USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II > Part 127
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Gabriel Kern, the fourth son of John Kern, was born July 7, 1816, at Emerald, Pa. He lived here and at Slatington all his life and was a laborer ; worked many years at the slate quar- ries ; was a mortar maker and hod-carrier. He had a farm of 60 acres at Slatington and lived there in a stone house on Main street. He was a member of Frieden's Reformed church, and
died May 19, 1891. He married Fianna Snyder. Issue: (1) Elvina, married David George; (2) William A., of whom below; (3) Israel; (4) Joseph; (5) Emma, who married James Kuhns; (6) Lewis; (7) Minerva, and (8) Jesse Kern.
WILLIAM A. KERN, second son of Gabriel and Fienna (Snyder) Kern, was born at Emerald, Pa., March 17, 1845. He was reared upon the farm and attended the public schools and in young manhood drove a slate team and worked in the slate quarry. About 1870 he removed to Slatington, where he has since resided, having his own home at 1218 Upper Main street. Mr. Kern and family are members of the Frieden's Reformed church, where he was a deacon and elder.
William A. Kern married, in 1867, Rebecca Solt, daughter of Aaron and Sarah (Dieter) Solt, and granddaughter of Jacob Solt, of Lehigh township, Northampton county . Conrad Die- ter and his wife, Elizabeth Bush, were the par- ents of Sarah Dieter. Mr. and Mrs. Kern had an only son, Benjamin Franklin, who was born in 1872 and died in 1873.
Daniel Geary and Rebecca Solt had a son, Clinton S. Geary, whose wife is Bertha Kuhns. They have two children, Francis E., and Clif- ford K. Geary.
ERASMUS F. KERN, son of Robert and Julia A. (Peters) Kern, was born March 10, 1854, on the homestead of his great grandfather, in Washington township. He assisted with the farm work and attended the public schools and when a young man took a course in Eastman's Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., grad- uating soon after, in 1870. He became a clerk in the Saegersville store, at the age of 18 years, where he continued for eight years, when he went Leavenworth, Kansas, where he remained two years. He then opened a general store at Slat- ington, and has successfully conducted it to the present time, 1913. In politics he is a Democrat. He served as poor director of Lehigh county for seven years. He is a member of the following orders: Fraternal Order of Eagles; Allentown I. O. O. F., and Knights of Malta, and the Slat- ington Jr. O. U. A. M. In religion, a Free Thinker. Mr. Kern opened a slate quarry near Slatedale, which he operated for several years, then sold out.
Erasmus F. Kern married in 1885, Mary M. Fusselman, daughter of Philip and Caroline ( Sassaman ) Fusselman. Issue: Viola J .; Helen C .; Ina M .; Morris N., who died in infancy ; David E .; Luther F .; Jefferson I .; and Walter R. Kern.
AARON KERN, son of Charles Kern, was born July 14, 1841, on the "lower farm" of his grand-
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father Christopher's old homestead, near Lehigh Gap, along the Lehigh river. He was reared on the farm upon which he spent all his life. In his boyhood days he attended the public schools and assisted with the farm work. He remained with his father until the latter's death in 1860, when he succeeded to the farm of 92 acres. In 1876, Mr. Kern built for himself a modern resi- dence upon the place. In 1901, he purchased the upper farm, of 114 acres from Stephen Kern. On this farm is one of the most substantial stone dwellings that skilled labor can produce. Much of Mr. Kern's 206 acres is slate land. On the lower farm is a quarry worked by the Bangor Slate Company. On Sept. 8, 1910, the barn built in 1905 on the upper farm was destroyed by fire. The one previously built was destroyed by lightning, July 21, 1895. The family are members of the Slatington Reformed church. Mr. Kern in earlier years was a member and deacon in Frieden's Reformed church. Aaron Kern married, Sept. 26, 1862, Mary Ann Buck, daughter of Jonas Buck. Issue : James M., of whom below; Mary, married Henry O. Kern; Annie, married Leon German; Cora, died in infancy; Henry; and Lillie, married George German. She died June 30, 1910, aged 23 years.
JAMES M. KERN, son of Aaron and Mary Ann (Buck) Kern, was born April 1, 1869, in Washington township. He was educated in the public schools, supplemented by a course in a business college, graduating in 1893. He was employed successively as a bookkeeper and clerk for various firms, and was with Koch Brothers for eight years. In 1907, he removed to Slat- ington, and took up farming on the Elias Remaly place of 35 acres. Mr. Kern is quite devoted to stock raising and dairying. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of Slatington Lodge, No. 440, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master by merit. The family are members of St John's Reformed church, Slatington, of which he was a deacon for four years and finan- cial secretary five years.
James M. Kern married (first) Cora E. Remaly, daughter of Elias and Fianna (Schosse) Remally, born in 1876. Issue: Laird E. A. and Wilma M. F. Mrs. Cora E. Kern was killed in a railroad accident, August 12, 1900, at Benninger's crossing, on the Lehigh and New England Railroad. James M. Kern married second) in 1902, Ida. S. Rauch, daughter of An- drew Rauch, of Cetronia, Pa. Issue: Elwood H. A. Kern.
Nathan Kern, son of Henry Kern and grand- son of Christopher and Susanna ( Bauman) Kern, was born April 11, 1833, and died June 30, 1896. He was a farmer in Washington town-
ship. His farm was that now owned by Francis Remaly. He was a member of Frieden's Re- formed church, where he and his wife were bur- ied. He married Caroline Shirey, born Nov. 14, 1839, died June 4, 1899. Issue : (1) James; (2) John; (3) Salinda; (4) Frank J., of whom be- low; (5) Nathaniel; (6) Oscar; (7) Annie ; and (8) Edwin Kern.
Frank J. Kern, third son of Nathan and Caro- line (Shirey) Kern, was born in Washington township, March 18, 1864. As a boy he attended the public schools of his neighborhood and at theage of eighteen learned the trade of shoe- maker, which he has ever since followed. He was employed for two years as a journeyman at Eas- ton; in 1885 worked at Hoffman's, and in 1886, removed to Slatington, where he now resides. The family are members of Frieden's Reformed church.
He married, April 19, 1891, Emma C. Mus- selman, daughter of Aaron and Diana Mussel- man. Issue: Esther R. and Raymond F. Kern.
Reuben Kern, was born in what was then Heidelberg (now Washington) township. He owned and operated a small farm and worked in the slate quarry. He was a member of the Reformed church at Slatedale, where he is also buried. He married Lydia Ferber. Issue : Maria, married Joseph Vfliet; Hannah, mar- ried Lewis Roth; L. Frank; Cornelius, of whom below, and Phoenius Kern.
CORNELIUS KERN, the youngest son of Reu- ben and Lydia (Ferber) Kern, was born on New Year's Day, 1848. He attended the pub- lic schools of his neighborhood in his boyhood days. From the age of 15 years he followed butchering until the present time, (1913). He at one time employed several men to assist him in his business. He has a valuable slate farm of 28 acres in the upper end of Slatedale, upon which he built a home residence in 1905. He also owns his father's old homestead in Slatedale, consisting of a dwelling and two acres of land.
He and family are members of Slatedale Salem Evangelical church, which he served as class lead- er, trustee, and steward. Cornelius Kern mar- ried in 1869, Mary Ann Ferber, daughter of Phoenius and Barbara (Newhard) Ferber. Is- sue : nine children, viz: Rosa A., married Wes- ley Breyfogle ; Ella J., married Clinton Smith ; Irvin P .; Hilbrid E. ,and five others, who died young. The four children are all residents of Slatedale.
L. Frank Kern, the eldest son of Reuben and Lydia (Ferber) Kern, was born at Slatedale, where he spent his entire life, working in the slate industry, with which he was very familiar. He was an exceptionally able block-maker. He mar-
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
married to William Kuehner, of Catasauqua. ried Polly Ferber, daughter of Pharnius and Bar- bara (Newhard) Ferber. She is still living at Slatedale. Issue: Agnes ; Malinda ; Oliver F., of whom below; Landis P .; Lizzie; Charles J., of whom below: Hattie, and Jennie Kern.
OLIVER F. KERN, the eldest son of L. Frank and Polly ( Ferber) Kern, a successful slate ope- rator and president of the Royal Blue Slate Co., Slatedale, was born June 4, 1869, at Slatedale, where he resides. When a mere lad of eight years of age, he began working in the slate industry. At the age of nineteen he became quarry foreman of the Empire Slate Company, holding this position for six years. In 1899 he became one of the or- ganizers of the Royal Blue Slate Company, which employs a large force of men.
Mr. Kern is one of the thoroughly conversant men of the slate region, and richly merits the suc- cess he has achieved, by hard, honest, toil and by the concentration of all his energy to the business in which he grew up. He is connected with both the Highland Slate Co., and the Royal Blue Stone Co., of Slatedale. Socially he has membership in the P. O. S. of A., and the Jr. O. U. A. M. He and family worship in the Salem Evangelical church at Slatedale. He is one of the pillars of this church, and has served as trustee, steward and Sunday school superintendent, being active in all departments of the church. Oliver F. Kern married, August 20, 1894, Louisa Leiben- guth, daughter of Charles and Priscilla (Gabel) Leibenguth, of Mauch Chunk. No issue. Mr. Leibenguth was a veteran of the Civil War.
Charles J. Kern, the youngest son of L. Frank and Polly (Ferber) Kern, was born in 1877 at Slatedale. At the youthful age of nine years he began work in the slate industry. In 1899 he re- moved to Allentown. In 1901 he became pro- prietor of the "Slatedale House," conducting it for eight years. He then purchased the Lloyd's Hotel in Washington township, which he now conducts.
He married in 1909, Clara Miller, of Heidel- berg township.
Jeremiah F. Kern, son of Frank W. and Ele- menta C. (Remaly) Kern, was born Feb. 12, 1874, in Washington township. He was edu- cated in the public schools, and assisted with the farm work, up to the age of fifteen years, when he began working in a slate factory, which made slate black-boards. He continued here until 1903, when he removed to Allentown, where he follows clerical work. He holds membership in the P. O. S. of A., of Slatington. The Eagles and Lib- erty Fire Company, No. 5, of Allentown.
Jeremiah F. Kern married (first), Cora L.
Geiger, who died May 28, 1903. Issue, Elwood J. Jeremiah F. Kern married (second), April 10, 1909, Miss Lillie E. Hahn, of Northampton, Pa.
FRANK W. KERN, son of Reuben and Rachel (Kern) Kern, was born Dec. 2, 1849, near Hoff- mans, on the farm where he has always lived, having succeeded to the homestead. He attended school in the old schoolhouse at Friedens church. He first worked in the slate quarry for about ten years. In 1884 he began cultivating the home- stead, where he now resides. He and family are members of Friedens Reformed church.
Frank W. Kern married (first), Feb. 1, 1873, Elementa C. Remaly, born July 13, 1855, died July 6, 1881. They have one son, Jeremiah J. Kern, of Allentown.
Frank W. Kern married (second), Nov. 3, 1883, Sarah A. Zellner, daughter .of Tilghman and Eliza Ann (Crassley) Zellner. They have seven children: Annie, married Frank Rex. Is- sue (1) Norman, deceased; and Stanley A., and Elva Rex. (2) James M., born Nov. 10, 1885, married Cora Remaly. Issue: Warren J., and Stuart F. Kern. (3) Emma, married George Schellhammer, of Hoffmans. Issue: Florence E. and Pauline A. (4) Francis T. (5) Harvey Reuben. (6) William H. (7) Esther Sarah Kern.
To John Kern, son of Johannes, and his wife, Hannah Gunkel, of Slatedale, were born eleven children: Nathan; Levi; Henry; John; Aman- da, married to a Mr. Gruber ; Rebecca, married to Thomas Benninger ; Julia, married to Aaron Schaeffer ; Elisabeth, married to Jonas Haus- man; Lydia, married to J. Kerschner; Amelia, married to John Deibert; and Mary, married, first, to William Zellner, second, to Lewis Hanke. Lewis Kern, son of Johannes, was born August 19, 1827, and was married to Matilda Fenstermaker, a daughter of John and Susanna (Revert) Fenstermaker. They resided at Fried- ensville, and reared a family of seven children. They are Erasmus, John, Charles, Alice, Louisa, Martha, and Catherine. Louisa was married to Theodore Guth, who was born in Salisbury township, April 20, 1851, and died at Northamp- ton, August 2, 1911. To them were born five children: Raymond, stationary engineer, married to Quilla Woodring; Theodore, and Marcus, both of whom died in infancy; Katie, deceased, was married to James Anthony; and Carrie, married to William Kuehner, of Catasauqua.
KERN FAMILY (WHITEHALL).
George Kern, a native of Switzerland, ancestor of this family, arrived at Philadelphia on the ship St. Andrew, from Rotterdam, last from
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
Cowes, with 450 passengers, among whom were the ancestors of the Newhard, Kleppinger, Erd- man, Beil, Linn and Leibenguth families, on Sept. 26, 1737. On the same day he took the oath of allegiance to the King of England before Judges James Logan, Clement Plumsted, Ralph Asheton, and William Allen. He settled in Whitehall township soon after his arrival as his name is mentioned in the Egypt church records as early as 1739. He was accompanied by his wife, Cath- arine Elizabeth, and his eldest son, George Jacob Kern. Tradition states that a child was born on the voyage. The land which George Kern se- cured was warranted on October 28th, and sur- veyed Nov. 14, 1737, to John Reinberry, de- scribed as located on "Indian Copelin's creek, in Bucks county." It was bounded on the north by Jacob Kohler's land, and through it flowed the Coplay creek. On Feb. 1, 1743, with Frederick Newhard, he secured a warrant for a tract of 406 acres and on Nov. 30, 1744, the land was divided, each securing 203 acres. Frederick New- hard subsequently sold his land to Adam Deshler, who erected Fort Deshler in 1760.
The greater part of this land is now owned by a cement company. George Kern received a patent for his land on Aug. 7, 1750, and secured another tract of twenty-five acres. In 1752, he was one of the petitioners for the establishment of Whitehall township. He was a member of the Egypt Reformed congregation and in 1742 baptized a number of children there in the ab- sence of a pastor. In the earlier years of its his- tory the congregation worshipped in his house. On April 15, 1763, he deeded the greater part of his land to his son, George Jacob Kern.
George Kern and his wife, Catharine Elizabeth had, so far as is known, four children: George Jacob Kern, Catharine Elizabeth, Christopher, and Peter.
Catharine Elizabeth Kern was born in White- hall, May 15, 1741. She was baptized July 28, 1741, when her sponsors were Peter Troxell, Roland Schmidt, Mary Barbara Newhard and Luce Flickinger. She married, May 1, 1759, Philip Jacob Schreiber, and died Nov. 3, 1819.
George Jacob Kern, eldest son of George Kern, was born about 1725 and came to America with his parents in 1737. The earliest mention of him is on July 28, 1741, where in the Egypt Reformed church records, "Georg Jacob, son of Georg Kern," was a sponsor at the baptism of George Jacob Schneider. In 1752, the names of himself and wife appear as sponsors, showing that he was then married. His wife, Mary Margaret, was probably a Troxell.
George Jacob Kern was naturalized April 10, 1755. He added to his lands and by 1768, as the VOL. II-41
tax lists indicates, he was the owner of 300 acres of land, of which 80 acres was cultivated, four horses, four cows and six sheep. He was one of the leading farmers of Egypt and vicinity and a prominent member of the Reformed congregation. In 1767, Peter Burkhalter and George Jacob Kern were the largest contributors to the pur- chase of a house and six acres of land for a par- sonage, each giving £4, and in 1785, George Jacob Kern contributed £22 to the new church building.
George Jacob and Mary Margaret Kern had these children: Jacob, Jr .; John ; Daniel; Eliza- beth; Nicholas; Magdalena; Susanna, wife of Peter Kohler ; Henry ; and Michael.
Jacob Kern, Jr., and his wife, Gertrude, had a son, Jonathan. Daniel Kern, born in 1758, and his wife, Magdalena, had sons: Jesse, born in I'785 ; and Daniel, born -in 1791.
Michael Kern, born Feb. 21, 1774, died Nov. 20, 1850, had at least three children: James ; Lydia, born March 8, 1800; and Mary Magda- lena, born Nov. 5, 1803, died Jan. 27, 1842, who married, in 1831, Dr. William Kohler, of Egypt.
James Kern, born Oct. 5, 1798, died Feb. 3, 1860, married Maria Walbert, born March 3, 1804, died June 10, 1855. They had six sons and four daughters: Tilghman; William; Charles ; James ; Henry ; Willoughby ; Adeline, wife of Ed- ward Laubach; Susanna, wife of Joel Snyder, Mary Ann, wife of Henry Woodring; and Eliza Ann, wife of Henry Lentz.
James Kern, Jr., was born Jan. 10, 1837, and died April 17, 1912. He was united in marriage with Matilda Miller, born at Neffs, Pa., Feb. 15, 1841, and died Feb. 19, 1896. Both are buried on the Union cemetery at Neffs, Pa. James Kern was a bricklayer by trade. For many years he had a force of bricklayers and plasterers, who built the majority of all the sub- stantial brick buildings, dwelling-houses, school- houses, and churches which to-day stand in the upper section of Lehigh county, not including Slatington. Mr. Kern was widely known as a business man of reliable qualities. He had a family of thirteen children. Two died in in- fancy; four died in young manhood and woman- hood ; seven survive at this writing. They are as follows:
I. Milton Kern, a carpenter, is married to Sadie Shaller, and lives in West Bethlehem, Pa. No children.
2. Oscar Kern, a bricklayer, lives at Cata- sauqua. He is unmarried.
3. Robert M. Kern, a minister of the Re- formed Church, living at Allentown, is married to Mary Alice Long, daughter of James W. Long. They have two sons: Paul James, and Joseph Long Kern.
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
4. Howard F. Kern, a miller by trade, is a farmer at Neffs, Pa .; is married to Mary Urias. Their eight children follow: Frederick, Charles, George, Bertha, Morris, Miriam, Albert, and Minnie.
5. Maggie is married to Calvin Ritter. They live on the old homestead at Neffs, Pa. They have no children.
6. Mabel is married to Mervin Heberly, liv- ing at Allentown. They have a son, William James.
7. Cora is married to Edwin Lauchuor, and they live on a farm near Neffs, Pa. Their chil- dren are: Marguerite, Grace, and Charles.
8. Annie died March 20, 1908; was married to Nathaniel Klotz. These children survive: Paul and Martus Klotz.
Matilda Kern, wife of James Kern, was the daughter of Stephen Miller and his wife, Katie, nee Creitz. She was born at Neffs, Pa. Stephen Miller was for many years a prosperous farmer at Neffs, in North Whitehall township where he also conducted a brick manufacturing estab- lishment for a long period of time. He had three children: Sarah, Matilda, and John. Sarah was married to Francis Ringer, of Slat- ington. Died June 20, 1905. Matilda, was married to James Kern, Nov. 16, 1861, and died Feb. 19, 1896. John was married to Amelia Smith and they now reside with their daughter at the Rising Sun hotel, Lehigh county, Pa., owned and conducted by their son-in-law, Harvey Ra- bert.
REV. ROBERT MILLER KERN.
Robert Miller Kern is the son of James Kern . and his wife, Matilda, nee Miller. He was born at Neffs, Lehigh county, Pa., January 21, 1873; was baptized in his infancy by the Rev. J. S. Renninger, and confirmed in his youth by the late Rev. E. J. Fogel, D.D.
Mr. Kern is a typical Lehigh countian him- self, and both parents being natives of Lehigh. But for ten years, while teaching or attending school, he has always lived in the county. He laid the foundations of his physical strength while working on Lehigh county soil. As a boy he served as a carrier at the brick yards, his summer vacations he spent on the hay and harvest fields in his home community.
His early religious training he traces back to a pious parentage, a good Christian home, how- ever humble. As a child he was led to church and Sunday school at the Union church, where at the time the Rev. J. S. Renninger preached to the Lutheran and the late Rev. E. J. Fogel, D.D., ministered to the Reformed wing of the
congregation. Here he was inspired to enter upon the calling into which the Lord subsequent- ly led him. The desire to enter the Christian ministry he cherished in his boyhood days al- though he had not the slightest idea of how such a dream could become a reality in the light of the disadvantages under which a country boy labors without means. Mr. Kern looks back to the Union church with the feeling of profound- est gratitude for the spiritual uplift which she proved to be to him in his early boyhood days.
Mr. Kern laid the foundations of his educa- tional career in the old stone school building that still stands opposite the Union church. His first teacher, Mr. E. D. Rhoads, still lives at this writing. Mr. Rhoads was an all-around handy man in the community, who besides teaching
REV. ROBERT M. KERN.
the public school, being organist, janitor, and sex- ton of the church, farmed the congregation's farm and often took the place of the pastor in administering comfort at the bed-side of the sick and dying. The public schools at Neff's supplemented by the private "summer school," conducted by J. P. Deibert, prepared Mr. Kern for teaching in the public schools. After teach- ing a year in Washington township, he continued his studies at the Keystone State Normal School, where he graduated with honors in 1892. He
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spent one year as teacher at Bethany Orphans' Home, under the superintendency of the late Rev. Thomas M. Yundt. Mr. Yundt proved a great inspiration and gave Mr. Kern every en- couragement to enter the Christian ministry. After another year of preparation at the Key- stone State Normal School he enered the Sopho- more class at Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa., where he graduated in 1897, hav- ing taken several prizes in debates and oratorical contests. He at once entered the theological seminary, in May, 1900, representing the depart- ment of theology on the commencement program. During his senior year in the seminary, he was head librarian of the institution.
During his summer vacation of 1899 he sup- plied the pulpit at Hummelstown, Pa., and or- ganized a Sunday school and congregation at Packerton, Pa. The newly-organized flock bought and paid for a lot 100 by 200 feet before Mr. Kern left the places.
Mr. Kern was licensed to preach the Gospel by Lehigh Classis of the Reformed Church, at Blandon, Pa., May 16, 1900.
He at once received a call from the newly- organized congregation, known as St. Andrew's Reformed church, Allentown, Pa. The ministers of Allentown urged him strongly to assume this important and promising work. He accepted the call and preached the first sermon to his little flock in the old academy of music Sunday, July I, 1900. Here he has labored up to date and his history becomes one with that of his church from this time forth. In a word it is only just to say that the congregation numbered fifty-four when he came on the ground. It now is the second largest Reformed congregation in the city, num- bering near 1,200. The organization was absolute- ly without any means, no church, no chapel, not even a lot to build on. It now worships in one of the best equipped, largest, and most substantial stone structures in the city of Allentown. Rev. Kern has infused a missionary zeal into his mem- bership, which stands second to none in the classis when considered the financial ability of the con- gregation and the comparative youth of the whole organization.
Rev. Robert Miller Kern was united in mar- riage with Mary Alice Long on Feb. 18, 1906. The ceremony was performed by the uncle of the bride, Rev. S. A. Leinbach, D.D., of Reading, assisted by the late Rev. Ruloff, of Allentown. The wedding took place in St. Andrew's Reform- ed church, Allentown, on a Sunday morning in connection with the regular German service.
Mrs. Kern was the daughter of James W. Long and his wife, Alice, nee Geisinger. She
was born in Bucks county, Durham, Pa., and has one brother, Howard.
Rev. Kern has not only been faithful in his own particular parish, but has manifested a wholesome interest in the general work of the Church. For years he took an active part in the county Sabbath school work, having been the president for three years.
He was one of the founders of the Phoebe Deaconess and Old Folks Home; was a member of the board of trustees and of its executive com- mittee from the beginning to date. He devoted a great deal of time and attention to this cause.
He ever manifested a devout interest in the proceedings of classis and synod, never shirking duty whenever challenged by either.
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