Clarence G. Kercher

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]