MARION JOSEPH KERR

by Mary Ellen Kerr Gee (daughter)

 

Marion Joseph Kerr was born on November 6, 1861 in Richmond, Cache County, Utah.  He was the son of Robert Marion Kerr and Nancy Jane Rawlins.  They were among the first families to settle in Richmond, Utah.

 

Their home was a carpet-covered wagon box, where Marion Joseph, their first child was born.

 

The Indians were troublesome.  The young father, Robert Marion Kerr, often stood guard - a bullet-marked hat was kept many years as a souvenir.  A dug-out replaced the wagon box.  Later a six room, two story house took the place of the dug-out.  This was a home where family and friends were always welcome.  The children and grandchildren shared many adventures in the large barn, the orchard, the farm and surrounding hills.  When the east wind roared down the nearby canyon, everyone hurried to the rock cellar built under a hill.

 

Joseph’s boyhood days were typical of those pioneer times.  School in the winter, long hours of labor on the farm or in the canyon.  All was not work, however.  There were sports of skill and daring.  “Joe” Kerr or “Curley” as he was called, was the first to take any suggestion.  No horse was too wild for him to ride.  On one occasion he was thrown and severely injured.  One eye was displaced and lay out on his cheek.  Through the faith and prayers of family and friends, he fully recovered.  The isolated pioneers had to provide their own entertainment and  Marion Joseph participated in musicals, debates, and dramas.

 

Early in his life, he assumed the responsibility of taking care of the family, while his father,  Robert Kerr was on a mission in Texas.

 

At the age of nineteen, Marion Joseph married Ella Rebecca Merrill, age seventeen, daughter of Marriner Wood Merrill and Cyrene Standley.  Joseph and Ella became the parents of ten children - Mary, Joseph - “Jody”, Ivin, Robert, Alta, Vera, Cyrene, Ella, Elda, and Wynona.

 

The Kerr home in Richmond, Utah, was a two-story brick home, surrounded by an orchard of apples, pears, plums, peaches, and apricots.  A spring of cold water was piped to the house.  Ella took care of a colony of bees.  There was great excitement when the bees swarmed and also when honey was taken from the hives.

 

After the birth of the third child, Ivin, the young parents decided that Marion Joseph should attend the University of Utah.  Joseph L.  Rawlins, an uncle - Utah’s first representative in Congress, also first Senator - offered to help the ambitious young man. 

 

With Grandfather Rawlins, Joseph engaged for a time in railroading and contracting at the Jordan Narrows.  Later the farms at Richmond and Fairview occupied his attention. 

 

Marion Joseph participated in many debates, musicals and home dramatic plays.  He chose to be the villain or a black-faced comedian song and dance man, accompanying himself on the banjo or accordion.  Once he played the role of lover.  His daughter heard his wife, Ella, giving him his cues after the children were in bed.  People also loved to dance to the music of Joseph’s accordion.

 

There were periods of illness in the Kerr home - one was especially serious.  Ella was in bed with a new baby, Alta.   Four of the other children were very ill with scarlet fever.  Marion Joseph went from bed to bed, being both the nurse and the doctor.  On one occasion when Ella was ill, Marion did the washing and hung the clothes helter-skelter on the line.  A friend who was passing came in and said, “I know Ella is ill because “Joe” hung the clothes out. 

 

In sickness or in health, the parents carried on.  They went faithfully to meetings on the Sabbath and to fast meeting once a month on Thursdays at 2:00 p.m.  Horses were taken from the work in the fields, and young and old attended the meetings.

 

Joseph Kerr and his young companion, Joseph F. Merrill, would set out on horseback to visit their scattered ward teachers district.  This was the beginning of church responsibilities for the youth, who would later become an apostle.  Merrill often paid tribute to his companion, Marion Joseph Kerr for his early training.

 

There were many pleasant memories from those long ago days.  Joseph had a beautiful tenor voice and taught his family many of the songs that he loved to sing.  Especially memorable was the song, “I’ll Take You Home, Kathleen.”  Every night, Jody and Ivin gave a concert before they went to sleep.  Mary Ellen and Robert were the upstairs audience with Ella and Joseph enjoying it downstairs as well.

 

Stories of a hunter’s paradise near St. Anthony, Idaho inspired Joseph and a number of friends to investigate.  They were not disappointed.  Deer and elk in great numbers roamed the virgin territory.  They found not only a delightful hunting ground, but saw an unconquered agricultural region.  As a result, in the spring of 1894, several men filed on homesteads near the present site of Ashton, Fremont County, Idaho.

 

In April of 1895, Joseph, “Jody”, and Ivin took the stock and machinery and drove to the new home.  The journey took many days.  Then in May, Ella and five children with Mary the oldest at age fourteen, moved with the household furniture and made the trip to Market Lake by train.  Here they were met by Joseph, Jody and Ivin, with wagons to take them to the new homestead.  It was a great change from the comfortable brick home to the two-room log cabin.  But with undaunted courage, Ella worked early and late to make a pleasant home.  She was not satisfied with the rough logs and pin-pole ceiling.  Several coats of “white wash” on the walls and “factory” on the ceiling made the Kerr home quite a novelty.  People came for miles to take note and to hear the family’s organ.

 

A branch of the church (Arcadia) was organized with Joseph as presiding Elder.  He later became Bishop of the Ora, Idaho ward.  It became Ora when a post office was established there and Ella was later appointed as the post mistress.  Though few in numbers, members of the church attended the services which were held in the Kerr home.  Joseph taught the older group and led the singing.  Ella taught the younger children.  Mary Ellen - the eldest daughter - played the organ.  An interesting feature of these church gatherings was that everyone was expected to stay for dinner.  With true Western hospitality, everyone was made welcome.  The dishes would be washed, then the table set again and again.

 

The Kerr home was the gathering place, not only for church services, but for dances on the rough floor.  They danced to the music of the Kerr organ and to harmonicas.

 

For an old-time 24^th of July celebration, a large bowery was built on the south side of the house.  A typical program was given by both young and old.  This was only the beginning of many Kerr “home-made” entertainments.  A choir and a male quartet encouraged an interest in music.  Joseph also directed an amateur play, which was presented in a neighboring town.

 

One of the first concerns of the parents was a school.  There was no county district, so a tuition school was held.  William E. Gee, who was later to marry Joseph’s eldest daughter - Mary Ellen - was one of the early teachers and he took fence posts for his pay.  There were times when the snow was four feet deep and there were no roads.  Both the teacher and the children went to school on skiis.  Mail was brought to families by dog-teams or snowshoes. 

 

Winters were long and cold.  Often the snow would drift until the houses and other buildings were completely covered and it would be necessary to “shovel out.”

 

Despite all this, the men folks made regular trips to the timber for fuel and building materials.  Hunting trips were filled with excitement and adventure.  Game was plentiful and supplied meat as well as furs for robes and great coats.

 

This was a community where the spirit of brotherhood and friendship prevailed, when old and young joined in all the social gatherings.  Simple pleasures added richness to the lives of these sturdy folks.

 

With the passing of time, the log home/church gave place to a frame building.  Joseph built a nine-room, two-story house, the first in the valley to have plumbing and electric lights.  The Kerr hospitality was extended to all who came - friends or strangers.  When the Kerr dinner bell sounded its clarion call for the workers in distant fields, neighbors or passersby would frequently saunter in with the laconic remark, “We know you always have plenty for a few more, so we invited ourselves to dinner.”  Often there would be twenty seated at the long table.

 

Joseph’s interests were not confined to this small settlement.  He took a lively interest in politics.  He was known as “Fremont County’s War Horse,” and was given a gold watch bearing that inscription.

 

When Idaho’s Senator, Fred T.  Dubois, succeeded in having the Mormon voters disenfranchised, M. J. Kerr toured the state, lifting his voice in fiery protest against such injustice. Others joined in the fight and the nefarious act was repealed.  During World War I, Joseph was appointed Commissioner of Labor for the state of Idaho.  He was called to Washington, DC a number of times to confer with President Woodrow Wilson.

 

While serving as County Commissioner of Fremont County, he gave special attention to the building of reservoirs, canals, bridges and the betterment of conditions in general.  His interest in education is evidenced by his liberal support of Ricks College.  Nine of his children attended that institution.   Ivin and Robert went on to receive degrees from Oregon Agricultural College in Oregon where an uncle Dr.  W.  J.  Kerr was President.  Six of his daughters taught in county schools.  This interest in education has continued in his posterity.  In 1959, twenty of his living family members held twenty seven college degrees.

 

Joseph was always interested in the activities of his family - debates, dramas, orations, operettas, athletic meets and Scout awards.  Whenever possible, he made it a point to be in attendance at these events.

 

Time brought changes.  He was called to the bishop of the new Ashton ward and helped direct the building of a chapel.  When Yellowstone Stake was organized, he was chosen second counselor in the Presidency.  This necessitated his leaving the ranch, where his family had lived so many years.  They had been years of rich and varied experiences - of joys and sorrows - the greatest sorrow being the death of Jody, who had become ill while attending the A.C. at Logan.  A later sorrow was the death of Ella, a school teacher.

 

There were also gains and losses in raising cattle, sheep and hogs.  Joseph’s great love was for the land.  He rejoiced to see the broad acres of golden grain, which too often was ruined by heavy frosts.  Undaunted he planted again and again.  Many men were employed on the ranch, but father was always the first one up.  He would come to the stairway and sing, “Hail to the Brightness of Zion’s Glad Morning.”  The girls would hurry down to prepare a six o’clock breakfast, while he went to the boys’ room to line up the plans for the day.  Despite long hours of work, the family often gathered around the organ and joined in singing familiar songs. 

 

After the move to St.  Anthony which were the headquarters for the Yellowstone Stake, Robert - a son - and his wife, Annie supervised the activities on the farm.  Meanwhile in St.  Anthony, under the leadership of Daniel G.  Miller, James E.  Fogg, and Marion J.  Kerr, a commodious and beautiful tabernacle was erected.  Joseph was given general supervision of the work.  This building stood as a monument to those early Saints for many years.

 

As a member of the Stake Presidency, Joseph was closely associated with the Church General Authorities, who were often entertained in his home.  His wife, Ella, was a friendly and gracious hostess and gave them a warm welcome.

 

Throughout his long life, Joseph’s devotion to the Church was sincere.  He was proud of his heritage, and often spoke of his close association with his Grandfather Rawlins.  He deemed it a special privilege to sit beside him in the meetings that were held in the Salt Lake Temple.

 

A few days before his death, Joseph spoke in an M.I.A. meeting and also in a Sacrament service.  He was always a worthy example to his children and grandchildren.  They might well remember some of his mottoes - “You Can Do It,” and “Remember Who You Are.”

 

The same praised may be truly given to Ella Rebecca Merrill Kerr, who with loyal devotion, stood beside him through joys and sorrows.  She, too, served as an officer in wards and stake.  She was a ministering angel to the sick, a mother to the lonely and discouraged - and she always extended old-fashioned hospitality to friends and strangers; she found great pleasure in this service.

 

Ella Kerr passed away at the age of seventy six in her home in St.  Anthony, Idaho on March 17, 1939.  She was buried on March 20 in the St.  Anthony cemetery after a beautiful service was held in the Tabernacle.  Many sincere tributes were paid to her for the unselfish service she had given to her family, church and the many who had come to her for aid and encouragement.  One of the speakers was her brother, Apostle Joseph F. Merrill.

 

Joseph remained in the family home for a short time.  After an illness and surgery, he made his home with his son, Robert and Annie Kerr, who lived in Rexburg.  He made occasional visits to his children who lived elsewhere.  Annie gave him every attention - she often took him to visit old friends and to their funerals.  She invited him to go with her to the meetings of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, where he occasionally led the singing.

 

Marion Joseph Kerr passed away at the Robert Kerr home on May 17, 1942 and was buried beside his wife, Ella in the St.  Anthony cemetery on May 20, 1942.  The Tabernacle - which he had helped build - was filled to overflowing by his many friends who had come from far and near to pay tribute for his devotion to the Church and to the community.  Among the speakers were his brother, Dr. William J.  Kerr, Chancellor of Higher Education for the state of Oregon.  A grandson, Merrill Gee, sang, “Rest, Rest for the Weary.”  Other family members participated in the services.

 

There is something nostalgic about the passing of Pioneer Days.  The world moves on, but ever and always the children of these sturdy folk of by-gone years, will honor and revere them.  The stories of their accomplishments, despite almost insurmountable obstacles, give us faith and courage and add richness to our lives.