Kerr, Charles Hugh

Charles Hugh Kerr

AKA: C. Hugh Kerr; Charles Hugh Kerr; Hugh C. Kerr; Hugh Kerr

BIRTH: It is assumed the place of birth, Newport, OH is the one in Washington county, OH.

DEATH-HEALTH_HISTORY: Valvular heart disease

RESIDENCES: Newport, OH; Boreman, Wood Co., WV; 436 Thirteenth Street, Parkersburg, WV; KY

PUBLIC_SERVICE: Wood County, WV Commissioner; Wood County, WV deputy sheriff


OBITUARY: Hugh Keer [sic] Succumbed on Saturday Morning
End Came After Long Illness with Valvular Heart Disease
Deceased Was Former Member of Wood County [WV] Court
And Also Ex-Deputy Sheriff - Widely Known and Universally Liked

With the death of ex-County Commissioner Hugh Kerr, which occurred at his home in this city, Saturday morning, there passed away a man of affairs, of wide influence and varied activity, who left his stamp upon the public affairs of the county in which most of his life was spent after his arrival at the years of manhood.

Mr. Kerr died at his home at the corner of Thirteenth and Quincy streets, at seven o'clock, Saturday morning, October 28, of organic heart trouble. Although he had been ill for several months, his death was not expected, as he had a number of sinking spells which preceded it and had rallied on previous occasions. It was hoped that he would do so this time, but toward morning, as he grew gradually weaker, the hope was reluctantly abandoned. The disease first manifested itself about the middle of last May, while Mr. Kerr was assisting his son, Raymond, with some work at Morgantown, where the later is employed as a civil engineer. He was seized, at that time with an attack which indicated a serious heart affection, and by the advice of the physician who attended him, Mr. Kerr returned at once to his home. Shortly afterward, he was almost entirely confined to the house and for the last few months of his illness hardly left it. Towards the last he was not able to be out at all. The decline, was gradual, with no perceptible turn for the worse, until Friday night.

C. Hugh Kerr was born at Newport, Ohio, August 14, 1849. He settled in this county twenty-five years ago and, fourteen years ago came to this city to live. Previous to that he had resided at Boreman, this county.

He was married, April 24, 1879 to Miss Lily Atkinson of Marietta, [OH], who survives him. The deceased leaves one son and two daughters, Raymond E. Kerr, now employed as a civil engineer on the Buckannon and Northern railroad, with headquarters at Morgantown; Lilliam B. Kerr and Bonnie E. Kerr, both at home. One brother and one sister survive, James Kerr of Newport, Ohio and Mrs. A.G. O'Bleness, of Marietta.

Mr. Kerr was interested all of his life in politics, was an active and successful worker and held a high place in the counsels of the Democratic party in this part of the state. He served one term as county commissioner, from January 1, 1903 to Dec. 31, 1908 during part of which he was president of that body. He was an excellent example of what such an official should be, being public-spirited, hard-working, with a keen eye to the public needs and to the best interests of the tax payers.

Previous to that, Mr. Kerr served for four years as deputy sheriff under Sheriff C.A. Wade -- from 1896 to 1900. He made as good a deputy sheriff as, later, a county commissioner. After his term as commissioner expired, the deceased was interested in a timber company with holdings in Kentucky, and spent about a year in that state, looking after his interests there.

As a business man, Mr. Kerr always possessed the confidence and trusts of his associates and the public as well, his probity being unquestioned and his word as good as his bond. No man in this community had more or stauncher friends and the news of his death has been heard with deep regret all over this county, in every part of which he was known and esteemed.

The funeral will take place Monday afternoon from the residence on Thirteenth street, with interment in the Odd Fellows cemetery. The exact hour has not yet been determined. Raymond Kerr will arrive here Saturday evening, and the other out of town relatives have been notified and will probably be here for the funeral.
(Source: undated clipping, probably from a Parkersburg, WV newspaper - furnished by Gary Chesney)


OBITUARY: Hugh C. Kerr - A Prominent and Well Known Resident of the City and County Died This Morning
It was with sincere regret that the many friends of Hugh C. Kerr learned of his death, which occurred at seven o'clock this morning, at his home at 436 Thirteeth street, although his death was not unexpected, as he had been in failing health for the past year or more. The deceased was not only a prominent citizen of the city but was well known throughout the county by reason of his official and business career in the past.

Mr. Kerr was born at Newport, Ohio, August 14, 1849, and had been a resident of Wood county for about twenty-five years, and a resident of Parkersburg, [WV] for the past fourteen years, having moved his family here from Boreman, where he had been engagaed in farming for several years.

He is survived by his wife and three children, the latter being Raymond E. Kerr, of Morgantown, an engineer on the construction of the B&N. R.R.; and Misses Lillian B. and Bonnie E. Kerr, teachers in the public schools, who reside at the family home. He is also survived by one brother, Jas. Kerr, who resides at Newport, Ohio, and one sister, Mrs. A.G. O'Blenness, of Marietta.

The funeral will be held at the residence on Monday afternoon, and the interment will be at the Odd Fellows cemetery.

Mr. Kerr was prominent in the affairs of the county for a number of years. He was a deputy sheriff under Charles S. Wade, from 1896 to 1900 and was a member of the County Court from 1903 to 1909. He was a staunch Democrat, and took an active part in politics for a number of years, at one time being a member of the county committee.

In addition, Mr. Kerr was a member of the Royal Tribe of Joseph, a beneficial organization, of which he was a charter member, and was also a member of Blennerhassett Council, Royal Arcanum.

Mr. Kerr had the happy faculty of making friends with every one with whom he came in contact, was kind and genial and his friends were only limited by his acquaintanceship, and he knew almost everybody in the county. After his term as county commissioner he engaged in the timber business in Kentucky, but the venture, unfortunately, was unsuccessful, and he returned here, broken in health and spirits.
(Source: undated newspaper clipping, probably from a Parkersburg, WV paper - furnished by Gary Chesney)