In 1945 John Christopher Kern (This writer's Great Grandfather) wrote a family history that is available to our family. It is amazing how many times the Kerns moved. The document is 21 pages long and some highlights are given here:
1865 Edward Lee Kern, John's father, moved the family from Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, to the U.S. (Family: Florella (Cook) Kern – wife, and children Albermarl, John, and Ellen.) They began farming in Knox County, Missouri.
1866 Amorett was born. Florella was stricken with typhoid and they moved to a farm in Little Green Lake County, Wisconsin.
1868 Sirvillian was born. Edward heard about land becoming available in the Kansas Territories so they moved again, staying the winter with Florella's brother's in Osage Mission (now St. Paul), Neosho County, Kansas.
1869 Moved onto their homestead property in Osage Mission.
1871 The railroad company was in a dispute with the government and their farm could not be expanded. Edward sold out and moved the family to a claim in Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas.
1874 The grasshopper year. With most of the crops destroyed, Edward moved the family to a rented farm in Perlick Green, Barton County, Missouri. Then they moved to Mosquito Creek, Shelby County, Iowa, where they farmed for four years. Wheat, oat, and corn prices were very low.
1878 Edward and his family moved to Gowen, Montcalm County, Michigan, where he accepted a log hauling job from Florella's sister.
1880 The logging job ended and Edward moved the family to a farm near Fife Lake, Grand Traverse County, Michigan. He and John prepared the land for farming and then John found a job sawing logs.
1881 Edward sold the farm and began handling lumber.
1882 In the spring Edward moved the family to Marten County, Minnesota, to farm.
1884 Edward and John heard about new country opening up in western Kansas. They wintered in Kingman County, Kansas.
1885 They prepared the land for farming and moved the family to Meade County, Kansas.
1886 John married Susan Allen in Lakeland, Meade County, Kansas, and moved on their own claim. Those were tough years as crops frequently failed.
1888 Harry Alfred Kern was born to John and Susan. With more responsibilities, the Kern's decided to move east and leased pasture land for cattle in Marian County, Kansas.
1889 Edna Lucille Kern was born.
1890 They followed Susan's brother to Coffey County, Kansas to engage in the coal business as well as farming. The income was small and Joseph Lee Kern was born in October. They moved north somewhat into Osage County to farm.
1892 Walter Howard Kern was born.
1894 Katie Bell Kern was born.
1895 Moved back to Lebo, Coffee County, Kansas to farm and raise animals.
1898 John Dewey Kern was born. (This writer's grandfather).
1900 In March John moved the family one mile north where they leased a farm. Later that year John bought 160 acres from a mortgage company in Emporia, Lyon County, Kansas.
1901 William Ray Kern was born.
1904 Olen Albert Kern was born. Plans were being made to move to California with Susan's brother, Joseph Allen, Jr. and family.
1905 On January 10th the families boarded a train and landed in California's Suisun Valley where they lived for five years. John switched to growing fruit.
1906 Sheldon Gordon Kern was born.
1908 Ruth Hazel Kern was born.
1910 John got work for himself and farm team on a new concrete bridge being built across Suisun Creek. In December he went to work as a painter for the government at Mare Island. This lasted for ten years. He also worked various jobs there such as a pipe painter, then the last seven years with the machinists.
John and Susan were still living in Vallejo at the 1920 U.S. Census. They moved to a farm in Delhi, Merced County, California, and in 1924 he was a founding member of the Delhi Community Church. At the 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census they were still living on a farm in Delhi. However, they eventually moved in with daughter Edna Lucille and husband Wilbur George Bailey who lived in Delhi, then Ballico. They lived for a time with daughter Catherine Belle and husband Charles Winslow in Oakland. They were living in the Napa area with daughter Ruth Hazel and husband William Logue when John died in 1947, age 86. Susan was living in a convalescent home in Oakland when she died in 1955, age 86.
Locations by census reports:
1870 U.S. - Walnut Grove Twp, Neosho Co, Ks
1880 U.S. - Fife Twp, Grand Traverse Co., Mi.
1895 Ks. State - Barclay Twp, Osage Co., Ks.
1900 U.S. - California Twp, Coffey Co., Ks.
1910 U.S. - Vallejo Ward 2, Solano Co., Ca.
1920 U.S. - Vallejo Twp, Solano Co., Ca.
1930 U.S. - Township 5, Merced Co., Ca.
1940 U.S. - no change
1865 Edward Lee Kern, John's father, moved the family from Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, to the U.S. (Family: Florella (Cook) Kern – wife, and children Albermarl, John, and Ellen.) They began farming in Knox County, Missouri.
1866 Amorett was born. Florella was stricken with typhoid and they moved to a farm in Little Green Lake County, Wisconsin.
1868 Sirvillian was born. Edward heard about land becoming available in the Kansas Territories so they moved again, staying the winter with Florella's brother's in Osage Mission (now St. Paul), Neosho County, Kansas.
1869 Moved onto their homestead property in Osage Mission.
1871 The railroad company was in a dispute with the government and their farm could not be expanded. Edward sold out and moved the family to a claim in Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas.
1874 The grasshopper year. With most of the crops destroyed, Edward moved the family to a rented farm in Perlick Green, Barton County, Missouri. Then they moved to Mosquito Creek, Shelby County, Iowa, where they farmed for four years. Wheat, oat, and corn prices were very low.
1878 Edward and his family moved to Gowen, Montcalm County, Michigan, where he accepted a log hauling job from Florella's sister.
1880 The logging job ended and Edward moved the family to a farm near Fife Lake, Grand Traverse County, Michigan. He and John prepared the land for farming and then John found a job sawing logs.
1881 Edward sold the farm and began handling lumber.
1882 In the spring Edward moved the family to Marten County, Minnesota, to farm.
1884 Edward and John heard about new country opening up in western Kansas. They wintered in Kingman County, Kansas.
1885 They prepared the land for farming and moved the family to Meade County, Kansas.
1886 John married Susan Allen in Lakeland, Meade County, Kansas, and moved on their own claim. Those were tough years as crops frequently failed.
1888 Harry Alfred Kern was born to John and Susan. With more responsibilities, the Kern's decided to move east and leased pasture land for cattle in Marian County, Kansas.
1889 Edna Lucille Kern was born.
1890 They followed Susan's brother to Coffey County, Kansas to engage in the coal business as well as farming. The income was small and Joseph Lee Kern was born in October. They moved north somewhat into Osage County to farm.
1892 Walter Howard Kern was born.
1894 Katie Bell Kern was born.
1895 Moved back to Lebo, Coffee County, Kansas to farm and raise animals.
1898 John Dewey Kern was born. (This writer's grandfather).
1900 In March John moved the family one mile north where they leased a farm. Later that year John bought 160 acres from a mortgage company in Emporia, Lyon County, Kansas.
1901 William Ray Kern was born.
1904 Olen Albert Kern was born. Plans were being made to move to California with Susan's brother, Joseph Allen, Jr. and family.
1905 On January 10th the families boarded a train and landed in California's Suisun Valley where they lived for five years. John switched to growing fruit.
1906 Sheldon Gordon Kern was born.
1908 Ruth Hazel Kern was born.
1910 John got work for himself and farm team on a new concrete bridge being built across Suisun Creek. In December he went to work as a painter for the government at Mare Island. This lasted for ten years. He also worked various jobs there such as a pipe painter, then the last seven years with the machinists.
John and Susan were still living in Vallejo at the 1920 U.S. Census. They moved to a farm in Delhi, Merced County, California, and in 1924 he was a founding member of the Delhi Community Church. At the 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census they were still living on a farm in Delhi. However, they eventually moved in with daughter Edna Lucille and husband Wilbur George Bailey who lived in Delhi, then Ballico. They lived for a time with daughter Catherine Belle and husband Charles Winslow in Oakland. They were living in the Napa area with daughter Ruth Hazel and husband William Logue when John died in 1947, age 86. Susan was living in a convalescent home in Oakland when she died in 1955, age 86.
Locations by census reports:
1870 U.S. - Walnut Grove Twp, Neosho Co, Ks
1880 U.S. - Fife Twp, Grand Traverse Co., Mi.
1895 Ks. State - Barclay Twp, Osage Co., Ks.
1900 U.S. - California Twp, Coffey Co., Ks.
1910 U.S. - Vallejo Ward 2, Solano Co., Ca.
1920 U.S. - Vallejo Twp, Solano Co., Ca.
1930 U.S. - Township 5, Merced Co., Ca.
1940 U.S. - no change
In 1945 John Christopher Kern (This writer's Great Grandfather) wrote a family history that is available to our family. It is amazing how many times the Kerns moved. The document is 21 pages long and some highlights are given here:
1865 Edward Lee Kern, John's father, moved the family from Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, to the U.S. (Family: Florella (Cook) Kern – wife, and children Albermarl, John, and Ellen.) They began farming in Knox County, Missouri.
1866 Amorett was born. Florella was stricken with typhoid and they moved to a farm in Little Green Lake County, Wisconsin.
1868 Sirvillian was born. Edward heard about land becoming available in the Kansas Territories so they moved again, staying the winter with Florella's brother's in Osage Mission (now St. Paul), Neosho County, Kansas.
1869 Moved onto their homestead property in Osage Mission.
1871 The railroad company was in a dispute with the government and their farm could not be expanded. Edward sold out and moved the family to a claim in Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas.
1874 The grasshopper year. With most of the crops destroyed, Edward moved the family to a rented farm in Perlick Green, Barton County, Missouri. Then they moved to Mosquito Creek, Shelby County, Iowa, where they farmed for four years. Wheat, oat, and corn prices were very low.
1878 Edward and his family moved to Gowen, Montcalm County, Michigan, where he accepted a log hauling job from Florella's sister.
1880 The logging job ended and Edward moved the family to a farm near Fife Lake, Grand Traverse County, Michigan. He and John prepared the land for farming and then John found a job sawing logs.
1881 Edward sold the farm and began handling lumber.
1882 In the spring Edward moved the family to Marten County, Minnesota, to farm.
1884 Edward and John heard about new country opening up in western Kansas. They wintered in Kingman County, Kansas.
1885 They prepared the land for farming and moved the family to Meade County, Kansas.
1886 John married Susan Allen in Lakeland, Meade County, Kansas, and moved on their own claim. Those were tough years as crops frequently failed.
1888 Harry Alfred Kern was born to John and Susan. With more responsibilities, the Kern's decided to move east and leased pasture land for cattle in Marian County, Kansas.
1889 Edna Lucille Kern was born.
1890 They followed Susan's brother to Coffey County, Kansas to engage in the coal business as well as farming. The income was small and Joseph Lee Kern was born in October. They moved north somewhat into Osage County to farm.
1892 Walter Howard Kern was born.
1894 Katie Bell Kern was born.
1895 Moved back to Lebo, Coffee County, Kansas to farm and raise animals.
1898 John Dewey Kern was born. (This writer's grandfather).
1900 In March John moved the family one mile north where they leased a farm. Later that year John bought 160 acres from a mortgage company in Emporia, Lyon County, Kansas.
1901 William Ray Kern was born.
1904 Olen Albert Kern was born. Plans were being made to move to California with Susan's brother, Joseph Allen, Jr. and family.
1905 On January 10th the families boarded a train and landed in California's Suisun Valley where they lived for five years. John switched to growing fruit.
1906 Sheldon Gordon Kern was born.
1908 Ruth Hazel Kern was born.
1910 John got work for himself and farm team on a new concrete bridge being built across Suisun Creek. In December he went to work as a painter for the government at Mare Island. This lasted for ten years. He also worked various jobs there such as a pipe painter, then the last seven years with the machinists.
John and Susan were still living in Vallejo at the 1920 U.S. Census. They moved to a farm in Delhi, Merced County, California, and in 1924 he was a founding member of the Delhi Community Church. At the 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census they were still living on a farm in Delhi. However, they eventually moved in with daughter Edna Lucille and husband Wilbur George Bailey who lived in Delhi, then Ballico. They lived for a time with daughter Catherine Belle and husband Charles Winslow in Oakland. They were living in the Napa area with daughter Ruth Hazel and husband William Logue when John died in 1947, age 86. Susan was living in a convalescent home in Oakland when she died in 1955, age 86.
Locations by census reports:
1870 U.S. - Walnut Grove Twp, Neosho Co, Ks
1880 U.S. - Fife Twp, Grand Traverse Co., Mi.
1895 Ks. State - Barclay Twp, Osage Co., Ks.
1900 U.S. - California Twp, Coffey Co., Ks.
1910 U.S. - Vallejo Ward 2, Solano Co., Ca.
1920 U.S. - Vallejo Twp, Solano Co., Ca.
1930 U.S. - Township 5, Merced Co., Ca.
1940 U.S. - no change
1865 Edward Lee Kern, John's father, moved the family from Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, to the U.S. (Family: Florella (Cook) Kern – wife, and children Albermarl, John, and Ellen.) They began farming in Knox County, Missouri.
1866 Amorett was born. Florella was stricken with typhoid and they moved to a farm in Little Green Lake County, Wisconsin.
1868 Sirvillian was born. Edward heard about land becoming available in the Kansas Territories so they moved again, staying the winter with Florella's brother's in Osage Mission (now St. Paul), Neosho County, Kansas.
1869 Moved onto their homestead property in Osage Mission.
1871 The railroad company was in a dispute with the government and their farm could not be expanded. Edward sold out and moved the family to a claim in Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas.
1874 The grasshopper year. With most of the crops destroyed, Edward moved the family to a rented farm in Perlick Green, Barton County, Missouri. Then they moved to Mosquito Creek, Shelby County, Iowa, where they farmed for four years. Wheat, oat, and corn prices were very low.
1878 Edward and his family moved to Gowen, Montcalm County, Michigan, where he accepted a log hauling job from Florella's sister.
1880 The logging job ended and Edward moved the family to a farm near Fife Lake, Grand Traverse County, Michigan. He and John prepared the land for farming and then John found a job sawing logs.
1881 Edward sold the farm and began handling lumber.
1882 In the spring Edward moved the family to Marten County, Minnesota, to farm.
1884 Edward and John heard about new country opening up in western Kansas. They wintered in Kingman County, Kansas.
1885 They prepared the land for farming and moved the family to Meade County, Kansas.
1886 John married Susan Allen in Lakeland, Meade County, Kansas, and moved on their own claim. Those were tough years as crops frequently failed.
1888 Harry Alfred Kern was born to John and Susan. With more responsibilities, the Kern's decided to move east and leased pasture land for cattle in Marian County, Kansas.
1889 Edna Lucille Kern was born.
1890 They followed Susan's brother to Coffey County, Kansas to engage in the coal business as well as farming. The income was small and Joseph Lee Kern was born in October. They moved north somewhat into Osage County to farm.
1892 Walter Howard Kern was born.
1894 Katie Bell Kern was born.
1895 Moved back to Lebo, Coffee County, Kansas to farm and raise animals.
1898 John Dewey Kern was born. (This writer's grandfather).
1900 In March John moved the family one mile north where they leased a farm. Later that year John bought 160 acres from a mortgage company in Emporia, Lyon County, Kansas.
1901 William Ray Kern was born.
1904 Olen Albert Kern was born. Plans were being made to move to California with Susan's brother, Joseph Allen, Jr. and family.
1905 On January 10th the families boarded a train and landed in California's Suisun Valley where they lived for five years. John switched to growing fruit.
1906 Sheldon Gordon Kern was born.
1908 Ruth Hazel Kern was born.
1910 John got work for himself and farm team on a new concrete bridge being built across Suisun Creek. In December he went to work as a painter for the government at Mare Island. This lasted for ten years. He also worked various jobs there such as a pipe painter, then the last seven years with the machinists.
John and Susan were still living in Vallejo at the 1920 U.S. Census. They moved to a farm in Delhi, Merced County, California, and in 1924 he was a founding member of the Delhi Community Church. At the 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census they were still living on a farm in Delhi. However, they eventually moved in with daughter Edna Lucille and husband Wilbur George Bailey who lived in Delhi, then Ballico. They lived for a time with daughter Catherine Belle and husband Charles Winslow in Oakland. They were living in the Napa area with daughter Ruth Hazel and husband William Logue when John died in 1947, age 86. Susan was living in a convalescent home in Oakland when she died in 1955, age 86.
Locations by census reports:
1870 U.S. - Walnut Grove Twp, Neosho Co, Ks
1880 U.S. - Fife Twp, Grand Traverse Co., Mi.
1895 Ks. State - Barclay Twp, Osage Co., Ks.
1900 U.S. - California Twp, Coffey Co., Ks.
1910 U.S. - Vallejo Ward 2, Solano Co., Ca.
1920 U.S. - Vallejo Twp, Solano Co., Ca.
1930 U.S. - Township 5, Merced Co., Ca.
1940 U.S. - no change
Family Members
Siblings
Children
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Harry Alfred Kern
1888–1978
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Edna Lucille Kern Bailey
1889–1982
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Joseph Lee Kern
1890–1962
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Walter Howard Kern
1892–1927
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Catherine Bell "Kate" Kern Winslow
1894–1983
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John Dewey Kern
1898–1995
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William Ray Kern
1901–1995
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Olen Albert Kern
1903–1982
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Sheldon Gordon Kern
1906–1968
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Ruth Hazel Kern Logue
1908–1999
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