Lucy Kerr - a copy of photo was provided by George A Hill Jr. (a great grandson) to the San Jacinto Monument Herzstein Library.

The Daily Telegraph (aka The Daily Houston Telegraph)
Houston, Texas - Thursday, October 12, 1871 – page 8 column 1


Transcribed with Marked Corrections –


Houston, October 12, 1871.

In Memoriam.

Mrs. Lucy Kerr was born in Georgia, March 24, 1783. Her maiden name was Fontaine. After her marriage to Mr. Kerr, she resided for some time in Philadelphia. Subsiquently Subsequently she lived for some years in Siles Giles County Tennesee Tennessee, and came to Texas in 1831. Mrs. K died at the residence of her son-in-law, Jonns James M. Hill, Esq., in Fayetteville, Oct, 1. 1871, aged 88 years 6 months and 6 days.
It will be seen by the above date that Mrs. Kerr had been a resident of Texas for more than forty years. The family came to this country in company with her brother, the late Alexander Thomson, Esq., and expected to settle in Robertson's colony, but finding some difficulty in procuring titles to land in Robertson's colony, a tract was purchased in Austin colony Washington County, near where the town of Burton now stands, which became the permanent home of the family. At the early period that neighborhood was visited by bands of hostile savages, and the Kerr family bore their part in the defence defense of the country, and in securing the independence of Texas.
The death of her husband, a few years after the family came to Texas devolved upon Mrs. K. a double responsibility. The happy manner in which she discharged her maternal duties is shown in the very high esteem in which she was held by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Scores of them now living will never cease to venerate her memory and imitate her virtues.
At eighteen years of age, Mrs. K. professed religion and united with the Methodist church, and maintained an unblemished Christian character for 70 years. Whenever her husband was absent from home and during her long widowhood as long as she kept house she kept regular family worship. Soon after the settlement in Texas, Mr. Thomson, collected (article torn, unable to read, missing words) Kerr's house and held religious services on Sunday morning, and this was continued until 1824 1834 when Rev. J. W. Kinney Kenney had regular appointments to preach at Mrs. K's house. The first church formed in the neighborhood was organized in her house by Rev. Jesser Jesse Hord, in 1840. In 1867 Mrs. K. broke up housekeeping, and since that time her home has been with her daughter, Mrs. Hill. Of late years she has been hard of hearing, but her intellectual faculties remained unchanged to the last. She was a Christian lady, pure morals, refined manners and of great conversational powers. All who knew her considered her a model of virtue and piety. It was a rare treat to enjoy her society, and listen to her intelligent conversation. Her death was comparatively sudden. When she became unconscious of the presence of earthly friends, she memtioned mentioned the names, and seemed to be holding conversation with the spirits of some who had preceded her to the spirit land. It was evidently appropriate that an earthly pilgrimage which bordered upon fourscore and ten year years should terminate upon the holy Sabbath, and on the morning of the first Sabbath of the present month the spirit of our excellent mother parted from its earthly tenement, to its heavenly rent. And children, and children's children, and grandchildren shall call her blessed.
H. S. T.

SITE OF UNION HILL

This Historical marker stands at the site of Union Hill, now a ghost town. Town founded by Hugh and Lucy Kerr and originally called Kerr Settlement and later renamed Union Hill. Photo was taken in 2009 by Countrygirl69.

LUCY & HUGH KERR CABIN

This is Lucy & Hugh Kerr's log cabin, located on private property of the Kerr Creek Farm outside Burton, Texas. The current owner is working to preserve it. A previous owner removed the porch and modified it for hay storage. Photo taken in 2011 by Countrygirl69.