Category: Portraits of Pioneers

Portraits of Pioneers: William Kerr (1843 – 1924)

Portraits of Pioneers: William Kerr (1843 – 1924)

Reading Time: 2 minutes

William Kerr

7 Oct 1843 — 27 Apr 1924 (aged 80)


Bio

The following is an excerpt from a book published by Chapman Brothers, 1884.

William [Wrex] Kerr, farmer, section 7, Flynn Township, was born Oct. 7, 1843, in “Old Cambridge,” Mass. His parents, Joseph and Ann (Campbell) Kerr, were born respectively in Ireland and Scotland. The father was a farmer, and when the son was but a few months old the family removed to Huron co., Ont, where the senior Kerr was again engaged in that pursuit until his death, Dec. 7, 1883, at the age of 80 years. The mother is 68 years of age and is a resident of Ontario.

Mr. Kerr was reared to the vocation of a farmer and obtained a good education in the district schools. He remained with his parents until he was 24 years of age when he was married to Tabitha E. Ervin. She was born June 21, 1851, in Oxford Co., Can., and remained with her parents until her marriage. Her father and mother, Alfred and Anna E. (Carroll) Ervin, were born in Ontario and Germany, descended from German and Irish parentage. The father died about 1873 in Marlette, Mich., when he was 47 years of age. The mother resides in Marlette and is 53 years of age. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kerr, in the following order: Mary J., James D., Alfred A., Anna E., Joseph, William G. and Ogle V. C.. At the expiration of the first year of their marriage the parents removed to the village of Marlette, then in its incipiency, where they resided 12 years, the father being engaged in farming. In 1880 he exchanged his property for 160 acres of land, on which some improvements have been made, on sections 7, 12 and 18, in Flynn Township, of which he at once took possession and entered vigorously into the work of putting the property in first-class condition. He now has 60 acres under the plow. Mr. Kerr is a Republican in political connection and has held the minor offices in his township. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.

 

Portrait and Biographical Album of Sanilac County; Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Citizens of the County. Chicago, Chapman Brothers, 1884.


William Kerr on FindAGrave

Portraits of Pioneers: John Beckton (1851 – ?)

Portraits of Pioneers: John Beckton (1851 – ?)

Reading Time: < 1 minute

John Beckton

28 Feb 1851—?


Bio

The following is an excerpt from a book published by Chapman Brothers, 1884.

John Beckton, farmer, located on section 26, Flynn Township, was born Feb. 28, 1851, in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. When he was 18 years old his parents emigrated to America and became residents of Middlesex Co., Ont., where they have since resided.

The first event in the life of Mr. Beckton, out of the common routine of his youth and early manhood, was his marriage to Anna E. Lodge [(or possibly “Large”)], which occurred May 9, 1878, in Middlesex co., Ont. She was born Jan. 17, 1859, in England. She was 16 when her parents removed from their native land to America, and she remained with them in Ontario until her marriage. Mary E. and George H. are the names of the children which have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Beckton. The year following their union in wedlock, they came to Michigan and located on a tract of 80 acres of land which Mr. Beckton had purchased the previous year. He has placed 25 acres in fine tillable condition. In political sentiment, he is in sympathy with the Republican party but is not yet a citizen of his adopted country. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Sanilac County; Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Citizens of the County. Chicago, Chapman Brothers, 1884.


Portraits of Pioneers: Peter Banks (1846 – 1893)

Portraits of Pioneers: Peter Banks (1846 – 1893)

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

Peter Banks

29 Jun 1846 —  1893 (aged 46–47)


Bio

The following is an excerpt from a book published by Chapman Brothers, 1884.

Peter Banks, farmer, section 26, Flynn Township, was born June 29, 1846, in Caithness Shire, in the north of Scotland, and is the son of James and Georgiana (Sinclair) Banks, both natives of Scotland. He grew to manhood among the Scottish “braes and tarns” and remained in his native land two years after he obtained majority. He then emigrated to America, and for a time was a resident of Middlesex Co., Can., coming thence to Lapeer Co., Mich., where he remained but a brief period. He went next to Toronto, Ont., where he was married July 14, 1873, to Annie Nicholson, a native of Scotland and daughter of William and Isabella (Nichols) Nicholson. She was 22 years of age when she came with her two sisters to Canada, where she was married soon after. Mr. and Mrs. Banks have seven children, born in the order named: Georgiana, June 28, 1874; James A., July 9, 1875; Margaret E., Sept. 16, 1876; Minnie C., May 24, 1878; Jessie, Sept. 16, 1879; Annie, June 1, 1881; William John, Oct. 28, 1882.

Soon after marriage, Mr. Banks rented a farm in the township of Eckfrid, Middlesex Co., Ont., where he operated until his removal to Michigan, in October, 1879, when he located on 80 acres of land in Flynn Township, of which he became the proprietor by purchase. This has since been the home of the family and there is now 35 acres of the place under creditable cultivation. In political belief Mr. Banks favors the views of the Republican element. In religious sentiment he and his wife are Presbyterians.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Sanilac County; Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Citizens of the County. Chicago, Chapman Brothers, 1884.


Peter Banks on FindAGrave