Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/246

 KERNAN

KERR

99; vice-president of the college, 1893-96, and president of the same as successor to Dr. William Waugh Smith, who became chancellor of the Randolph-Macon system, 1897-99. In 1899 he was elected professor of practical theology in Vanderbilt university. He received the degree of D.D. from Washington and Lee university in 1886. He is the author of: Ministry to the Con- gregation (1897).

KERNAN, Francis, senator, was born in Schuyler county, N.Y,, Jan. 14, 1816. He at- tended Georgetown college, D.C., graduating in 1836 and then commenced the study of law. He removed to Utica, N.Y., in 1839, entered as a student the law office of Joshua H. Spencer, was admitted to the bar in July, 1840, and practised in partnership with Mr. Spencer. He was reporter of the court of appeals of New York, 1854-57; was a member of the state assembly in 1861, and a Democratic representative from the 21st district of New York in the 38th congress, 1863-65, defeating Roscoe Conkling. He was a candidate for re-election to the 39th congress, but was de- feated by Mr. Conkling. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1867; and al- though a Roman Catholic, he advocated the ex- clusion of sectarian schools from the benefit of state acts. He was a member of the commission to report to the legislature the proposed amend- ments to the constitution which were adopted in

1874. He was the Democratic candidate for governor of New York in 1872, but was defeated by Gen. John A. Dix. He was elected to the U.S. senate by the Democratic legislature to suc- ceed R. E. Fenton, and took his seat, March 4,

1875, serving for the fall term expiring, March 3, 1881, and was defeated for re-election by Thomas C. Piatt. He was a school-commissioner in Utica, N.Y., for over twenty years and a regent of the University of the State of New York, 1870-92. He received the degree LL.D. from Georgetown university, Washington, D.C., in 1880. He died in Utica, N.Y., Sept. 7, 1892.

KERNEV, Martin Joseph, educationist, was born in Lewiston, Md., in August, 1819. His parents died while he was ail infant. He was graduated from Mount St. Mary's college, at Em- mitsburg, Md., in 1838; and established an acad- emy in Baltimore which he personally conducted. He prepared text books for Roman Catholic schools, adapted to their methods of education, which came into general use. He was admitted to the bar, practised law, and in 1852 was elected a representative in the legislature of Maryland. As chairman of the committee on education, he introduced a bill intended to place Roman Catholic schools on an equal with Protestant schools in the state. He was editor of the Metropolitan Magazine for a period of four years, and of the

Catholic Almanac, 1860-61. He is the author of: Catechism of the History of the United States and England; Catechism of Biography; Cate- chism of Scripture Histoi-y (1854:); Compendium of History (1851); an adaptation of Murray's Grammar (1851); Columbian Arithmetic (1856) He died in Baltimore. Md., March 16, 1861.

KERR, Charles Volney, educator, was born in Miami county, Ohio, March 27, 1861; son of George Washington and Nancy (Collins) Kerr. He attended the public schools of southern Illi- nois and was graduated from the Western Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, Ph. B., 1884, and from the Stevens Institute of Technology, M.E., 1888. He was married, Dec. 25, 1888, to Libbie A^Dplebee, of Wellsville, N.Y. He was instructor in mathe- matics and science at the Pratt institute, Brook- lyn, N.Y., 1888-89; assistant professor of mechan- ical engineering at the Western University of Pennsylvania, 1889-91; professor of engineering at the Arkansas Industrial universit}', 1891-96, and was appointed professor of mechanical engi- neering at the Armour Institute of Technology in 1896. He was elected a member of the Amer- ican Society of Mechanical Engineers, Nov. 30, 1892, and a member of the Western Society of Engineers and of the Western Railway club. The degree of Ph.D. was conferred on him by the Western University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of monographs on the Moment of Resist- ance; The Moment of Inertia, and of important contributions to technical journals and society papers.

KERR, David Ramsey, educator, was born at Cadiz, Ohio, March 2, 1850; son of James and Julia (Carrick) Kerr; grandson of Samuel and Jane(Smith) Kerr; great-grandson of James and Agnes (Carrick) Kerr and a descendant of John and Martha Kerr, who settled near Gettysburg, Pa., about 1740. He was graduated from Franklin college, New Athens, Ohio, in 1874, stiidied for the ministry at Western Theological seminary, Allegheny, Pa., 1876, and was pastor at Mer- cer, Pa., and at Omaha, Neb., 1876-90. He was president and professor at Bellevue college. University of Omaha, 1890-91, and in 1891 was elected chancellor of the university, continuing to occupy the chair of philosophy. He received the degree of Ph.D. from the Univei'sity of Omaha in 1889 and that of D.D. from Franklin college and the University of Omaha in 1891.

KERR, John, representative, was born in Cas- well county, N.C., Aug. 14. 1782; son of John and Mary (Graves) Kerr, and grandson of Alexan- der and Martha (Rice) Kerr. Alexander Kerr was one of several brothers who came to America from Scotland in the seventeenth century and settled in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, Alexander settling in that part of Orange county