John William Kerr was born in Limerick, Ireland on 29 Jan 1882 to Joseph Kerr and Rebecca Smith (Smyth). He was baptized in Trinity Church in Limerick. He was third of their 7 children. Joseph died in 1899 and the family decided to emigrate to the United States. About 1893, John's eldest sister, Margaret Matilda, emigrated to New York to become a nanny. On 22 Jun 1895 she married William Stevenson (also from Ireland) and settled in Englewood, New Jersey. The family, in Ireland, followed her to New Jersey. My grandfather, John William, arrived in New York 12 Jul 1902. He took English classes and married his English teacher, Mary Gushert Russell, on 4 Mar 1916. John William had a very interesting life. He became one of the first salesmen for Firestone Tire and Rubber. He learned Spanish and became a representative of FT&R in Buenos Aires, Argentina. For heath reasons, he became the first FT&R representative for the Western territory stationed in Phoenix, Arizona.
Update: Johns grandfather was John William Kerr 1828 - 1900. He married Matilda Moore 1828 - 1886. The elder John William was a policeman in Limerick.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 29th Jan 1882 | |
| Date of Death | 11th Jan 1951 | |
