Dr. Theodore F. Kerr

Theodore F. Kerr was the son of Alexander and Harriet (Hammond) Kerr. His father was born in New Jersey, and his mother in New York.

He was born May 29, 1846 near Owosco Lake, Cayuga, New York. In 1856 he moved with his parents to a farm near Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was a graduate of High School, the University of Michigan, College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City in 1874 He taught Latin and Mathematics in the Military Academy in Oakland, California 1869-71. He was Principal of schools of Buffalo, New York in 1872. In 1874 he practiced as a doctor in Detroit, Michigan 1874 to 1881 when he came to Griggs County.

Dr. Kerr was married in 1874 to Miss Eliza Hill, daughter of Fitch and Martha Hill of Washtenaw County, Michigan, near R. C. Cooper's old home. They had two sons who died in infancy before they came to Cooperstown.

Dr. Kerr served as County Superintendent of Schools in Griggs County from 1882 to 1894. He organized the first schools of the county.

With only surveyors posts to guide him he went anywhere he was called to the sick. Many stories are told of these trips. On some he went alone, and others with drivers. One such story tells of how he stopped when he got to where he thought the sick person was, but could see no house. Then he saw smoke coming out of a snow bank, and discovered that a drift covered the sod house completely.

Dr. and Mrs. Kerr were both interested in the local activities of Cooperstown. He called a Republican County Convention for Griggs County for October 20, 1883 to nominate county officers for the first election after the division of the county. The Doctor was also a member of the first Commercial Club in 1888, and Mrs. Kerr worked in church activities.

Mr. and Mrs. Kerr left Cooperstown in 1905 because of the poor health of the Doctor, and returned to Michigan.

Source:  Cooperstown Diamond Jubilee 1882-1957 Page 60