Benjamin F. Kerr
Excerpted from Grand Rapids, Ohio, A Souvenir of the Past and Present. July 1897
For more than thirty years, a period covering more than three-fourths of the corporate existence of the village, Benjamin F. Kerr has been the leading merchant of Grand Rapids. Compared with many of the cities, towns and villages of this wonderful country, the growth of grand rapids has been so slow as to excite the gibes and sneers of a few mushroom, and other municipalities of the genus fungi order; but, let it be remembered that only sixty-four years ago the only established merchant in Grand rapids, yea, verily, the only one in a howling wilderness of more than 250 square miles in extent, was Nicholas Gee, who in 1833 placed a wagon load of goods in a little log cabin near what is now the south-west corner of Front and Beaver streets. Now, leaving out partnerships, Hinsdale succeeded Gee, Laskey succeeded Hinsdale, and B. F. Kerr succeeded Laskey; thus Mr. Kerr is the legitimate successor to the first real business enterprise of the village, and has conducted the same for a period nearly equal to that of his combined predecessors.
Benjamin F. Kerr was born in Richland county, Ohio, February 7, 1843, son of Jesse and Eliza (Evans) Kerr, who were, respectively of Scotch and Welsh origin, and natives of Pennsylvania.
In 1848, Jesse Kerr removed with his family from Richland to Lucas county, where he purchased and improved a considerable estate. He died July 2nd, 1862, thirty years prior to the death of his wife, which occurred in 1892.
Our subject was educated in the graded schools of Maumee City, and at the age of eighteen enlisted in Company I of the 14th O.V.I, a regiment of which every citizen of Ohio has reason to be proud. August 22, 1862, Mr. Kerr was discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability. In February 1864, he returned to the army, accepting a clerkship with Capt. S. H. Lunt, a disbursing quarter-master; in which position he remained until November 20th, 1865, serving in the Atlanta campaign. After the surrender at Appomattox he assisted in the removal of the dead from the battle fields of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge to the National Cemetery at Chattanooga, this work being in charge of the quarter master's department.
At the close of the war Mr. Kerr purchased an interest in a general store business at Chattanooga, which interest he retained until April 1866, when he sold out and returned home.
In September 1866, he associated with Lewis Bortle, purchased the general merchandise and grain business of Laskey & Bro. In February, '75 he purchased Mr. Bortle's interest, and for more than twenty-two years past has been the sole proprietor and manager of one of the largest business enterprises of this part of the country. In the grain trade he owns and operates two large elevators, one in the Rapids and the other in Elery, Henry county. In the general merchandise business he carries a heavy stock of staple and fancy dry goods and notions, hats, caps, boots, shoes and clothing, and a full line of family groceries. The house is especially noted for fine foot-wear and clothing; Mr. Kerr having sole control in this section of the output of several leading manufacturers in each of these lines.
Always clearheaded and conservative himself, B.F. Kerr has always conducted his business on the principle that the great majority of the people are not fools; that they know that goods cannot be handled successfully without a fair margin of profit; that the best class of custom is seldom gulled by the "Annual Clearance," "50% off" and "Below Cost" sales; that people of ordinary common sense soon tire of trading at a place where they can save half a cent on a pound of sugar, and afterwards find that they've paid a dollar extra on a suit of clothes; that each family will appreciate the fact that a child or a servant may be sent to his store and will receive the same full value as the most expert shopper.
Oct. 24, 1867, Mr. Kerr married Miss Ann S. Pratt, the youngest daughter of Jonas and Susan (Reed-Griffith) Pratt, who were of the pioneers, and of whom detail will be found in that connection. The family at this date consists of five children; Carrie, who married J.K. Williams, of Delphos, Clifton C., who married Miss Zella Kershner, of Fostoria, Jessa May, Frank E. and Glen B., yet at home.
Excerpted from Grand Rapids, Ohio, A Souvenir of the Past and Present. July 1897
For more than thirty years, a period covering more than three-fourths of the corporate existence of the village, Benjamin F. Kerr has been the leading merchant of Grand Rapids. Compared with many of the cities, towns and villages of this wonderful country, the growth of grand rapids has been so slow as to excite the gibes and sneers of a few mushroom, and other municipalities of the genus fungi order; but, let it be remembered that only sixty-four years ago the only established merchant in Grand rapids, yea, verily, the only one in a howling wilderness of more than 250 square miles in extent, was Nicholas Gee, who in 1833 placed a wagon load of goods in a little log cabin near what is now the south-west corner of Front and Beaver streets. Now, leaving out partnerships, Hinsdale succeeded Gee, Laskey succeeded Hinsdale, and B. F. Kerr succeeded Laskey; thus Mr. Kerr is the legitimate successor to the first real business enterprise of the village, and has conducted the same for a period nearly equal to that of his combined predecessors.
Benjamin F. Kerr was born in Richland county, Ohio, February 7, 1843, son of Jesse and Eliza (Evans) Kerr, who were, respectively of Scotch and Welsh origin, and natives of Pennsylvania.
In 1848, Jesse Kerr removed with his family from Richland to Lucas county, where he purchased and improved a considerable estate. He died July 2nd, 1862, thirty years prior to the death of his wife, which occurred in 1892.
Our subject was educated in the graded schools of Maumee City, and at the age of eighteen enlisted in Company I of the 14th O.V.I, a regiment of which every citizen of Ohio has reason to be proud. August 22, 1862, Mr. Kerr was discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability. In February 1864, he returned to the army, accepting a clerkship with Capt. S. H. Lunt, a disbursing quarter-master; in which position he remained until November 20th, 1865, serving in the Atlanta campaign. After the surrender at Appomattox he assisted in the removal of the dead from the battle fields of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge to the National Cemetery at Chattanooga, this work being in charge of the quarter master's department.
At the close of the war Mr. Kerr purchased an interest in a general store business at Chattanooga, which interest he retained until April 1866, when he sold out and returned home.
In September 1866, he associated with Lewis Bortle, purchased the general merchandise and grain business of Laskey & Bro. In February, '75 he purchased Mr. Bortle's interest, and for more than twenty-two years past has been the sole proprietor and manager of one of the largest business enterprises of this part of the country. In the grain trade he owns and operates two large elevators, one in the Rapids and the other in Elery, Henry county. In the general merchandise business he carries a heavy stock of staple and fancy dry goods and notions, hats, caps, boots, shoes and clothing, and a full line of family groceries. The house is especially noted for fine foot-wear and clothing; Mr. Kerr having sole control in this section of the output of several leading manufacturers in each of these lines.
Always clearheaded and conservative himself, B.F. Kerr has always conducted his business on the principle that the great majority of the people are not fools; that they know that goods cannot be handled successfully without a fair margin of profit; that the best class of custom is seldom gulled by the "Annual Clearance," "50% off" and "Below Cost" sales; that people of ordinary common sense soon tire of trading at a place where they can save half a cent on a pound of sugar, and afterwards find that they've paid a dollar extra on a suit of clothes; that each family will appreciate the fact that a child or a servant may be sent to his store and will receive the same full value as the most expert shopper.
Oct. 24, 1867, Mr. Kerr married Miss Ann S. Pratt, the youngest daughter of Jonas and Susan (Reed-Griffith) Pratt, who were of the pioneers, and of whom detail will be found in that connection. The family at this date consists of five children; Carrie, who married J.K. Williams, of Delphos, Clifton C., who married Miss Zella Kershner, of Fostoria, Jessa May, Frank E. and Glen B., yet at home.