Person:Alexander Kerr (32)

--OliviaRevits 06:47, 30 April 2007 (MDT)

lived: at 307 Trinity Place, Elizabeth, N. J.

Obituary: Elizabeth Daily (newspaper), March 26, 1917

ALEXANDER KERR CALLED BY DEATH

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WELL-KNOWN CONTRACTOR SUCCUMBS TO ILLNESS

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Well-known Contractor Resident Here for Many Years.

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Alexander Kerr, for many years a mason and general contractor in this city, died at 11:50 o'clock last night at his home, 307 Trinity Place, after an illness of four years. He was 74 years old. Mr.. Kerr was a native of Scotland, but went to Liverpool, England, when a boy. In that city he learned his trade as a mason and on March4, 1867, he sailed for America. When he sailed from Liverpool he was presented with a testimonial by a number of his friends expressing their regard for him and wishing him success in his new home. Upon coming to this country Mr. Kerr first settled in New York City. Later, however, he went to St. Louis, Mo., where he remained about five years. Then he came east and settled in this city about the time the old arcade building in Broad Street was being erected. Here he remained until 1879, when he returned to England. He remained there one year and then came back to Elizabeth. In 1889 he started in the mason contracting business for himself, but, subsequently took up general contracting. During the many years in which he was engaged in business here his more important work included the mason work on the Buckley Hotel, the Hersh Building, the Woodruff Building, the Cohen Building, the old Stephenson Car Works, buildings for the A.&F. brown Company, the S,L, and Moore & Sons Corporation, the chapel of the Second Presbyterian Church, Grace Church, the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Public Schools Nos. 6 and 9, extensions for Public Schools Nos. 3 and 5, six bridges for Union County, a spillway at Salem, and a retaining wall in South Broad street. Many residences also were included in his work. Mr. Kerr was a member of the Third Presbyterian Church. He was also affiliated with Washington Lodge, No. 33. F.&A. M. ; the Master Builders' Association: Garfield Conclave, I.O.H., and Resolute Council, No. 908, Royal Arcanaus. Mr. Kerr was a Republican and took an active interest in the affairs of the city. He was one of the oldest masons in Elizabeth and was widely known. He is survived by a widow, Mrs. Johanna B. Kerr, who was Miss Johanna Bain. His first wife who was Miss Anna T. Bunyan, died in 1882. Four sons, James B. and Alexander M., George W. and William T. Kerr; one sister, Mrs. F.W. Holmes, of Brooklyn, and six grandchildren.

1. ↑ Obituary
   Elizabeth Daily News, March 26, 1917.

   ALEXANDER KERR CALLED BY DEATH
   -----------------------------------------------
   WELL-KNOWN CONTRACTOR SUCCUMBS TO ILLNESS
   *PHOTO*
   Alexander Kerr
   Old resident dies at age of 74. Mason and member of Masonic order, learned trade in England.
   Well-known Contractor Resident here for Many Years.
   __________________________
   Alexander Kerr, for many years a mason and general contractor in this city, died at 11:50 o'clock last night at his home, 307 Trinity Place, after an illness of four years. He was 74 years old.
   Mr. Kerr was a native of Scotland, but went to Liverpool, Enlgland, when a boy. In that city he learned his trade as a mason and on March 4, 1867, he sailed for America. When he sailed from Liverpool he was presented with a testimonial by a number of friends expressing their regard for him and wishing him success in his new home.
   Upon coming to this country, Mr. Kerr first settled in New York City. Later, however, he went to St, Louis, Mo., where he remained about two years. Then he came east and settled in this city about the time the old arcade building in Broad Street was being erected. Here he remained until 1879, when he returned to England. He remained there one year and then came back to Elizabeth.
   In 1889 he started a mason contracting business for himself, but subsequently took up genreal contracting. During the many years in which he was engaged in business here his more important work included mason work on the Buckley Hotel, the Hersh Building, the Woodruff Building, the Cohen Building, the old Stephenson Car Works, buildings for the A. & F. Brown company, the S. L. Moore & Sons Corporation, the chapel of the Second Presbyterian Church, Grace Church, the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Public Schools No. 3 and 5, six bridges for Union County, a spillway at Salem, and a retaining wall in South Broad street. Many residences were also included in his work.
   Mr. Kerr was a member of the Third Presbyterian Church. He was also affiliated with

2. ↑ Genealogy of the Family of William Kerr Woodrow, 6 Sep 2005, by Norm Moyes, Genealogical Search Services, Box 357, Orem, UT
   Pedigree Chart no. 1.
3. ↑ Kerr, Ann C., Descendants of William T. Kerr: Family Group Record Sheets, 1998
   Page 1.
4. ↑ Birth certificate, City of Elizabeth, N.J., Office of Registrar of Vital Statistics
   No. 2995, issued Feb. 24, 1998.

   Age: 74 yrs., 10 mos., 24 days
   Place of birth: Scotland
   Place of death: 307 Trinity Place, Elizabeth, N.J.

5. ↑ Elizabeth Daily (newspaper), March 26, 1917
   Obituary: "Well-Known Contractor Succumbs to Illness".

   ALEXANDER KERR CALLED BY DEATH
   
   ________Well-known Contractor Resident Here for Many Years__________
   Alexander Kerr, for many years a mason and general contractor in this city, died at 11:50 o'clock last night at his home, 307 Trinity Place, after an illness of four years. He was 74 years old.
   Mr. Kerr was a native of Scotland, but went to Liverpool, England, when a boy. In that city he learned his trade as a mason and on March 4, 1867, he sailed for America. When he sailed from Liverpool he was presented with a testimonial by a number of his friends expressing their regard for him and wishing him well in his new home.
   Upon entering this country Mr. Kerr first settled in new York City. Later, however, he went to St. Louis, Mo., where he remained about two years. Then he came east and settled in this city about the timethe old arcade building in Broad Streetwas being erected. Here he remained until 1879, when he returned to England. He remained there one year and then came back to Elizabeth.
   In 1889 he started in the mason contracting business for himself, but, subsequently took up general contracting. During the many years in which he was engaged in business here his more important work included the mason work on the Buckley Hotel, the Hersh Building, the Woodruff Building, the Cohen Building, the old Stephenson Car Works, buildings for the A. & F. Brown Company, the S.L.Moore&Sons Corporation, the chapel of the Second Presbyterian Church, grace Church, and the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Public Schools Nos. 6 and 9, extensions to Public Schools Nos. 3 and 5, six bridges for Union County, a spillway at Salem, and a retaining wall in South Broad Street. Many residences were also included in his work.
   Mr. Kerr was a member of the Third Presbyterian Church. He was also affiliated with Washington Lodge, No. 33, F.& A, M.; the Master Builders' Asssociation; Garfield Conclave, I.O.H., and Resolute Council, No. 908, Royal Arcanaun.

6. ↑ Letter from Barbara McCarron, office manager, Evergreen Cemetery, to Mrs. Barbara Kerr Hall: September 12, 1978
   Subject: Lot No. 9, Section "H".

   " Your Grandfather Alexander Kerr was a Trustee of the Evergreen Cemetery from March 12, 1900 until his death on March 24, 1917... Incidentally, Mr. Kerr was not a founder of Evergreen as the cemetery was incorporated in 1853."