By: Mark Holtsberry
Harry Harrison Kerns was born in Antwerp, Ohio July 30, 1888, the son of Mathew Allison born July 1844 in Ohio and Margaret (Groscost) Kerns born February 1850 in Ohio. Thomas was a Civil War Veteran who served with Company A. 66th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served October 25, 1861 to July 1, 1863. This couple was married February 26, 1868 in Indiana. They became the parents of Cynthie Anne born February 5, 1869, Thomas L. June 29, 1871, Moses Edward May 15, 1875, Ellen Barbara January 7, 1880, Carrie August 1883, John January 1886, and Harry H. July 1888.
This family lived in Antwerp, Ohio throughout the 1880’s and 1890’s. Mathew worked as a laborer in Antwerp. By 1900, the Kerns family, except for Cynthie, Thomas and Moses Edward whom all married, were still living in Antwerp and surrounding area.
In 1898, Moses Edward joined Company B. 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish American War. The other children were in school. By 1910, Ellen Barbara married and moved out of the home. John and Harry were still at home, and Mathew was working odd jobs. They lived on Perry Street in Antwerp.
In 1914, Mathew passed away and was buried in Maumee Cemetery. On June 3, 1917, Harry joined the National Guard out of Paulding and served in Company B. 2nd Ohio National Guard. He served until July 28, 1917, was Honorably Discharged. He was given a surgeon’s certificate of disability and labeled as, “almost totally disabled”.
On September 12, 1918, Harry’s brother John, registered for the draft. He was listed as medium height and build, blue eyes and brown hair. He was a farm laborer for Harrison Farms. John was not selected to serve, but Thomas’s sons, Theadore Allen and William M. also registered for the draft. On June 5, 1917, Theadore was listed as tall and slender build, gray eyes and light hair, he was missing a leg, so he was not chosen.
William was listed as medium height and build, blue eyes and light hair, and served with Company I. 77th infantry. He was Honorably Discharged, January 31, 1919. By 1920, Harry and brother John were living with their mother, Margaret on River Street in Antwerp, and were working as laborers.
Margaret passed away in 1929 and was buried with Mathew in Maumee Cemetery. By 1930, Harry was living with brother John at 667 East River Street in Antwerp and was working as a laborer on the Railroad, John was working as a laborer on a road crew.
On January 19, 1934, Harry
passed away due to heart disease and was buried in Maumee Cemetery in Lot 505, grave 3. John passed away December 4, 1939 and is buried with parents, brothers Harry, Edward, Thomas, sister Ellen and also Avery Harrison Kerns. Avery is the son of Thomas, born in 1902 and he served in World War Two with Coastal Artillery Headquarters, 222 Anti-Aircraft Battery. He passed away in 1977.
