He was Scotish descent. His father, John Kerr & his mother, Mary (McDoll) Kerr. They had 9 children.
He was born on a farm in Dromore County Down, north of Ireland. After attending grade school he became a apprentice and learned the trade of carpenter. He worked about 6 years as a carpenter in Manchester, England. After several trips to the United States he settled in Pittsburgh, PA.
He married Mary Jane Boyd. They lived in Iowa for about a year and then in 1887 by himself, he went by train to Cheney, WA. A stagecoach took him to Davenport, Lincoln Co., WA. He then visited Seattle, Grays Harbor and several other places. That first winter he looked Oregon and western Washington over. When Spring of 1888 came he lookd for land in the Big Bend Country. He sent for his family to come to Davenport, WA. He then purchased a quarter section of land two miles north and west of Rocklyn from the Northern Pacific Railroad at $5.95 per acre. With his 14 year old son they built an adobe home after walking 17 miles from Davenport. After his wife and five children moved in he commenced to dig a well, clearned 20 acres. Unfortuantely this was the year Washington had a record snow fall catching everyone unprepared. Many lost their entire herds. His craft as a carpenter kept his family through the next three years.
In 1889 Spokane had a large fire in the city. Thomas was the only man available who could build circular stairs. He worked the winter of 1889 and spring of 1890 in rebuilding several of the largest buildings in Spokane.
When he returned he built the first wheat warehouse in Davenport. Working later on bridges from Davenport to Coulee City.
When the financial panic of 1893 hit, his mortgage was transfered from the Northen Pacific Railroad to a mortgage company. He then bought 120 acres five miles west of Harrington, WA on which he built his home. In 1898 he bought a second farm two miles north of town and built another home.
He married second to Elizabeth McCormick July 1911.
He was a Republican and belonged to the Presbyterian Church. He had been in good health until about four years prior to his death.
He and Jane had seven children. Two died at an early age.
Thomas Kerr
Agnes Jane Kerr Amon
Margaret Kerr Mayfield
William James Kerr
Anna Kerr Lueck
He was born on a farm in Dromore County Down, north of Ireland. After attending grade school he became a apprentice and learned the trade of carpenter. He worked about 6 years as a carpenter in Manchester, England. After several trips to the United States he settled in Pittsburgh, PA.
He married Mary Jane Boyd. They lived in Iowa for about a year and then in 1887 by himself, he went by train to Cheney, WA. A stagecoach took him to Davenport, Lincoln Co., WA. He then visited Seattle, Grays Harbor and several other places. That first winter he looked Oregon and western Washington over. When Spring of 1888 came he lookd for land in the Big Bend Country. He sent for his family to come to Davenport, WA. He then purchased a quarter section of land two miles north and west of Rocklyn from the Northern Pacific Railroad at $5.95 per acre. With his 14 year old son they built an adobe home after walking 17 miles from Davenport. After his wife and five children moved in he commenced to dig a well, clearned 20 acres. Unfortuantely this was the year Washington had a record snow fall catching everyone unprepared. Many lost their entire herds. His craft as a carpenter kept his family through the next three years.
In 1889 Spokane had a large fire in the city. Thomas was the only man available who could build circular stairs. He worked the winter of 1889 and spring of 1890 in rebuilding several of the largest buildings in Spokane.
When he returned he built the first wheat warehouse in Davenport. Working later on bridges from Davenport to Coulee City.
When the financial panic of 1893 hit, his mortgage was transfered from the Northen Pacific Railroad to a mortgage company. He then bought 120 acres five miles west of Harrington, WA on which he built his home. In 1898 he bought a second farm two miles north of town and built another home.
He married second to Elizabeth McCormick July 1911.
He was a Republican and belonged to the Presbyterian Church. He had been in good health until about four years prior to his death.
He and Jane had seven children. Two died at an early age.
Thomas Kerr
Agnes Jane Kerr Amon
Margaret Kerr Mayfield
William James Kerr
Anna Kerr Lueck
He was Scotish descent. His father, John Kerr & his mother, Mary (McDoll) Kerr. They had 9 children.
He was born on a farm in Dromore County Down, north of Ireland. After attending grade school he became a apprentice and learned the trade of carpenter. He worked about 6 years as a carpenter in Manchester, England. After several trips to the United States he settled in Pittsburgh, PA.
He married Mary Jane Boyd. They lived in Iowa for about a year and then in 1887 by himself, he went by train to Cheney, WA. A stagecoach took him to Davenport, Lincoln Co., WA. He then visited Seattle, Grays Harbor and several other places. That first winter he looked Oregon and western Washington over. When Spring of 1888 came he lookd for land in the Big Bend Country. He sent for his family to come to Davenport, WA. He then purchased a quarter section of land two miles north and west of Rocklyn from the Northern Pacific Railroad at $5.95 per acre. With his 14 year old son they built an adobe home after walking 17 miles from Davenport. After his wife and five children moved in he commenced to dig a well, clearned 20 acres. Unfortuantely this was the year Washington had a record snow fall catching everyone unprepared. Many lost their entire herds. His craft as a carpenter kept his family through the next three years.
In 1889 Spokane had a large fire in the city. Thomas was the only man available who could build circular stairs. He worked the winter of 1889 and spring of 1890 in rebuilding several of the largest buildings in Spokane.
When he returned he built the first wheat warehouse in Davenport. Working later on bridges from Davenport to Coulee City.
When the financial panic of 1893 hit, his mortgage was transfered from the Northen Pacific Railroad to a mortgage company. He then bought 120 acres five miles west of Harrington, WA on which he built his home. In 1898 he bought a second farm two miles north of town and built another home.
He married second to Elizabeth McCormick July 1911.
He was a Republican and belonged to the Presbyterian Church. He had been in good health until about four years prior to his death.
He and Jane had seven children. Two died at an early age.
Thomas Kerr
Agnes Jane Kerr Amon
Margaret Kerr Mayfield
William James Kerr
Anna Kerr Lueck
He was born on a farm in Dromore County Down, north of Ireland. After attending grade school he became a apprentice and learned the trade of carpenter. He worked about 6 years as a carpenter in Manchester, England. After several trips to the United States he settled in Pittsburgh, PA.
He married Mary Jane Boyd. They lived in Iowa for about a year and then in 1887 by himself, he went by train to Cheney, WA. A stagecoach took him to Davenport, Lincoln Co., WA. He then visited Seattle, Grays Harbor and several other places. That first winter he looked Oregon and western Washington over. When Spring of 1888 came he lookd for land in the Big Bend Country. He sent for his family to come to Davenport, WA. He then purchased a quarter section of land two miles north and west of Rocklyn from the Northern Pacific Railroad at $5.95 per acre. With his 14 year old son they built an adobe home after walking 17 miles from Davenport. After his wife and five children moved in he commenced to dig a well, clearned 20 acres. Unfortuantely this was the year Washington had a record snow fall catching everyone unprepared. Many lost their entire herds. His craft as a carpenter kept his family through the next three years.
In 1889 Spokane had a large fire in the city. Thomas was the only man available who could build circular stairs. He worked the winter of 1889 and spring of 1890 in rebuilding several of the largest buildings in Spokane.
When he returned he built the first wheat warehouse in Davenport. Working later on bridges from Davenport to Coulee City.
When the financial panic of 1893 hit, his mortgage was transfered from the Northen Pacific Railroad to a mortgage company. He then bought 120 acres five miles west of Harrington, WA on which he built his home. In 1898 he bought a second farm two miles north of town and built another home.
He married second to Elizabeth McCormick July 1911.
He was a Republican and belonged to the Presbyterian Church. He had been in good health until about four years prior to his death.
He and Jane had seven children. Two died at an early age.
Thomas Kerr
Agnes Jane Kerr Amon
Margaret Kerr Mayfield
William James Kerr
Anna Kerr Lueck
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