Erwin W. Kercher

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle, 30 Aug 1907

Local Items

Ervin W. Kaercher, who has been employed in the Chronicle office for nearly a year, left Monday morning for Detroit, where he has secured employment. Ervln has made a large number of friends during his stay in Cass City and all join in wishing him success in his new venture. Wm. Schwain of Pigeon is now employed in the Chronicle office.

Robert Carlson writes that "In the 1910 census, Erwin was recorded as Ervin Karecher, and I suspect his birth name was probably Ervin Kaercher or Karecher. The spelling Karecher was used in a lot of documents of the family in Canada, but on the gravestones the spelling is Kaercher. "

According to his obituary, he worked at the Cass City Chronicle for 43 years, starting in 1909, leaving the paper in 1952 when his wife became ill. After her death, he worked part time in various Thumb newspaper plants, helping out during peak periods, in addition to maintaining his own printing establishment in the village of Cass City. He was survived by son Charles of Linwood, Lt. Col. Ferris Kercher in Japan and Capt. Gerald Kercher in Germany; a brother Clarence Kercher of Owosso; nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Erwin married Amanda Lillian Muck on 1 Sep 1909 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Amanda (daughter of Adam H. Muck and Susan Striffler) was born on 17 May 1888 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 3 Jun 1953 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Cass City Chronicle
Friday, September 3, 1909

Page One

September Weddings

A pretty home wedding was solemnized at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Muck, at eight o'clock Wednesday evening, when their youngest daughter, Amanda L., became the bride of Ervin W. Kaercher. Rev. J. A. Schweitzer was the officiating clergyman who tied the nuptial knot pronouncing the ceremony which united the lives of these estimable young people of our village. The wedding was a quiet one, witnessed only by a few of the immediate relatives of the bride and groom. The bride was becomingly attired in white and never appeared to better advantage while the groom wore the conventional black. Immediately after the ceremony the guests passed to the dining room where a bounteous and delicious lunch was partaken of. The bride is one of our most popular young ladies. From a little girl she has grown up in our midst honored by old and young alike. She is fully capable of filling the home she will adorn with happiness and will prove to be truly a helpmate and companion to the husband she has chosen to honor with her hand. The groom is one of our best young men and at present very ably fills a position at the Chronicle Printery. Mr. and Mrs. Kaercher will be at home to their friends in the Wooley residence on south Ale street.

Page Four

LOCAL ITEMS

Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Kaercher and son, Clarence, of Elkton attended the Muck-Kaercher wedding here Wednesday evening .

(Both courtesy of Robert Carlson)

1. Charles Russell Kercher, Sr. was born on 1 Feb 1910 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 6 Oct 1996 in Bay County, Michigan.
2. Ferris A. Kercher was born on 30 Apr 1916 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 5 Oct 2007 in Ocala, Marion County, Florida.
3. Gerald Frederick Kercher was born on 9 Jan 1924 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 21 Aug 2011 in Quaker Hill, New London County, Connecticut.

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, April 2, 1948
Volume 42, Number 49.
Page One.

John H. Kercher Died Sunday at Age of 88 Years

John H. Kercher, 88, passed away in an Owosso hospital on Sunday night where he had been a patient for four days. he had been in failing health for several weeks.

Funeral services were held int he Douglas Funeral Home on Thursday afternoon. Rev. Stanley P. Kirn, pastor of the Evangelical United Brethren Church of Cass City, of which Mr. Kercher was a member, was the officiating clergyman. Interment was made in the Colfax cemetery at Bad Axe.

John Henry Kercher was born November 2, 1859, at Sebringville, Ontario, and married Miss Louisa MERKLINGRE at Milverton, Ontario, March 9, 1886. In 1887, they came to Elkton, Michigan, which at that time only had two houses, both roughly hewn. He built a residence there in the fall of '87, and engaged in carpenter work, erecting many houses and large barns in and around Elkton and Pigeon.

After nine years, he returned to make Canada his home where he lived for five years and worked in a large furniture factory. In 1901, he again decided to make Michigan his home and came back to Elkton. He built seven different residences in and near Elkton which he sold.

He constructed the first Evangelical Church in Elkton in 1888, and rebuilt it it 1898. In 1918, it was destroyed by fire and he again helped to rebuild it as it now stands. He served as usher in the church for many years.

On August 25, 1929, Mrs. Kercher died after 4 1/2 years of illness from a stroke. Mr. Kercher came to Cass City that fall and has since made his home with his son Erwin W., here and with another son, C.G. Kercher, at Owosso.

Mr. Kercher carried on this trade as carpenter and cabinet maker well past his 80th birthday and spent many hours each day in a shop at the rear of his son's residence in Cass City.

Mr. Kercher is survived by two sons, Erwin W. Kercher of Cass City and Clarence G. Kercher of Owosso; six grandsons, Charles Kercher of Bay City, Capt. Ferris Kercher of Columbus, Ga., Lt. Gerald Kercher stationed at Munich, Germany, Harold and Richard Kercher of Owosso, and Robert Kercher of Flint; six great grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Andrew Eckmeyer, and three, nephews, Wesley, George and Gordon Strasser, and a niece, Hilda Strasser, of Stratford, Ont.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, February 15)

(Research):Census Information:

Name: John Karercher
[John Karescher]
Age in 1910: 48 [49]
Estimated birth year: abt 1862 [abt 1861]
Birthplace: Canada
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Canada
Mother's Birth Place: Canada
Spouse's name: Louise {birthplace Canada}
Home in 1910: Oliver, Huron, Michigan {Village of Elkton}
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Year of Immigration: 1885
{Occupation: Carpenter}
Household Members: Name Age
John Karercher 48
Louise Karercher 43
Clarence Karercher 15

(Courtesy of Robert Carlson)

John married Louisa Merklinger on 9 Mar 1886 in Milverton, Ontario, Canada. Louisa was born about 1867 in Canada; died on 25 Aug 1929. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]