San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1536-1537
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 2/24/2010
JAMES GARFIELD KERR
The enterprising proprietor of the harness shop in Lockeford, James Garfield Kerr, is a man whose force of character and determination have overcome many obstacles in reaping the success in life that is deservedly his. He was born in Lockeford, Cal., on July 30, 1880, a son of John Crawford and Eliza Ann (Stacy) Kerr. The father, John Crawford Kerr, came to California via Panama in 1851, and his first stay in Lockeford covered the short period of about six months; he then made a trip into Idaho, but returned to Lockeford in 1852, where he went to work for Mr. Athearn on the River place and later worked for Captain Holman. He then purchased a large piece of land in partnership with B.F. Langford on the south side of the Mokelumne River just west of Lockeford; later this property was divided and John C. Kerr took the upper 328 acres. This piece is now the property of N.H. Locke, whose sketch is also in this volume. John C. Kerr ran a threshing machine from 1867 until 1886; he also owned 160 acres in Calaveras County above West Point, and at Blue Mountain he controlled 1,700 acres of range land and had from 300 to 400 head of cattle on the ranch. There were four children in the family: James Garfield; John Alexander resides at Corcoran; Harriett Elizabeth died in 1920; and Joseph Thompson died in 1915. John C. Kerr was extensively engaged in stockraising and operated a dairy ranch for many years; he also raised large quantities of potatoes on the rich bottom land. He passed away in 1909 at the age of seventy-seven years. Mrs. Kerr died in 1919.
James Garfield Kerr was educated in the grammar school of Lockeford and when he was sixteen years old started out for himself and decided to learn the harnessmaker's trade. He served his apprenticeship in Lockeford for one year and the balance of it at Valley Springs; for eighteen months he worked for Van Voorhies & Company in Sacramento, then opened a shop of his own at Valley Springs, which he ran until 1904, when he located in Lockeford and engaged in dairying with his father until his father passed away. In 1911 he opened a harness shop in Lockeford, which he has continued to the present and has worked up a fine trade, all work being of the best grade and fully guaranteed.
The marriage of Mr. Kerr occurred at Valley Springs, Cal., on March 12, 1902, and united him with Miss Ella McCann, a native of Sacramento, Cal., a daughter of James and Julia (O'Hare) McCann. The father of Mrs. Kerr came to California from Canada in 1887, and after living in Sacramento for some time removed to Campo Seco, where Mrs. Kerr received her education. They are the parents of two sons, William and Raymond. Politically, Mr. Kerr is a Republican, and fraternally is a member of Progressive Lodge No. 134, I.O.O.F., of Lockeford and is past grand; a member of the Vesper Lodge No. 94, Knights of Pythias of Lockeford and is past chancellor of that order. Mrs. Kerr is past noble grand of the Rebekah Lodge of Lockeford and is also a member of the Pythian Sisters and of the Native Daughters. Mr. Kerr is also identified with the Woodmen of the World of Stockton.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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