that the fire was still burning, without being discovered. So rapid was the his march, that he reached Baker's before his companions in the canoe who pushed up stream as rapidly as they could, and buried the dead man on an island twenty-five miles above mariett, now known as Williamson's.
I received the below information from phetrick@aol.com on 11/10/1999
He came to Ohio with his family about 1787, and became a scout and hunter for Fort Harmar. He was a noted Indian scout of great daring, courage, and strength. One encounter of Hamilton Kerr and Edward Henderson with the Indians is described:
"While they were anxiously surveying the valley beneath them for an appearance of the savages they saw six of them cross the stream at a rifle from the east and go toward a small deserted cabin, where the men formerly engaged at the mill had lived. Henderson led a small party in a detour by which he hoped to gain a position commanding the other side of the house, which the Indians now entered, while Kerr remained with the rest of the men at the spot from which they had first caught sight of their skulking enemy" (12)
"Before the moving party could make the intended circuit an Indian came out of the house and around upon the side toward Kerr. According to the plan agreed upon no shots were to be fired until Henderson and his companion had reached a proper station from which to open fire, but upon seeing this Indian, Kerr, unable to restrain himself as he thought of the murder of his father, brought his rifle to his shoulder and fired. The Indian fell, not dead, but wounded, and Kerr, rushing forward, dispatched him, plunging his hunting knife again and again into his body. George Kerr shot at and wounded another Indian, but so slightly that he was able to escape with the rest..." (12). A similar account appears in reference 6.
"i have heard Hamilton Kerr say, that the hills between Duck creek and Little Muskingum were the best hunting ground he had ever seen; that he could easily kill fifteen deer in a day, and frequently in a morning." (From Barker, p. 447, refers to ca 1790, ref. 4)
He was described by Barker as "about twenty-five years of age, a native of Pennsylvania, his persona little above the middle size, his physical & mental powers far above. His contour was strong, athletic & beautiful,, and his countenance the index of candor, penetration and manly dignity. His faithfulness & vigelence in guarding the settlements commanded the esteem & confidence of all who know him." (sic).
Hamilton Kerr married Susannah Nisewanger, daughter of Col. John Nisewanger, in Marietta. She was born 1771 8in Stephensburg, Frederick Co., Virginia. She was very well educated and could read and write in both German and English. While Hamilton could not read in his early life, he learned later. Marriage records of Washington Co, Oh show "Hamilton Kerr and Sukey Nisewanger 10 Jan 1793."
In 1792 he is listed among the heads of families living in house #14 in the little garrison built on the "point" before Campus Martius was begun.
"After the death of his father and brother, his mother lived with him. He was an artful and useful spy." (2). "Spy" here is used for a scout and hunter.
"About 1791 Captain Hamilton Kerr, a famous Indian fighter, in the excursions into what is now Meigs County, discovbered an enormous sycamore tree at the mouth of Kerrs' Run which was later used as a home for a pioneer family. Captain Whitlock of Coalport told how " the hollow of this tree was 19 feet in diameter and that as late as 1821, he once ate his dinner from the top of a sugar tree stump in a log house near where the present court house stands in Pomeroy." (9, p. 184)
"In the vicinity of Duck Creek Mills Hamilton Kerr, who acted as spy, discovered six Indians crossing gthe creek to a vacant cabin. Biding his companions keep back, Kerr and his brother George crept forward to reconnoiter. They saw two Indians come out of the house and fired upon them. One Indian fell and Hamilton Kerr rushed up and dispatched him with his knife. THe other though wounded escaped." (10)
In Dec 1797 the Washington Co. Court of Common Pleas, Civil, heard a case of Hamilton Karr of Marietta vs. Noah Staaw. On 3 May 1802 he registered an earmark in Gallia Co. In 1805 he was one of the electors from Salisbury Twp. for Governor. In 1810 and 1814 he appears on the resident tax lists of Gallia Co. On 28 Nov 1814 he was named an appraiser for the estate of Joseph Townsend and on 6 Oct 1818 he was named an appraiser for the estate of Andrew Kimbal Jr.
Gallia Co. was set out from Washington Co. in 1803 with three townships, Gallipolis, Kerr's, and Letart. On 11 Jan 1805 the County Commissioners met again and abolishe Kerr's Township, setting out Salisbury Township instead. When Meigs County was formed in 1819 from parts of Gallia and Athens Cos., Salisbury and Letart were included in Meigs.
Hamilton Kerr appears on the 1816 tax list for Salisbury Twp. He helped to lay out the first road from Gallipolis to Chester, and was elected Trustee of Salisbury Twp. in its first election. He appears in the 1820 censu of Meigs Co, Salisbury Twp. 116 A.
"In 1823 Hamilton Kerr, living at the mouth of Leading Creek, employed Adams Smith to act as guide for eight colored men who were on their way to Canada, a not infrequent occurrence for colored persons made free by their masters to pass through the country on their way to Canada. So Mr. Smith escorted the colored menh to Columbus as hired by Mr. Kerr, whith no thought of wrongdoing. The fact was that Kerr had given aid to colored people, bond or free, to go north. Slave owners on the Kanawha and on the Ohio River above Point Pleasant had organized for protection and sent out detectives on both sides of the river. They concluded that Smith was guilty of aiding escpaed slaves. ..." (13)
He later became Major Hamilton Kerr of Meigs County and earned a share in the Ohio Company, settling on Leading Creek. He died in 1827, leaving a large family. Shortly before he died, the family changed the spelling of their surname to Karr, and it appears both ways in his will.
Susannah and the children then moved to Wyandot Co. Ohio. She died in Crawford Twp. in 1845. The 1832 tax list of Crawford Twp. shows Susannah Karr with 132 and 40 acres. In 1832 whe was also taxed for one horse and one cow. A tombstone in Ritchie cemetary in Crawford Twp. says "Karr, Susannah, wife of Hamilton, died 13 May 1848, age 77". Another memorial stone say "Karr Susanna, w/o Hamilton d. 13 nov 1845, age 74-4-4
More About HAMILTON KERR:
Burial: His home Salisbury Twp., Meigs Co., Ohio after a long illness following a paraletic stroke
More About SUSANNA "SUKEY" NEISWANGER (NISWONGER):
Burial: Ritchey Cemetary, Crawford Twp, Wyandot County, Ohio
Children of HAMILTON KERR and SUSANNA (NISWONGER) are:
i. SALLIE (SARAH)3 KERR, b. Abt. 1797, Marietta Ohio, at "The Point"; d. Abt. 1884; m. EVERETT.
ii. WILLIAM KERR, b. 1798, Marietta, Ohio at "The Point"; d. 1883; m. JANE MURRAY, March 19, 1820, Washington County, Ohio.
iii. JOHN NEISWONGER KERR, b. 1811, Gallia (later Meigs) County, Ohio; d. December 1864, Wyandot County, Ohio; m. MARY WRIGHT, Abt. 1835, Wyandot County, Ohio.
8. iv. HAMILTON KERR JR., b. June 30, 1800, Leading Creek Sett, Washington Co, Later Gallia, then Meigs; d. November 17, 1873, Crawford Twp, Wyandot Co., Ohio.
9. v. MARGARET KERR, b. July 21, 1801; d. February 23, 1863, Wyandot County, Ohio.
vi. SOPHIA KERR, b. Abt. 1804; d. Abt. 1884.
vii. MARIA/MARIAH KERR, b. 1809, Leading Creek Sett, Washington Co, Later Gallia, then Meigs; d. Abt. 1884, Damden Co. Missouri; m. ELIJAH WILLIAMS BENT, March 09, 1829, Belpre, Washington County, Ohio.
10. viii. CHARLES MILLS KERR, b. August 17, 1814, Gallia (later Meigs) County, Ohio; d. September 11, 1864, Crawford Twp, Wyandot Co., Ohio.
ix. THOMAS KERR.
5. GEORGE2 KERR (MATTHEW1) died September 12, 1838 in Ohio. He married MARTHA NEWELL April 15, 1768 in Waterford, Ohio.
Notes for GEORGE KERR:
Information from the book written by James Manford Kerr after 1911.
"Notes on the life of Hamilton Kerr"
George Kerr settled on a farm near Bedell Station, the the "advance frontier" in what is now Warren County, Ohio, not many miles northwest of the present town of Lebanon, the county seat. He sold this entry and removed to Miami County, entering a section of land about three miles due west of where he led Gen. Wayne's army across the Great Miami at its first crossing, at which place he ever after made his home, reared his family, and founded the Family of Miami County Kerrs.
George Kerr, while acting as a guide and scout for the army of Lieutenant General Wayne in his campaigh against the Indians in the Northwest Territory, culminating in the complete and final defeat of the Indians at the battle of Fallen Timbers. On this occasion George Kerr, in connection with others, accompanied Gen. Wayne from Fort Washington, where Cincinnati now stands, as a guide to pilot the army through the forest, and as a scout to prevent a surprise or ambush of the troops.
In the course of the march up the west side of the Great Miami River from where Dayton now stands to near the site of the present village of Cowlesville, at which point he led the column to the east bank of the GreatMiami and pilotd the army to where the former town of Staunton (now a crossroads), the first town in Miami County, was laid out. From Staunton-site the army was piloted back to the west side of the Great Miami, recrossing that stream at the present site of the town of Troy, the county-seat of Miami County. From the Troy-site a bee-line was taken from what is now Troy by way of the present towns of Covington and Bradford, to what is now Greenville, in Dark County, where a stockade-fort was erected and General Wayne made his headquarters. It was here that the treaty of the Indians of the Northwest Territory -was made and signed in 1796. A road was cut through the heavy forest, from Troy to Greenville, to enable the transport-train, and such field-artillery as accompanied them, to pass.
More About GEORGE KERR:
Burial: Thomas Cemetary, South of Troy Ohio
Children of GEORGE KERR and MARTHA NEWELL are:
i. JAMES3 KERR.
ii. SAMUEL NEWELL KERR.
iii. WILLIAM KERR.
iv. HARVEY KERR.
v. HAMILTON KERR.
vi. GEORGE WASHINGTON KERR.
vii. MARY KERR, m. ? EWART.
6. MATTHEW KERR2 JR. (MATTHEW1 KERR)
Notes for MATTHEW KERR JR.:
Matthew Jr. who removed with his father to Kerr's Island, was a "hunter to the fort." He was also a member of the band of Ranger and Scouts, under his brother Hamilton, with headquarters with his brother George in "Farmers' Castle."
As noted above, he came down the Ohio with his brother George, in the spring of 1796, as far as Fort Washington, and wnet from there into Kentucky. Where he finally settled is not now known; but he married and reared a family somewhere. Nothing of his family is at present known futhere than that of three of Matthew's children subsequently returned to, and lived for a time with, their uncle, Captain Hamilton Kerr, in Leading Creek bottom, near Middleport, in Meigs county.
Children of MATTHEW KERR JR. are:
i. HAMILTON3 JR., m. MARGARET KERR.
Notes for HAMILTON JR.:
Many of Hamilton and Margarets descendants live in Wyandot county, Ohio.
Notes for MARGARET KERR:
Margaret his Captain Hamilton Kerrs fourth child. (Margaret and Hamilton are cousins)
ii. ALEXANDER JR..
Notes for ALEXANDER JR.:
Alexander married and reared a family of seven children, and his descendants reside in Meigs and Wyandot counties, Ohio.
iii. WILLIAM JR..
Notes for WILLIAM JR.:
Nickname was "Little Bill" to distinguish him from Captain Hamilton's second child William.
William after remaining for some time with his uncle, went to Wheeling, and from there wandered away and all knowled of his is "lost" to the family.
Generation No. 3
7. REISEN3 NIGHSWONGER (JANE2 KERR, MATTHEW1) was born Abt. 1792, and died January 03, 1870 in Illinois. He married SUSANNAH BUFFINGTON 1811 in Virginia, daughter of JOEL BUFFINGTON and ELIZABETH LOGAN. She was born 1794 in Hampshire County, West Virginia, and died March 09 in Sparland Illinois.
Notes for SUSANNAH BUFFINGTON:
1850 Census Pike County Illinois.
Susanna Nighswonger is family #259 age 56 and living with her is Mary A. Ford age 19 and Susan F. Ford age 1.
Assuming that Mary and Susan are mother and daughter.
Children of REISEN NIGHSWONGER and SUSANNAH BUFFINGTON are:
i. JANE4 NIGHSWONGER, b. February 23, 1813; m. (1) THOMAS DWYRE; m. (2) IRA JOHNSON.
11. ii. SOLOMAN NIGHSWONGER, b. October 13, 1815, Pike County, Illinois.
iii. PETER NIGHSWONGER, b. March 22, 1817, Pike County, Illinois; m. NANCY BARRINGER.
iv. REISEN NIGHSWONGER, b. January 26, 1819, Shawnee Town, Illinois; m. ELLEN GREGORY.
v. MAGDALENE NIGHSWONGER, b. July 05, 1821, Shawnee Town, Illinois; m. DAVID RICKLART.
12. vi. ABRAHAM NIGHSWONGER, b. September 23, 1823, Illinois; d. July 10, 1885, Kansas, Sedgwick County.
13. vii. MASON NIGHSWONGER, b. March 20, 1826, Illinois.
viii. ASA NIGHSWONGER, b. May 23, 1828, Illinois; m. HARRIET WOOD.
ix. MARY ANN NIGHSWONGER, b. February 06, 1831; m. JOSHUA FORD.
8. HAMILTON KERR3 JR. (HAMILTON2 KERR, MATTHEW1) was born June 30, 1800 in Leading Creek Sett, Washington Co, Later Gallia, then Meigs, and died November 17, 1873 in Crawford Twp, Wyandot Co., Ohio. He married MARY BROWN August 1827 in Wyandot County, Ohio. She was born 1810 in Ohio.
Notes for HAMILTON KERR JR.:
Hamilton farmed in Crawford Twp., Wyandot County.
Value of real estate $6,000.00 and value of personal estate is $350.00.
The 1850 census in the township of Crawford, Wyandot County, he is listed with the "Karr" spelling in 1860 it is Karr and in 1870 it is Kerr.
1870 census value of personal real estate is $1,780.00.
Living with them is their son Henry and Emily M. Bliss age 21 listed as domestic servant.
More About HAMILTON KERR JR.:
Burial: Ritchie Cemetary, Wyandot Co, Ohio
Notes for MARY BROWN:
In 1850 Crawford Township, Wyandot County, Ohio census Mary is 40 years old.
In 1860, Crawford Township, Wyandot County, Ohio census Mary is 53 years old.
In 1870, Crawford Township, Wyandot County, Ohio census Mary is 59 years old.
Children of HAMILTON JR. and MARY BROWN are:
i. SOPHIA4 KERR, b. 1833, Ohio.
ii. MARIAH KERR, b. 1833, Ohio.
iii. JAMES KERR, b. 1835, Ohio.
iv. LAURA KERR, b. 1837, Ohio.
v. DOUGLAS KERR, b. 1838, Ohio.
vi. HENRY KERR, b. 1840, Ohio.
Notes for HENRY KERR:
1870 Wyandot County, Crawford Township, Ohio Henry is living with his parents age 26.
It states Henrys' value of real estate is $6,700.00.
vii. CLOTILDA J. KERR, b. 1843, Ohio.
viii. MARY J. KERR, b. 1844, Ohio.
9. MARGARET3 KERR (HAMILTON2, MATTHEW1) was born July 21, 1801, and died February 23, 1863 in Wyandot County, Ohio. She married HAMILTON KERR April 25, 1824 in Washington County, Ohio. He died Aft. 1844 in Ohio.
Notes for MARGARET KERR:
In the 1850 Crawford Township, Wyandot County, Ohio census Margaret is listed as Karr, in 1860 it is Kerr.
In 1850, Margaret is listed with the children Charles through Bertha with value of real estate owned valued at $5,500.00.
In 1860, Margaret is listed as Kerr and living with her are Angeline age 24, Sarah age 22, Bertha age 14, and Harvey age 32.
Value of real estate is $4,000.00 and value of personal estate is $200.00.
More About MARGARET KERR:
Burial: Ritchie Cemetary, Wyandot Co, Ohio
Notes for HAMILTON KERR:
Hamilton is Matthew Jr.'s son. ( Margaret and Hamilton are cousins)
Hamilton and Margaret farmed in Crawford Twp, Wyandot County.
Children of MARGARET KERR and HAMILTON KERR are:
i. CHARLES4 KERR, b. 1824, Ohio.
Notes for CHARLES KERR:
1850 Wyandot County, Crawford Township Ohio Charles is living at home and is listed as farmer.
ii. HARVEY KERR, b. 1827, Ohio.
Notes for HARVEY KERR:
1850 Wyandot County, Crawford Township Ohio Harvey is living at home and is listed as farm laborer.
iii. ISADORE KERR, b. 1828, Ohio.
iv. LOUISA KERR, b. 1830, Ohio.
v. ALGU??? KERR, b. 1832, Ohio.
vi. ANGELINE KERR, b. 1834, Ohio.
14. vii. LORENZO KERR, b. 1835, Ohio.
viii. SARAH KERR, b. 1837, Ohio.
ix. ABERT KERR, b. 1840, Ohio.
x. WILSON KERR, b. 1842.
xi. BERTHA KERR, b. 1844, Ohio.
10. CHARLES MILLS3 KERR (HAMILTON2, MATTHEW1) was born August 17, 1814 in Gallia (later Meigs) County, Ohio, and died September 11, 1864 in Crawford Twp, Wyandot Co., Ohio. He married SARAH J. KENTFIELD September 22, 1846 in Wyandot County, Ohio, daughter of SMITH KENTFIELD and AZABAH JUDD. She was born 1826 in Ohio.
Notes for CHARLES MILLS KERR:
In 1850 census Wyandot County, Crawford Township, Ohio.
Charles is listed as Karr.
The value of real estate is $2,000.00.
Hamilton Bent age 16 is living with Charles & Sarah.
In 1860 page 20, value of real estate is $15,000.00 and value of personal estate is $800.00.
Charles is listed as Kerr.
More About CHARLES MILLS KERR:
Burial: Ritchie Cemetary, Wyandot Co, Ohio
Occupation: Farmer
Children of CHARLES KERR and SARAH KENTFIELD are:
i. SARAH4 KERR, b. 1856.
ii. ELLEN KERR, b. 1858.
iii. STANLEY KERR, b. 1859.
Generation No. 4
11. SOLOMAN4 NIGHSWONGER (REISEN3, JANE2 KERR, MATTHEW1) was born October 13, 1815 in Pike County, Illinois. He married ANNE ANN JOHNSON. She was born 1816 in Kentucky.
More About SOLOMAN NIGHSWONGER:
Census: 1850, Pike County, Illinois
Children of SOLOMAN NIGHSWONGER and ANNE JOHNSON are:
i. ADELINE5 NIGHSWONGER, b. 1835.
ii. MARIA NIGHSWONGER, b. 1836.
iii. MARGARET NIGHSWONGER, b. 1840.
iv. HENRIETTA NIGHSWONGER, b. 1838.
v. JEFFERSON NIGHSWONGER, b. 1844.
vi. LEWIS NIGHSWONGER, b. 1850.
vii. JOSEPHINE NIGHSWONGER, b. 1848.
12. ABRAHAM4 NIGHSWONGER (REISEN3, JANE2 KERR, MATTHEW1) was born September 23, 1823 in Illinois, and died July 10, 1885 in Kansas, Sedgwick County. He married JANE SELLARS December 23, 1847, daughter of HOWELL SELLARS and MARGARET CONNER. She was born January 09, 1828 in Tennessee, and died March 09, 1919 in Viola, Kansas, Sedgwick Co.
Notes for ABRAHAM NIGHSWONGER:
1850 Pike County Illinois
Abram Nighswonger age 25 states he was born in Virginia and Jane was born in Kentucky.
Cynthia Sellers is also living with them.
More About ABRAHAM NIGHSWONGER:
Burial: Harrington Cemetery - Sedgwick County, Kansas
Notes for JANE SELLARS:
On the 1900 Sedgwick County Kansas, Jane Nighswonger is living with her son William.
Family #91 age 72 she states her parents birth places as Tennessee.
More About JANE SELLARS:
Burial: Harrington Cemetery - Sedgwick County, Kansas
Children of ABRAHAM NIGHSWONGER and JANE SELLARS are:
i. MARGARET5 NIGHSWONGER, b. 1848.
ii. ANNA NIGHSWONGER, b. August 01, 1851, Whitefield, Marshall County, Illinois; d. March 30, 1906, Kansas, Sedgwick County; m. THEODORE KERR, Bef. 1872, Illinois; b. March 28, 1841, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County; d. August 18, 1921, Kansas, Sedgwick County.
More About ANNA NIGHSWONGER:
Burial: Harrington Cemetary
Notes for THEODORE KERR:
Kerr Family Association of North America
David H. Kerr Genealogy Director
P.O. Box 238
Cream Ridge, NJ 08514
On August 10, 1999, Dave mailed me copies what they have listed on Theodore and Anna.
They are KFAID Number 1874 Generation 003A
Received from Bill Pennington billpenn@swbell.net on 8/1/1999
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Sedgwicfk County, KS, 1901 Page 430
Theodore Kerr, a prominent and early settler of Sedgwick county, is tghe owner and occupant of two middle "eighties" in the south half of section 34, township29, range 3, west, and is one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of the community. He was born in Allegheny countym, Pennsylvania, in 1841, and is the oldest son of William and Margaret (Wilson) Kerr, who were both descendants of early settlers of that state; the former was of Scotch descent, while the latter was of Irish derivation. They had three children, there being besides TGheodore, a daughter, Emeline, who is deceased, and Albert, who resides in Greene county Iowa. By a former union with Mary J. Stewart, William Kerr had three children: Elizabeth, Alfred, and Mary Jane. By a third marriage, William Kerr had three more children: Edmond, who resides in Omaha, Nebraska; Martha M., of Wheeling West Virginia; and Newton,, who lives in Rock Island Illinois.
Theodore Kerr secured a good education in the public schools of his native town, and remained in Pennsylvania until 1865, when in March of that year he moved to Marshall county, Illinois, where he worked out as he had done in Pennsylvania the six previous years. He remained in that county until the spring of 1876, when he moved to Adair county, Iowa, and there he continued farming; in the following sring he drove through to Sedgwick county, Kansas, with this little family. A Mr. Andy Halsey had filed a claim on the two middle "eighties" of the south half of section 34, township 29, range 3 west, and our subject bought his interest therein for $22. As but very few if any improvements had been made, our subject at once set about to improve the farm, and his first efforts were devoted to moving a small frame house which he had purchased from a neighbor upon his property and to breaking a few acres of land. as he improved the soil he began to erect good substantial building upon his place and in 1885 built his present house, while in later years he added from time to time a number of outbuildings and a barn. With the exception of 45 acres which are in pasture, his entire farm is under cultivation, and each year yelds considerable grain.
The raising of cattle and hogs also occupies much of his attention and he is very partial to Poland-China swine. He has a fine orchard, bearing all kinds of fruit. The farm lies rather high for fruit trees to do their best, but nevertheless he raises fine fruit and at one time set out 1,000 trees in his orchard, which now produce excellent fruit.
While residing in Illinois, Mr Kerr was joined in marriage with Anna Nighswonger, a daughter of Abram and Jane Nighswonger, who were early settlers of Whitefield township, Marshall county, Illinois. Mrs. Nighswonger now resides in Sedgwick county, but Mr. Nighswonger died many years ago. Our subject and wife have ten children, who are named as follows.
1. Alfred W is married and lives with his grandmother; Jennie; Charles; Rhoda; William; Abram; Marion; John; and Laura, all the children excepting the eldes being at home. Politically, Mr. Kerr is a strong Democrat, while in religious views he is a Baptist, belonging to the Ninnescah Baptist Church.
The Kerrs are buried at Harrington Cemetary.
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/sedgwick/harrcem.txt
( I found in the census the 10th child is Grace Vida Kerr)
More About THEODORE KERR:
Burial: Harrington Cemetary - Sedgwick County Kansas
iii. WILLIAM P. NIGHSWONGER, b. June 02, 1856, Marshall County, Illinois; d. 1918, Sedgwick County, Kansas; m. ANNA CLOADINE PARKER; b. March 01, 1861, Des Moines County, Iowa; d. 1952, Sedgwick County, Kansas.
Notes for WILLIAM P. NIGHSWONGER:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kansas., Chapman Brothers 1888
William Nighswonger, senior member of the firm of Nighswonger & Robinson, dealers in agricultural implements at Viola, is also a prominent farmer of the township, where he has distinguished himself as a useful citizen since the spring of 1881. His homestead occupies the southeast quarter of section 23, the land being thoroughly cultivated and supplied with good buildings, and he also has an interest in anther quarter-section in company with his brother Solomon.
Our subject, a native of the Prairie State, was born in Marshall County, June 2, 1856. He received a practical education in the public schools, and during boyhood and youth made himself useful on the farm of his father. His parents, Abraham and Jane (Sellers) Nighswonger, were natives of Illinois, and settled in Marshall County, Ill. Thence, in 1881, they removed with their family to this county, the father purchasing a tract of land in Viola Township, where for a number of years he followed agriculture extensively. He died at his home in this township, 7/10/1885. Our subjec found his bride in this county, having been married, on the 14th of September, 1881, to Miss Anna, the daughter of Moses and Mary (schucks) Parker, of Clear Water. Mrs. Nighswonger, a native of Des Moines County, Iowa, was born March 1, 1861. Her parents were natives of Ireland and Iowa respectively, and are now living in Clear Water, Kan. Of her union with our subject there were four children: Perry P., born Sept. 16, 1882; Mary E., July 6, 1884, and Jay W., Nov. 9,, 1887. Jessie, who was born Sept. 23, 1885, died Aug. 24, 1887.
Our subject engaged in the agricultural implement trade early in the spring of 1887, and in the augumn following associated himself with Mr. Robinson as parter. This is the only establishment of the kind at Viola. Mr. Nighswonger has given much attention to improved farm machiner, and is the inventor of the roller cutter grain drill, a machine which will plant grain in stubbler ground or even prairie without plowing. He has not begun the manufacturer of this drill as yet, but there is a prospect that it will become a favorite labor-savor among the farmers of Southern Kansas. Mr. Nighswonger, in connection with James Grimsleyu, is also engaged considerably in the grain trade. His farm produces in abundance corn and wheat, to which it is admirably adapted, lying as it does on the bottom lands of the Ninnescah. He not infrequently gathers a corn crop averaging fifty bushels to the acre, and for the years 1883, 1884, 1885 and 1887, harvested over twenty-sever bushels of wheat per acre.
Our subject, whose time is mostly occupied with his farming interest, takes little part in politics, otherwise than to vote the straight Democratic ticket at the general elections. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. The former has been connected with it for fifteen years, and Mrs. Nighswonger for eleven years.
In the Sedgwik Kansas census they have a servant living with them. James Chelfont age 86 b: August 1865 in Missouri. Parents b: PA
Kansas Cemetery inscription shows middle initial P.
More About WILLIAM P. NIGHSWONGER:
Burial: Harrington Cemetery - Sedgwick County, Kansas
Notes for ANNA CLOADINE PARKER:
The Kansas cemetery inscription shows the middle initial as C.
More About ANNA CLOADINE PARKER:
Burial: Harrington Cemetery - Sedgwick County, Kansas
iv. SOLOMON NIGHSWONGER, b. April 15, 1854, Marshall County, Illinois; d. 1934, Sedwick County, Kansas; m. ADA REBECCA TANQUARY, February 26, 1878, Illinois; b. April 19, 1857, Marshall County, Illinois; d. 1927, Sedgwick County Kansas.
Notes for SOLOMON NIGHSWONGER:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Sedgwidck County, Kansas. Chicago: Chapman Brother 1888.
Solomon Nighswonger, Sedgwick County has many well-to-do and successful farmers who are the architects of their own fortunes and are connected largely with the official life of this section. Amoung these is the subject of this personal history, who is the present Trustee of Viola Township, on section 26, where he settled in the fall of 1876. He was born in Marshall County, Ill., April 15, 1854, and is the offspring of Abraham and Jane (sellers) Nighswonger.
The grandparents of our subject were natives of Virginia, who settled in Pike County, Ill., where his father was born. THe latter was reared to farm life, but in early manhood was emplyed for a time upon the various steamboats that plied upon the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, and was married inPike County. Some time after his mariage he removed to Marshall County, Ill., where our subject was born, and there made his home until 1881, when he came to Kansas and settled on section 23, in Viola Township, whree he owned a tract of 800 acres of land, which he had bought in 1876. This immense and valuable farm he improved and there made his home until his death, which occurred July 10,1885. The mother of our subject is living and resides upon the old homestead in this county. She was the parent of nine childrenl, of whom the following six still survive: Annie, wife of Theodore Kerr; Solomon, the subject of this sketch; William, Frank, Isaac, and Oscar.
Solomon Nighswonger was reared upon the paternal farm and there received the training that he has made answer so successfully in his agricultural pursuits through life. He received his education in the district schools of his native county, and on attaining his manhood in 1876, came to Kansas, and made a claim on his present place. In 1878 he returned to his native county in Illinois, where, on February 26, he was united in marriage with Miss Ada Tanquary, who was born in Marshall County, Ill., April 19, 1857, and is the daughter of Cornelius and Sarah (Huff) Tanquary, natives of Ohio. By this union our subject and his wife have been blessed with a family of four children, who bear the following names: Bertha Viola, Rollie Albert, Harry Maynard and Walter C.
Mr. Nighswonger has a fine property of 240 acres of land, and gives the greater proportion of his time to the rearing of stock, in which he is meeting with a merited and richly deserved success. He is numbered amoung the wealthy and prosperous farmers of the county, and occupies a high place in the consideration and respect of his fellow-citizens. In his political views he coincides, to some extent, with the National Greenback party, but is entirely independent of party lines, being one of those rugged natures that have minds of their own, and having such, dare maintain them. He is now serving the people of the township as Trustee for the third term, and is a conscientious and faithful officer. In his religion he is a Baptist, and a God-fearing and sincere Christian gentleman.
More About SOLOMON NIGHSWONGER:
Burial: Harrington Cemetery - Sedgwick County, Kansas
More About ADA REBECCA TANQUARY:
Burial: Harrington Cemetery - Sedgwick County, Kansas
v. FRANK NIGHSWONGER, m. EDITH A. WEYENETH, October 06, 1898, Wichita, Sedgwick county, Kansas.
Marriage Notes for FRANK NIGHSWONGER and EDITH WEYENETH:
Kansas website by Mr. Penninton.
vi. ISAAC NIGHSWONGER, b. January 14, 1864; d. December 10, 1945; m. BERTHA A. NELSON, November 28, 1894, Wichita, Sedgwick county, Kansas; b. December 29, 1873; d. June 06, 1934, Sedgwick County, Kansas.
More About ISAAC NIGHSWONGER:
Burial: Harrington Cemetery - Sedgwick County, Kansas
Census: 1900, #94
Notes for BERTHA A. NELSON:
Date born is from the Harrington cemetery inscriptions.
More About BERTHA A. NELSON:
Burial: Harrington Cemetery - Sedgwick County, Kansas
Marriage Notes for ISAAC NIGHSWONGER and BERTHA NELSON:
Kansas web site by Mr. Pennington.
vii. OSCAR NIGHSWONGER, m. MARY LIVINGSTON, October 10, 1889, Wichita, Sedgwick county, Kansas.
13. MASON4 NIGHSWONGER (REISEN3, JANE2 KERR, MATTHEW1) was born March 20, 1826 in Illinois. He married ELIZABETH CHECK. She was born 1827 in Tennessee.
Notes for MASON NIGHSWONGER:
1850 Pike County Illinois Census:
Mason is listed with wife Elizabeth and daughter Charity and Abram Buffington age 13.
Family # 261
Child of MASON NIGHSWONGER and ELIZABETH CHECK is:
i. CHARITY5 NIGHSWONGER, b. 1849.
14. LORENZO4 KERR (MARGARET3, HAMILTON2, MATTHEW1) was born 1835 in Ohio. He married EMMA. She was born Abt. 1841 in Ohio.
Notes for LORENZO KERR:
Information on Lorenzo and his family is from the 1870 Wyandot County, Crawford Township, Ohio census.
Children of LORENZO KERR and EMMA are:
i. ELLA5 KERR, b. 1862, Ohio.
ii. ANNA KERR, b. 1864.
iii. GRANT KERR, b. 1866, Ohio.
iv. MARY KERR, b. 1868, Ohio.
v. MARTHA KERR, b. May 1870, Ohio.
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