Notes for: Peter Kern
PETER KERN, farmer, P. O. Catawissa, was born in Warren County, N. J., November 17, 1817, a son of John and Gertrude (RIDGEWAY) KERN, both of whom were born in Warren County, N. J., and were of German descent. His grandparents on both sides came from Germany, emigrating direct to Pennsylvania, where, however, they took up land and lived until their deaths. The grandfather died in his eighty-fifth year. He and his wife were highly educated in the old country. Our subject's father was born in Warren County, N. J., in 1809 and was in his sixty-eighth year when he died. He was reared to farming which he followed all his life. Peter was reared on the homestead in his native State, where he remained until married, when he and his father-in-law came to Pennsylvania and bought a tract of land where he now resides. This was in 1840. the tract was a very large one, and when it was sold Mr. KERN bought 120 acres of the estate on which he has since lived. He married, August 23, 1839, Jane DAVISON, a native of New Jersey, by whom he had seven children, five of whom are living: Emma, wife of George TEITSWORTH; Martha, widow of Hiram COOL (Mr. COOL was wounded in the service of his country at the battle of Antietam, a bullet entering under his eye and coming out at the back of his neck; he suffered from this for seven years, at times in intense pain, and died November 10, 1870. His widow and three children make their home with Mr. KERN--Albert L., married to Matilta Rue; Ida, married to Wm. B. SNYDER, and Norman G., a graduate of Bloomsburg Normal School); Easic D., married to Loretta REINBOLD; John B., married to Hannah TRAUB; Margaret, wife of Rev. John B. BODINE; Jane and Lemuel are deceased. Mrs. KERN died April 1, 1884, deeply lamented by her husband. He is a member of he church; in politics a Republican (History of Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania, Battle, 1887 Catawissa Township pg. 403).