David Kerr told the U.S. Census taker in 1860 that he was 72 years old and born in Virginia, making him born in 1787 or 1788. For years, our family believed he was born in Scotland in 1783 based upon the notation "D. Kerr born in Scotland 1783" in the family Bible. Why that was written is unfortunately lost to time. Another researcher, John Franklin Kerr (David's great grandson) said that David was born in Kernstown, Virginia in 1787.

David served in the East Tennesse Militia under Capt Christopher Cook during the War of 1812, serving from September 1814; he was discharged on May 3, 1815.

David married Eleanore E. Dobson in Greene Co. TN in June 1814. She was born in Sept. 1796 (or ’97) in either Tennessee or Ireland. She died in the township of Spencer, Owen Co, Indiana in 1871. David died Sept. 30, 1863 in Taylor, Owen Co, Indiana.

In 1829, the family moved to Owen County Indiana. David applied for bounty land in Taylor, Owen County, IN on November 19, 1855. Eleanor Kerr, widow of David Kerr, appears on Bounty Land Warrants 3113-80-50 & 14832-80-55.

David and Eleanore had the following children:

Another source makes no mention of Sarah Kerr Smith and lists four more children; I have never been able to the existance of these four, much less that they were children of David and Eleanor:

In the 1860 Census; David, 72 and Eleanor, 62, are living with their daughter, Elizabeth Kerr Gyne's family, in Montgomery Township in Owen County. David gives his birth place as Virginia, Eleanor says she was born in Tennessee. By the 1870 Census, David is dead and Eleanor, 70, is living with her son, Robert Baker Kerr, and his family.

No idea whatever happened to Sally, James, Samuel, Isabel.

Jonathan W. Kerr, reportedly died very young. No idea whatever happen to Mary. Sarah, later went by the name of Gennie or Jennie. Pauline E. went by Etta while Emmie and Emma are one in the same.

Elizabeth (Betsy/Betsey/Betty) Kerr (daughter of David) was born in Knoxville, TN in 1816. She married Cornelius T. Guinn on 9-26-1833 in Owen County and lived in or near Cuba, Indiana. Some references have the name as Gyne or Guyn, but marriage records at the Indiana State Library say 'Guinn' while the 1860 census has Gyne. According to that census, Cornelius was 50 and a farmer; Elizabeth, 44 and their children Francis M[arion], 16; Catherine [Kate], 14; Moses, 11; Henry, 5; and George W., 3.

Sarah Kerr (daughter of David), was born in Tennessee about 1820. According to Indiana Marriages, 1845-1920 at Ancestry.com, Sarah married Henry Smith on 8-4-1853 in Owen County, Indiana. They certainly had three children; Louisa, Mary, George and perhaps, a fourth, Levi.

1880 Census has Sarah Smith, 61 a widow with two children still at home; Mary, 19 and George, 14.

John McCord Kerr (son of David) was born in 1837 in Carp, Owen Co.,Indiana. Married Julia H. Powell on Nov. 24, 1878 and died in Spencer, Owen Co., Indiana on Apr. 7, 1914. They had six children: Temple, Elmer, Rolla, Orville (Orval), Bessie, and Nettie.

George Scott Kerr (son of Robert Baker Kerr) was born in Owen County, Indiana on October 14, 1852. He married Effie A. Vawter in Indianapolis, IN, Sept. 5th 1893. Effie was born in North Madison, IN on Aug. 10, 1872. She was the daughter of James S. Vawter and Phoebe Alameida Rawlings.

George worked at many jobs: waiter, carpenter, eye-glass salesman, land sales, sold tea for the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, did grading for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and was chased by wolves in Montana. He built the family home at 211 W. 11th in Indianapolis. He died February 18, 1937 in Los Angeles (at 84) and was buried in Inglewood, California. Effie died February 26, 1921 in Billings, Montana (at 48).

George and Effie Kerr had three children: Reese Vawter Kerr was born Aug. 5th 1899. Arleigh Robert Kerr, born Feb. 16th 1897. Stanley Ingomar Lycurgas Kerr, born Jan. 10th 1895.

William F. Kerr, born about 1855, may have died Dec 16 1906 (or 1910) or Dec. 7, 1916 (or 1917). He was a photographer. In 1887, he lived and worked in Indianapolis. In the 1890's he ran a photography studio in Tipton, Greencastle, and Spencer. He may have been initially married to an Ida C. Ripley, but very definitely was later married Mary Alice Bradley. William had at least three children: Alva, Leona, and Regina.

Emma (Emmie) Kerr (daughter of Robert Baker Kerr), born 11-22-1865 in Owen County, Indiana; died 4-5-1949 in Seattle, Washington. Married Preston Shelton on 11-22-1893. Preston was the son of Wyley Shelton and Malissa Surber. 1920 Census list Emma as 48, a widow and living with her niece, Stella Baily (presumably the daughter of Benjamin Baily and Etta Kerr), 23. 1930 Census has Emma, 67, living alone and working as an elevator operator. Death Certificate and obituary makes no mention of any children, only of nieces and nephews living in California.

Etta (Pauline E) Kerr (daughter of Robert Baker Kerr), born 6-29-1862, died 4-28-1904. On 10-14-1879, she married Benjamin Balay (also Baily or Bailey). He was born in 1854. They probably had a daughter, Stella, who lived with her Aunt Emma in Seattle in 1920.

Sarah (Jennie) Kerr (daughter of Robert Baker Kerr), born 1856, married Enus Lucas. 1880 Census for Lafayett township in Owen Co., Indiana lists Enus, 38 a farmer; wife Jennie, 24; and two sons Elmer E, 5 and Charles R., 2.

1920 Census in Pike County, Indiana list Enos, 79 and wife Jennie, 62, living next door to their son Charles Lucas, 41; his wife Dolly, 39 and three children Russell, 16; Roy, 14 and Bonner(or Benson?), 11.

1930 Census for Washington Township, Pike Co., Indiana lists Elmer Lucas, 55, a teacher; wife Lula, 46; and children Olive, 20; Laura(?) 15, and Edward, 7. Next door lived Earl Ward, 23 and his wife Mabel, 21. Nearby are Charles Lucas, 51; wife Dolly, 48; and children Roy, 24 and Benson(?), 21.

On 8-26-1937, Mabel Ward wrote to George Scott Kerr: "Dear Great Uncle George, I am writing you for my father - Elmer. Your sister Gennie is serious ill and not expected to live long. If you want to see her alive come soon. Love, Mabel (Lucas) Ward"

Earl Ward, born 1-7-1907; died June 1979 in Petersburg, Indiana. Mabel Ward, born 9-13-1908; died Feb, 1987 in Petersburg.

Mary Kerr (daughter of Robert Baker Kerr), born 12-19-1850. Married Adam Colenbaugh on 11-7-1867. Adam was born 12-24-1837 in Coshocton, Ohio. A Civil War veteran, he served in the Indiana 53rd Regiment. Mary and Adam lived outside Worthington, Indiana on his farm. They had had two sons, Amos, born 8-23-1868 and James, 1-21-1870 - 9-19-1944. Mary died on 3-30-1875. (Information and picture courtesy of Bob and Carole Colenbaugh)

Charles Lewis Kerr (son of Robert Baker Kerr) was born in Owen County, Indiana on August 9, 1869 (1867?). He died June 12, 1935 in Bev Stone, Arkansas (at 65). He married Mettie Munday in Rockport, Parke County, Indiana on October 26, 1892. Mettie was born in 1870. Charles and Mettie had 7 children:

Mettie died in Dallas Texas on June 13, 1932. Charles then moved to Wolf’s Bayou, Arkansas and married Mrs. Myrtle M. Elms on June 19, 1933 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Charles and Myrtle had a boy.

Rolla Kerr (son of John McCord Kerr) born 1889, died in 1958. Married Goldie Lewis, born on Apr. 1, 1897 to William T. Lewis and Sarah Baker Lewis. Children:

Orville (Orval) Kerr (son of John McCord Kerr) was born on Dec. 21, 1901 in Morgan Co., died 10-7-1951. Married Nancy Hunt Kerr. Their children:

Lou/Louisa Smith (daughter of Sarah Kerr Smith) was born in July 1854, and married Francis M. Parton, born December 1834. 1900 Census shows them living at 103 Greencastle in Wayne township, Owen County with their daughter ?otie, born April 1885.

Mary E. Smith (daughter of Sarah Kerr Smith) was born in August 1860 and married George W. Coble on 8-24-1884 in Owen County. They had a daughter named May M. Smith who was born on July 22, 1885. May married a Louis Ray Phillips on May 2, 1905.

George Smith (son of Sarah Kerr Smith) born in 1863, married Cora J. [probably Dunn on 3-8-1892 in Hancock County], born about 1865. They had two sons Harold H. Smith, born 1900 and William, born 1908. 1930 Census shows George, Cora, William, and grandson Niles living next door to son Harold and his family; wife Eva, 21, daughter Velma, 3, Harold H. Jr., 2, and another son Delmar(?), only 5 months old.

Stanley Ingomar Lycurgus Kerr (son of George Scott Kerr) born Jan. 10, 1895, died 1995 near Clovis, CA. He married Hilder Erickson on June 6, 1922. They lived in Taft, CA for many years, had a jewelry store and was mayor. Retired and moved to Arroyo Grande, CA. Stanley and Hilder had two children:

Arleigh Robert Kerr (son of George Scott Kerr), born Feb. 16, 1897 in Indianapolis, IN. Moved to Montana when he was 7. At 10, while helping his father work for the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Dad drove a 16 horse team pulling earth moving equipment. Served in the Coast Artillery Corps at Fort Stevens, Oregon during World War I. In 1927, he opened his own jewelry store in Compton, California. First married to Ethel (Bobbie) Demmon on Sept. 21, 1926. Ethel died on March 8, 1940 in Compton, CA. In 1946, Arleigh married Karen Ingre [deleted], Karen was born in 1913 in Audubon, Iowa. Karen was the daughter of Jens Peter Kristian Jensen [deleted] and Anna Madsen [deleted]. Arleigh and Karen Kerr had one child:

Reese Vawter Kerr (son of George Scott Kerr), born in Indianola, IN on Aug. 5, 1899, died in Long Beach, CA on Jan. 22, 1956. He married Hazel Mildred Fulton in Billings, MT on Mar. 14, 1925. Hazel was born in Hawley, MN on July 30, 1900, the daughter of James Nelson Fulton and Cora Grace Credit. Hazel died August 26, 1990 in La Mirada, CA. Reese and Hazel had one child:

Laura Lee Kerr (daughter of Charles Lewis Kerr), born in Coxville, Indiana on Feb. 22, 1895 and died February 28, 1947 in Terre Haute, IN. She married Glenn Thomas Hillbrant in Terra Haute, IN, Jan. 1918. They had one child:

Regina Kerr (daughter of William F. Kerr) was born in 1907. The 1920 Census has Regina, 23 and her mother, Mary Alice, 59, a widow, living in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana. The Vigo County marriage website has a marriage license for Regina Lorraine Kerr and Virgil Lee Wells dated June 26, 1920. Regina was born 1-25-1897 in Tipton Co., Indiana and is a stenographer. Father: William Franklin Kerr, born in Greene Co., Indiana, Deceased, Photographer. Mother: Mary Alice Bradley, born in Marion County, Ind., also a photographer. Virgil was born 11-15-1894 in Parke Co. Ind., a Sculptur/Bookkeeper. Virgil's father David J. Wells, born in Clark Co., Ill, a farmer. Mother: Elma May Newlin (?), born in Parke Co.; both David and Elma live in Yakima, Washington. Subsequent to their marriage, Regina and Virgil disappear.

Alva Kerr (son of William F. Kerr). 1880 Census has William F. Kerr, wife Ida C. Kerr and son Alva E. Kerr, born 1879/80 living in Cloverdale, Putnam County, Indiana. Ida must have died soon thereafter, because on 9-17-1882, William married Mary A. Bradley in Marion County.

Don't know what exactly happened to Alva Kerr. 1920 Census lists two Alva Kerrs, only one born in Indiana. That Alva Kerr says he was 44 (and so born in 1876, not 1879/80), married to Olive, 38; with three children, Russel, 16; Heber, 13; and Gladys, 10 all living in Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois.

Leona Kerr (daughter of William F. Kerr), born Mayi 1884 in Indiana. Married Fred E. Haynes on 6-25-1900 in Marion County, Indiana. Fred was born about 1876, son of Thomas and Julian Haynes. Fred was a telephone company line and died sometime before 1910. 1910 Census shows Leona, a widow with one child (which is not living with her) living with her mother Mary Alice Kerr and sister Regina in Terre Haute.