Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameSamuel George Kerr 
Birth22 Feb 1849, N. Ireland
Census24 Jun 1900, Chicago, Cook Co, IL
Memoroll#252, pg 23
Census24 Apr 1910, Chicago, Cook Co, IL
Memoroll#244, pg 6
Census5 Jan 1920, Chicago, Cook Co, IL
Memoroll#347, pg 3
Census2 Apr 1930, Boardman, Kalkaska Co, MI
Memoroll#999, pg 1
Death10 May 1932, Cadillac, Wexford Co, MI
BurialMt Hope Cem, Chicago, Cook Co, IL
FatherThomas Kerr (1812-)
Misc. Notes
The 1849 birth date is correct - see below.
A picture of he and his wife, Elizabeth Tedford, was included with the letters to his grandfather.
He and Lizzie are listed in the 1900 Chicago census with their 6 children after 13 yrs of marriage. It says he was working as a day laborer (Feb 1857, IRE) and immigrated in 1871, now naturalized.
1910 census lists him as working as a millwright (52, IRE) in the stockyards, and both he and his wife having immigrated in 1876. They have 5 sons and a daughter.
In 1920 he is listed as a machinist (62, IRE), and having immigrated in 1880, naturalized in 1886, while his wife immigrated in 1885. There are 3 sons and the daughter living at home.
The 1849 birth date is correct. When Samuel Kerr died, his daughter, Anne Mabel (Kerr) Youngdahl, wrote to Northern Ireland to get a copy of his birth certificate for insurance purposes. It turned out he was a lot older than he had claimed and had worked long after the regular retirement age of 65. He actually was 73 when he claimed to be 65. He then stayed on repairing machinery at the stock yards in Chicago another two years so he stopped working at age 75. He then moved to South Boardman, Michigan, and built a cabin all by himself in the woods near there.
By 1930 he had moved to Michigan and was a boarder, but listed as married 27 yrs, a millwright (70, IRE), immigrated in 1872 and naturalized. His wife and two sons are listed later on the same page.
[Obituary] Chicago Tribune - Tuesday, 10 May 1932, pg 22
KERR
Samuel G. Kerr, beloved husband of Elizabeth, nee Tedfcrd, father of Norman, Edward, Arthur, Mrs. Anna Youngdahl, and the late George and Walter Kerr. Funeral Thursday, May 12. at 3 p. m., at St. George church., 847 E. 76th-St. Interment Mount Hope. Body at chapel. 7350 Cottage Grove ave. until 1:30 p. m. Thursday.
A picture of he and his wife, Elizabeth Tedford, was included with the letters to his grandfather.
He and Lizzie are listed in the 1900 Chicago census with their 6 children after 13 yrs of marriage. It says he was working as a day laborer (Feb 1857, IRE) and immigrated in 1871, now naturalized.
1910 census lists him as working as a millwright (52, IRE) in the stockyards, and both he and his wife having immigrated in 1876. They have 5 sons and a daughter.
In 1920 he is listed as a machinist (62, IRE), and having immigrated in 1880, naturalized in 1886, while his wife immigrated in 1885. There are 3 sons and the daughter living at home.
The 1849 birth date is correct. When Samuel Kerr died, his daughter, Anne Mabel (Kerr) Youngdahl, wrote to Northern Ireland to get a copy of his birth certificate for insurance purposes. It turned out he was a lot older than he had claimed and had worked long after the regular retirement age of 65. He actually was 73 when he claimed to be 65. He then stayed on repairing machinery at the stock yards in Chicago another two years so he stopped working at age 75. He then moved to South Boardman, Michigan, and built a cabin all by himself in the woods near there.
By 1930 he had moved to Michigan and was a boarder, but listed as married 27 yrs, a millwright (70, IRE), immigrated in 1872 and naturalized. His wife and two sons are listed later on the same page.
[Obituary] Chicago Tribune - Tuesday, 10 May 1932, pg 22
KERR
Samuel G. Kerr, beloved husband of Elizabeth, nee Tedfcrd, father of Norman, Edward, Arthur, Mrs. Anna Youngdahl, and the late George and Walter Kerr. Funeral Thursday, May 12. at 3 p. m., at St. George church., 847 E. 76th-St. Interment Mount Hope. Body at chapel. 7350 Cottage Grove ave. until 1:30 p. m. Thursday.
Spouses
BirthMay 1864, Lurgan, Co Armagh, N. Ireland
Death11 Dec 1934, Chicago, Cook Co, IL
MemoFile #6033827
BurialMt Hope Cem, Chicago, Cook Co, IL
Misc. Notes
Daughter of George Tedford and Ann Mangan
1900 census lists her as having immigrated in 1885 and born May 1864, Ireland.
After Samuel's retirement, Elizabeth moved back and forth between Chicago and South Boardman, MI several times. Apparently she rented a room in a boarding house in South Boardman rather than stay in the cabin her husband built.
She is listed as head of household (65, IRE) in 1930, with sons Edward and Arthur, and was first married at age 22. It says she immigrated from Northern Ireland in 1887 and was naturalized. Her husband is listed nearby as a boarder with another family.
Elizabeth Kerr was living in Chicago with her daughter's family when she died in 1934. They were listening to Amos & Andy on the radio. At the end Elizabeth said "That was a funny one, wasn't it?" When Anna next looked over at her, she was dead.
[Obituary] Chicago Tribune - Thursday, 13 December 1934, pg 20
KERR
Elizabeth Tedford Kerr, native of Lurgan, Ireland, at home 52 E. 74th-St, beloved wife of the late Samuel, fond mother of Mrs. Anna Youngdahl, Norman, Edward, Arthur, and the late George and Walter Kerr. Remains at home until Friday noon. Eastern Star services at chapel, 7350 Cottage Grove Way at 1:30 P.M.
1900 census lists her as having immigrated in 1885 and born May 1864, Ireland.
After Samuel's retirement, Elizabeth moved back and forth between Chicago and South Boardman, MI several times. Apparently she rented a room in a boarding house in South Boardman rather than stay in the cabin her husband built.
She is listed as head of household (65, IRE) in 1930, with sons Edward and Arthur, and was first married at age 22. It says she immigrated from Northern Ireland in 1887 and was naturalized. Her husband is listed nearby as a boarder with another family.
Elizabeth Kerr was living in Chicago with her daughter's family when she died in 1934. They were listening to Amos & Andy on the radio. At the end Elizabeth said "That was a funny one, wasn't it?" When Anna next looked over at her, she was dead.
[Obituary] Chicago Tribune - Thursday, 13 December 1934, pg 20
KERR
Elizabeth Tedford Kerr, native of Lurgan, Ireland, at home 52 E. 74th-St, beloved wife of the late Samuel, fond mother of Mrs. Anna Youngdahl, Norman, Edward, Arthur, and the late George and Walter Kerr. Remains at home until Friday noon. Eastern Star services at chapel, 7350 Cottage Grove Way at 1:30 P.M.
Marriage30 Jan 1887, Chicago, Cook Co, IL
ChildrenGeorge T. (1888-1916)
Norman (1890-1974)
Edwin Thomas (1892-1959)
Walter Scott (1894-1914)
Arthur (1897-1976)
Anna Mabel “Annie” (1900-1965)