Eli Kerns descendants Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania
Eli Kerns (1789-1848), son of William Kerns, married Hannah Vernon in 1818.One of their children was Maris Vernon Kerns (1827-1884).Maris is said to have built water powered grist mills in eleven states, including five in Gloucester County, Virginia where he was living in 1860 and is a “Clerk at a Mill.”Maris Vernon Kerns is 32 years old that year and his wife, the former Emma Jane Lefevre is 30.Their second child was Hiram Oscar Kerns who was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on December 14, 1852.Although Maris was living in Gloucester County, Virginia when Oscar was born, Emma Jane was staying with her parents in Pennsylvania.
H. Oscar Kerns became a miller, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.He came to Halifax County to install equipment in the water powered grist mill owned by Maj. William Sutherlin of Danville, Virginia.The Sutherlin house served for a week as the residence of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and the last full cabinet meeting was held there in April of 1865.Sutherlin built this very large mill on Barker’s Creek about 15 miles east of Danville on the Richmond and Danville Railroad in the 1870 and sold it to Oscar Kerns in the 1880s.Oscar expanded the iron works, saw mill and casket making operations around the mill.
By 1900, when the census taker came around the Birch Creek section of Halifax County, he found listed the family with their birth dates.Oscar was born in Dec 1852 and his wife Julia Florence in June 1856.Children are (1) Gertrude (b Sept 1877) (2) Florence (b Aug 1879 (3) Ruby (b Nov 1881) (4) Maris (b Aug 1884) (5) Stella (b Aug 1887) (6) Burton (b Oct 1889) (7) Trevillian (b Aug 1891) (8) Oscar Jr. (b May 1893) (9) Stanley (b Feb 1898) (10)(John Blair Kerns was born later in Dec 1902).
In 1889, John W. Ferrell, who had operated a grocery store on Colquhoun Street and then Main Street, began operating a large furniture and undertaking store.The store fronts included 533, 535 and 539 Main Street at one of the best locations in Danville.William Henry Covey was a cabinet maker and undertaker who operated at this location during the 1880s before Ferrell moved in.
Oscar Kerns bought a half interest in the Ferrell furniture and undertaking establishment as an investment and outlet for his caskets from his factory.In 1889, Frederick W. Townes began working for the Kerns and Ferrell undertaking firm and eventually bought the funeral business.Oscar Kerns son John Blair Kerns married F. W. Townes daughter Irvin in 1920.The business was operated by three generations of Townes.J. Blair Kerns was Chairman of the Board for many years before his death in 1980.F. W. Townes and Son Funeral Home is still operating.
H. Oscar Kerns was instrumental in founding the American Nation Bank in Danville in 1909, but he continued to live in Sutherlin near the Pittsylvania and Halifax County line.When his house burned in 1917, he turned the operation of the mill over to his son Oscar Jr. and moved to Danville on West Main Street.In 1930, his daughter Stella and husband Clyde L. Bailey, along with children Florence A. Bailey 14, Stella H. Bailey 11 and Clyde L. Bailey Jr. 4, are living in his home.Also living there are a grandson Trevillian A. Kerns, Brother-in-law Clarence A. Trevillian, and a servant C. Hoffman.Hiram Oscar Kerns Sr. died on June 27, 1931.
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Re: Eli Kerns descendants Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania
Shirley Murch 8/17/06