William Evans Kerr
Excerpted from Grand Rapids, Ohio, A Souvenir of the Past and Present. July 1897
W.E. Kerr was born on the farm in Monclova township, Lucas county, Ohio, March 2, 1853; son of Jesse and Eliza (Evans) Kerr. He was educated in the graded schools of Maumee City, which are among the best in the country. While yet a lad he learned telegraphy and at the age of seventeen entered the employ of the Western Union Telegraph Co., where he remained about three years. About the year 1873 he entered the employment of Kerr & Bortle, who succeeded Laskey & Bro. in the general store and grain trade in 1866. In 1875, Mr. B. F. Kerr, brother of our subject, purchased the interest of Mr. Bortle, and Mr. W. E. Kerr continued as book-keeper and salesman, in which connection he remained for a period of ten years. He next engaged with the leading dry goods jobbers of Toledo as a traveling salesman. During this engagement he had erected the west half of the business block which he now occupies.
Mr. Kerr engaged in the general store business in the Rapids about six years ago. With an active experience of some eighteen years in all the minutia of the trade, both wholesale and retail, and occupying premises specially built to his order, the business has been successful from the day of opening until the present time. About three years ago his business had increased to such an extent that it became necessary to double the capacity of his store room, and the result is the large double store rooms which he now occupies, and which for convenience, light and capacity are among the best in the country.
W. E. Kerr is a natural merchant; always courteous and attentive, stock always full and fresh, and displayed in the best manner; constantly examining the markets for anything new and desirable, and maintaining an ample credit east and west, his business moves with the precision of clockwork. Courtesy and square dealing, a full stock, and high grade goods at low prices are the secrets of his success.
September 18th, 1878, Mr. Kerr was united in marriage with Miss Nelly J., the handsome and accomplished daughter of B.F. and Josephine (Perrin) Pratt. Mr. B.F., better known as "Foster" Pratt is a member of the great Pratt family referred to in the early history of the village, and which from the opening of the settlements to the present date has been considered one of the leading families of the Maumee Valley. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr have one child, Jesse Foster, a bright, handsome boy of six. They have a very pleasant home, and are among the most highly respected citizens of the village. Mr. Kerr is one of the most prominent and active members of the M.E. church society, of which church he has been a member since childhood. He is a great lover of children, and is never too busy to devote lots of time to the instruction and amusement of the little ones; and it is safe to say that no citizen of the Rapids is more highly regarded by the youth of the village.
He is the present superintendent of the Sabbath School, and has been repeatedly elected to that office. He is a prominent Odd Follow, being an active member of Lodge, Camp and Canton; and to him, more than any other member, the local bodies are indebted for their fine, well furnished lodge room and general condition of prosperity. And right here we desire to call attention to a fact which is too often overlooked by the people of a community, and that is that the merchant who invests his profits at home is substantially building up and beautifying the town, is at the same time enhancing the value of every dollar's worth of real property in the town or contiguous thereto. Mr. Kerr has been in business in the Rapids about six years and his profits have been placed upon the tax duplicate of the county in the shape of real estate improvements.
Excerpted from Grand Rapids, Ohio, A Souvenir of the Past and Present. July 1897
W.E. Kerr was born on the farm in Monclova township, Lucas county, Ohio, March 2, 1853; son of Jesse and Eliza (Evans) Kerr. He was educated in the graded schools of Maumee City, which are among the best in the country. While yet a lad he learned telegraphy and at the age of seventeen entered the employ of the Western Union Telegraph Co., where he remained about three years. About the year 1873 he entered the employment of Kerr & Bortle, who succeeded Laskey & Bro. in the general store and grain trade in 1866. In 1875, Mr. B. F. Kerr, brother of our subject, purchased the interest of Mr. Bortle, and Mr. W. E. Kerr continued as book-keeper and salesman, in which connection he remained for a period of ten years. He next engaged with the leading dry goods jobbers of Toledo as a traveling salesman. During this engagement he had erected the west half of the business block which he now occupies.
Mr. Kerr engaged in the general store business in the Rapids about six years ago. With an active experience of some eighteen years in all the minutia of the trade, both wholesale and retail, and occupying premises specially built to his order, the business has been successful from the day of opening until the present time. About three years ago his business had increased to such an extent that it became necessary to double the capacity of his store room, and the result is the large double store rooms which he now occupies, and which for convenience, light and capacity are among the best in the country.
W. E. Kerr is a natural merchant; always courteous and attentive, stock always full and fresh, and displayed in the best manner; constantly examining the markets for anything new and desirable, and maintaining an ample credit east and west, his business moves with the precision of clockwork. Courtesy and square dealing, a full stock, and high grade goods at low prices are the secrets of his success.
September 18th, 1878, Mr. Kerr was united in marriage with Miss Nelly J., the handsome and accomplished daughter of B.F. and Josephine (Perrin) Pratt. Mr. B.F., better known as "Foster" Pratt is a member of the great Pratt family referred to in the early history of the village, and which from the opening of the settlements to the present date has been considered one of the leading families of the Maumee Valley. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr have one child, Jesse Foster, a bright, handsome boy of six. They have a very pleasant home, and are among the most highly respected citizens of the village. Mr. Kerr is one of the most prominent and active members of the M.E. church society, of which church he has been a member since childhood. He is a great lover of children, and is never too busy to devote lots of time to the instruction and amusement of the little ones; and it is safe to say that no citizen of the Rapids is more highly regarded by the youth of the village.
He is the present superintendent of the Sabbath School, and has been repeatedly elected to that office. He is a prominent Odd Follow, being an active member of Lodge, Camp and Canton; and to him, more than any other member, the local bodies are indebted for their fine, well furnished lodge room and general condition of prosperity. And right here we desire to call attention to a fact which is too often overlooked by the people of a community, and that is that the merchant who invests his profits at home is substantially building up and beautifying the town, is at the same time enhancing the value of every dollar's worth of real property in the town or contiguous thereto. Mr. Kerr has been in business in the Rapids about six years and his profits have been placed upon the tax duplicate of the county in the shape of real estate improvements.