- JOHN KERNS, farmer; P. O., Rushsylvania.
Michael Kerns was a native of Germany, who, with his family, emigrated to Bedford Co., Va., in 1755;
George Kerns, son of Michael Kerns, was born in Bedford Co., and had seventeen brothers, several of whom settled in Botetourt Co., Va., others in Kentucky, and the remainder came to Ohio.
Jacob Kerns, son of George Kerns, came to Ohio, Nov. 20, 1835; he was married the same day to Margaret Wood, a descendant of two distinguished Virginia families, the Woods and the Dooleys. Thomas Woods was at Dudley's defeat, and was taken prisoner with many others; he was the only prisoner escaping massacre, and that because of his resemblance to an Indian. Jacob Kerns settled permanently in the north past of Rush Creek Tp., on the water-shed, where the waters of the Miami, Taylor's Creek, and Painter's Creek flow in different directions from or near the same point.
Jacob's children were-George, born 1810; Phebe Lydia, Mary Ann, Sophia Jane, Nathan D., Emily, John, Margaret and Martha Mildred.
John Kerns, whose ancestors we have just traced, was born July 29, 1826. in Bedford Co., Va.; on Sept. 18, 1850, he married Mary Johnson, daughter of William and Eleanor Johnson, and who was born April 12, 1830, in Belmont Co., Ohio.
John's children are-Sarah Ann, born Sept. 8, 1851, in Logan Co., Rush Creek. Tp.; Franklin Pierce, Jan, 7, 1853, and was killed by the cars Nov. 11, 1869. This sad event occurred in this manner: In company with his sister, Sarah Ann, he came to Rushsylvania in a two-horse spring wagon, and at Runner's Crossing on the Bee Line Railroad on their return the team became unmanageable, and they were run into by the locomotive, and Franklin P. and one horse were instantly killed, the wagon was totally demolished, and his sister, though seriously injured, miraculously escaped instant death; Mary Ellen, born Dec. 26, 1854; Margaret Alice, Dec. 29, 1858; John Wylie, June 6, 1866.
By occupation John Kerns has been a farmer, stock-raiser and stock shipper, the latter business, especially, he has followed for twenty-two years. He has held the office of Justice for two term, and in his church relations holds the office of Elder. He enters intelligently into the investigation of general topics for public prosperity and good. In the spring of 1870 he removed from his farm to Rushsylvania, and the spring following was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace. He joined the Masonic fraternity in 1856, at Kenton, Ohio, and in 1862 was a charter member of the Lodge at Belle Centre, and Master of that Lodge for six years. He joined the I. O. O. F., at Rushsylvania in 1872, and has been a member ever since.
History of Logan County and Ohio, Baskins, 1880
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1854 - 1920 (65 years)
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