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Title: |
John Kerr Papers |
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Repository: |
Western Reserve Historical Society
Phone: 216-721-5722 http://www.wrhs.org |
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Creator: |
Kerr, John |
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Dates: |
1788-1844 |
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Quantity: |
1.20 linear feet (3 containers) |
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Abstract: |
John Kerr (d. 1823) was the mayor of Columbus, Ohio, 1818-1819. The collection consists of letter books, diary, account books, field notes, survey books for land in and around Columbus, and other papers relating to various business, civic, and literary interests of Kerr, including the Chillicothe Library, the Chillicothe Polemic Society, and Franklinton Turnpike Road Company. Includes accounts of John Kerr and Company with Alexander McLaughlin and tax lists for Columbus (1821) and Montgomery County, Ohio (1822). |
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Identification: |
MS 0330 |
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Location: |
closed stacks |
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Language: |
The records are in English |
John Kerr (ca. 1778-1823) was born in Ireland and served as the second mayor of Columbus, Ohio, from 1818-1819. He founded the Columbus Literary Society and the Franklin Bank. He was one of the four original proprietors of Columbus in 1910. He was a member of the Master Masons Scioto Lodge #2, Franklinton Turnpike Road Company, and the Chillicothe and Columbus Library. Kerr owned a significant amount of property in and around Columbus, and upon the end of the War of 1812 became a wealthy man as land prices rose. However, a post-war economic collapse in land prices caused many original land owners in Columbus into bankruptcy, including Kerr's business partner Alexander McLaughlin, but Kerr survived the economic collapse relatively unscathed. When he died in 1823, his young family inherited his large estate, but soon lost it.
The John Kerr Papers, 1788-1844, consist of letter books, diary, account books, field notes, survey books for land in and around Columbus, and other papers relating to various business, civic, and literary interests of Kerr, including the Chillicothe Library, the Chillicothe Polemic Society, and Franklinton Turnpike Road Company. Includes accounts of John Kerr and Company with Alexander McLaughlin and tax lists for Columbus (1821) and Montgomery County, Ohio (1822).
This collection will be useful to researchers studying the early history of Columbus, Ohio, and the life of John Kerr (c. 1788-1823). Those interested in the Master Masons of Scioto Lodge #2, the financial and real estate business aspects of John Kerr's life, and his civic and cultural interests will find this collection useful. Kerr was born in Ireland, so this collection may be of interest to those studying Irish Americans in the United States.
While there are no access restrictions on this collection, researchers will be asked to use the microfilm of this collection.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 330 John Kerr Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio