My Genealogy Hound

KERNS, HIRAM, farmer, Sec. 26, P.O. Rockbridge. Is a native of Old Virginia; born in Frederick Co., Oct. 5, 1853, is the third of a family of seven children; born of Abner and Sarah Kerns. His mother dying at an early age, the family was then broken up and he was left to shift for himself, and at the tender age of twelve years, when most boys have just fairly begun their school days, he launched out in the world to meet with its tempests, and contend with its storms. He drifted about considerable up to the age of twenty; at this time he had learned the blacksmith’s trade, and then run one on his own account. Mr. Kerns has had a varied experience in life. At the breaking out of the war he had accumulated considerable property, but being a strong Union man, the Confederates showed him no mercy and he was stripped of everything he had in the way of effects—he was virtually ruined. He then was employed to do guard duty on the Baltimore & Ohio R. R. Mr. Kerns has been twice married; first to Elizabeth Hardy, July 17, 1856; had four children, three now living: Mary E., born July 18, 1857; Cornelia W., born Sept. 8, 1859; William G., born April 6, 1862. Wife died in 1863. He abandoned the blacksmith’s trade and began farming, and has since continued at the same. Aug. 29, 1865, was married second time to Mary J. Lutterill; she was born Dec. 1, 1843. They have had five children: Catherine R. S., born Aug. 17, 1866; Martha R., born Sept. 12, 1868; Aaron E., born Aug. 31, 1874; Anna I., born Aug. 25, 1877. Nov. 22, 1872, he emigrated to this State and county, and is now farming on the land owned by W. H. Dummers, near Rockbridge.