Representative Daniel Kerr View All Years

HON. DANIEL KERR.

MR. SPEAKER—Your committee appointed to prepare resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the honorable Daniel Kerr of Grundy county, Iowa, beg leave to submit the following report:

Daniel Kerr was born at Ayrshire, Scotland, June 18, 1836, and died at his home in Grundy Center, Iowa, October 8, 1916.

In 1864 he married Clara T. Estabrook who died Nov. 18, 1915. To them seven children were born, John, who died in 1895, Mrs. H. S. Rogers of Amusa, Cal., Mrs. D. C. Shuler of Parkersburg, Iowa, George Kerr of Des Moines, Iowa and William G. Kerr, Lillian E. Simms and Edward C. Kerr of Grundy Center, Iowa.

In youth Daniel Kerr was a great student and in 1858 he graduated from college. In 1859 and 1860 he was a teacher in the high school at Edwardsville, Ill., and later studied law at McKendree college and was admitted to the bar in 1862.

In 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company G, one hundred and seventeenth Illinois Infantry, and served until the close of the civil war and was mustered out with the rank of first lieutenant. He then returned to Illinois to practice his profession and was married in 1864.

In 1886 he was nominated by the republicans of the fifth district for young manhood he soon demonstrated his powers and in 1870 he moved with his family to Grundy Center, Iowa.

Soon after coming to Iowa he entered the field as proprietor and editor of the New Century and later from 1883 to 1888 he owned the Grundy Center Argus. In 1877 he had the honor of being elected as the first mayor of Grundy Center.

In 1883 Mr. Kerr was elected a member of the legislature of Iowa and was a great leader. In 1884 he was chosen elector on the Blaine and Logan ticket.

In 1886 he was nominated by the republicans of the fifth district for congress and elected by a good majority.

Daniel Kerr was clean, upright and a man of high ideals, honored by all and a man in need was never turned from his door. He was a devout member of the first presbyterian church and was correct in practice as well as theory of the golden rule “Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do even so unto them.”

Mr. Kerr was a man whose place in his community would be difficult to fill by another for a man of such unusual character and one whose conception of life as big and broad as his leaves a lasting impression on any community and his memory should never be forgotten.

To honor his memory, it is therefore,

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the journal of the House as an expression of our appreciation and that of the state, for one who was of so much service to her interests.

W. A. MOOTY,

W. N. GILBERT,

F. P. MOWERY,

Committee.

Adopted January 25, 1917.