Henry Fansler, the first settler and namer of the Canaan Valley of Tucker County, West Virginia, was born in 1761, in Cumru township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, which was just a few miles south of the present city of Reading. He was the eldest of the ten children of Dietrich and Eliza Margaret Fansler.

Henry Fansler

Freeborn W. Johnson, a prominent agriculturist and an early settler of Clarke County, is a native of Indiana, born near Spencer, in Owen County, Oct. 7, 1821. His father, David Johnson, was a native of Virginia, born in 1782, of English descent, and his mother, Patsy (Cutler) Johnson, was born in the State of New York, but removed to Virginia before her marriage. She died when our subject was a child. After their marriage the parents went to Ohio, and later removed to Indiana, where the subject of this sketch was born. Both father and mother died in that state. Freeborn W. grew to maturity in his native state, receiving such educational advantages as the common schools of that early day afforded. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, his father being a farmer by occupation. He was married in his nineteenth year to Electa Barrows, a native of Indiana. They have six children living—Mattie, wife of Adam Kerns; Moses T., Thomas A., Freeborn W., Cord S., Viola, wife of John Ream. After his marriage Mr. Johnson settled on land which he brought from a wild state to a well-improved farm, on which he resided till the spring of 1854. He then moved to Clarke County, Iowa, and entered a tract of land containing 200 acres, four miles northwest of Osceola, and at once began improving his farm, which was then entirely unimproved. His first house was made of rails, the roof being covered with hay, but later he built a more comfortable residence out of hewed logs, in which he lived until 1857, when he traded a part of his farm for a stock of goods, moved to Osceola, where he carried on a general mercantile business for 20 years. At the same time he also dealt largely in stock, and at one time drove over 100 head of fat cattle to Chicago. In 1880 he retired from active business life, since which time he has lived somewhat retired, but still owns considerable stock. His present fine residence was erected in 1860, this being the first brick house in Osceola, and the second which was built in Clarke County. Mr. Johnson came to Clarke County with limited means, but being a man of great energy and persevering industry, he has by his own efforts gained a good competency for his declining years. He is an ardent temperance man and a strong advocate of law and order. Both he and his wife have been members of the Methodist Protestant church for the past forty-seven years. Their son, Frederick, enlisted in the Union army in 1862, a member of Company F, Sixth Iowa Infantry. He received a gun shot wound at the Battle of Missionary Ridge, from the effects of which he died in 1868. He was a special favorite with all his acquaintances, and his death was a source of universal regret.

Freeborn Wesley Johnson Family

Adam Kerns, of Fremont Township, is a native of Morrow County, Ohio, born July 14, 1831, a son of James and Sarah (Fansler) Kerns. When he was fourteen years old his father was killed by a falling tree, and he was then thrown on his own resources and started out to fight the battle of life alone, with no one to counsel or guide. He left the old home barefooted and with clothing barely sufficient to cover him, and first found employment with an old gentleman named James Blokson. He remained with him three months, receiving $12 a month for his services. He then worked by the day at Mt. Gilead, at anything he could find to do, and for a time was employed in the saw-mill of Peter Doty, who proved a warm friend to the orphan boy. When twenty-three years old he came to Osceola, Clarke County, Iowa. He had saved about $500 of his earnings, and this he gave for the proceeds of a half interest in a saw-mill, and at the end of a year had $2,200. He then bought a mill of Cooper & Clark, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and erected it in Fremont Township, but soon after sold it to Bennett & Crawford, and went to Missouri, and on the day of James Buchanan’s election to the presidency, put up a mill for Williams & Co. He then went to Adair County, Iowa, and thence to Burt County, Nebraska, but was unsuccessful in his ventures and returned to Osceola, and bought a mill in company with Nathan McGrew. This partnership continued about eight years, with good results. His first purchase of land was 160 acres in Fremont Township. This is still his home, but he has increased his acreage by subsequent purchases to 380. His land is all under cultivation and his improvements are among the best in the township. Mr. Kerns is purely a self-made man, his accumulations being due to his persevering industry and strict business integrity. He was married in October, 1863, to Miss Mattie R. Johnston, daughter of F.W. and Electa (Barrs) Johnston, of Osceola. To them have been born seven children—Julia, Lilly, James, Walter, Kittie, Leona Viola, and Frederick. The latter is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Kerns are members of the Missionary Baptist church. In politics he is a Republican.

Adam and Mattie Kerns

Martha R. Johnson Kerns

Adam Kerns

One summer when I was eight or nine years old Grandma and Grandfather Kerns were out for a visit from Oregon. I don’t think Grandfather was too well, but he did want to go to the mountains. My brother Herb and I went horseback with Grandma and Grandpa up to the Kerns cow camp on Dryfork. I doubt we stayed more than a couple of nights. I know Grandmother made some of her hard butterscotch candy that we children thought was wonderful. She would only let Herb and me have a piece for every so many bundles of fanweed that we would pull from around the cabin yard. I think we pulled lots of that smelly old weed to get several pieces of that delicious candy….

My first memories of the James Kerns family were when I was a little girl. I would often spend a good part of the summer on the TR ranch with my grandfather and grandmother Dana.

I shall tell about the Crow Indians as I have known them for years as our neighbors. My father’s ranch, which my brother Jack now owns, lies west of Pass Creek and is bounded on the north by the Crow Indian reservation. Pat and I bought a ranch two miles farther west between my father’s ranch and the Little Horn River, and it too, is bounded on the north by the reservation. For years Indians were our close neighbors and our most frequent visitors. Even after moving to town, because we lease land from the Crows, we have Indian callers on the average of one a week for they are always trying to get more money advanced on their leases.

To our family, I remember
Twins were born in late September.
Soon after that, one day in fall,
Mary-One-Goose came to call.

Uncle Bill Cooley lived with us until 1910, when he took up a claim on the bench, a mountain flat land above the old Woodley place. At the Kerns ranch, I always sat next to my Bill, and as a small child was his special charge, giving mama a freer rein to take care of Bert and Jack. Jo and John were older and more precocious and needed less supervision. Later, Uncle Bill sold his place and moved to Castle Rock, Montana.

James: Tell us about this experience in Slack. You went to school over the hill?
Kate: We had to walk sometimes, and sometimes we rode. As Peggy says, we rode and tied. When we had to ride and tie, two of us would ride say two-and-a-half miles, and then we’d tie the horse up on top of the hill, and then the others would come along, and two would go ahead and walk, and those that were coming along would get on the horse and ride the rest of the way.

James: Tell me about the twins’ birth. What were the stories that led up to that?
Peggy: Well, I can tell you the after stories. I think we were born in the afternoon, and there wasn’t a doctor present.
James: Where were you born?

Lora Olive Cooley Kerns was born May 1, 1873 in Osceola, Iowa.
When she was a young woman, her parents sent her to a school in Adrian, Michigan to study music. She soon realized she had little musical talent and less interest in music, so without her parents’ knowledge she studied bookkeeping instead. Her parents were disappointed, but they later appreciated her “good business head” when she worked in her father’s office when he was county treasurer.

The photograph I have of him as a young man reminds me of a good-looking young Englishman, not of the stocky John Bull type, however. His eldest son, John, was a throwback to that type. His appearance was more romantic, with large, keen, wide-set eyes, definite eyebrows, almost bushy. He had a fine forehead and nose and a handsome head of wavy hair. His mouth betrayed a readiness at rebuttal. He was of the type seen among English actors, poets, writers, and lawyers.

James Wesley Kerns

James and Lora Kerns Family

Dad—when I first met him—about twenty one years old. Picture this—A church social at the Kerns’ home—otherwise “Jimmy” would not have been present. A lonely looking boy sitting off by himself—head shaved clean. A girl thinking it some of her business to help entertain lonely boys at church socials. The adventurous girl asks the lonely boy why did he shave his head. Lonely boy says solemnly, “To keep girls and fleas from bothering me.”

Tom Lorance Kerns

James Wesley Kerns

Janet: I was born November 7th, in the Eugene Hospital in Eugene.
James: You were actually born in a hospital?
Janet: Yes, I was actually born in a hospital. It was on Willamette Street.

I haven’t felt like I had much to contribute to our family remembrances, since I’m the youngest and hang on every word of stories told by my older siblings. But perhaps I do have a unique perspective being raised so late in our parent’s life. Rather than experiencing things first hand, I had the privilege of getting Mother’s “looking back” versions. I recall thinking at the time of her telling me these stories, how she had told them over and over again. But they were always relevant to some life experience I was either going through or would go through. When she passed away, I so longed to hear those stories again from her. And I kicked myself for not being more attentive as she told them, because they were a help through my own life’s experiences.

Brother Tim said he and James spent a lot of time together. They were siblings only three years apart in age.
He remembers when Ellen was born in March of 1954; they ate a lot of corn flakes. Tim was ten years old and James almost seven. Mom was in the hospital for ten days, so Dad would take the boys down to the Haines store to buy corn flakes and animal crackers. The boys even got prizes out of the cereal.

My mother was a woman with a project. Her projects were her reward to herself for getting her work done.

I like the idea of this service. It’s simple, and done by the family. I’d like to say something, too, but I don’t think I’d be up to it.

We’re here today to pay tribute to a special lady. We thought it would be fitting and appropriate if the family could handle the service.

Janet Bernice Kerns, age 71, passed away November 24, 1982 at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande, Oregon after a short illness.

Tom Kerns, 86, a longtime Haines resident, died April 22, 1997, at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande.

We’re sure going to miss Mom, but I really feel at peace now. She always told me she wanted to die with her shoes on, and while she was in the hospital she developed foot dropsy—and they told me, “Go up and get her a pair of high-topped sneakers, and that would help.” So last week I had to go get her a pair of high-topped sneakers, and she died with her shoes on.

Dad left us all a legacy, but it has no golden glitter.
It’s not the inheritance he had dreamed, some day to be delivered.
Some might say it has no worth.
At least those whose sights are set on earth.

Mother knew how to say hello: “Hello. Come on in. Sit down. Have you eaten? We’re glad to see you.” Her family and friends always enjoyed her company.

We’ve come today to celebrate the life of Tom Kerns whom we all love. At the same time we celebrate his life, we also mourn his passing, though we realize he was ready to go. Five of us are his children, and—if I counted right—20 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. The overwhelming majority of us lives and works within reasonable walking distance of this spot where we now stand. And it’s been a comfort to those few of us who are renegades—we moved away—that Dad had so many kids and grandkids for company throughout the years.

Jean: By just a few minutes, Tom Lorance Kerns was the youngest of the seven children of James Wesley Kerns and Lora Cooley Kerns. His next older sibling was his twin, Margaret Olive (Peggy). The children were from eldest to youngest John, Josephine (Jo), Katherine (Kate), Albert (Bert), Jack, Peggy and Tom. Peggy and Tom were 14 years younger than John.

Children of Tom and Janet Kerns, 2007

Janet Bernice McCornack as a child

Janet Bernice McCornack

Tom Kerns as a baby

Tom Lorance Kerns

Pedigree Chart for children of Tom and Janet

“A Noble Heritage” Table of Contents

Introduction to “A Noble Heritage”

Cover of “Poems”