Person:Mary Kerr (46)

From World Family Tree, Cd#20, Tree #1170:

In 1853, Mary "Polly " Odil , lost practically all of her family to the dread disease, typhoid fever. The only two being left were her sons, John Calvin Odil and Fountain Kerr Odil. This must have been more than human endurance could bear, one day a large family of children, some of them grown and the next day only two left. Nor did she expect to keep those two, as Fountain Kerr was very ill with the disease but managed to recover. After this epidemic of Typhoid, Fountain Kerr Odil paid $1000.00 for the colored boy who faithfully stayed with his family and cared for them during theire illness. He was the only thing akin to slavery that I have found recorded in our family. Fountain Kerr Odil was the benefactor of that colored boy the rest of his life. Mary,"Polly" Odil continued on at the home place with her two sons until in 1856 Fountain married and brough his bride there to live. In 1858 her son, John Calvin married and moved in to Spring Hill. Mary died before 1860. Marry "Polly" (Kerr) Odil was a widow of six or seven years when practically her whole family died.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Wayneal1@@aol.com.