The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-26
THE LATE SPEAKER KERR.
r,rvIx,StENCES OF A REPRESENTATIVE
,.,ErEE-A STORY OF EARLY POVERTY
,<p INpOMITARLE AMBITIOS-CHARAC-
rrpI>TiCS OF \ REMARKABLE MAN.
u: the Graphic, Republican

.,-,rrcsuou,iyncc u: the Graphic, Republican
inlErI
rrrr pa. August 22-In the fall OF 1914,
.itrr the harvesting was over and the frult
from The orchards gathered in, long, lean,
Iank, awkward boy came from the then scat
tered village OF Titusville for winters
..,choolin" at the Erie Academy. He wore
brown homcspun. and carried his baggage
wrappcd in the traditional handkerchief,
suspended from 4 cane over his shoulder.
Ui> manners were gawkyish, bis demcanor
h,>hiul and excessively retiring, his face was
1ua,tractive, and his figure as ungainly aS q
healthy figure could be. His voice is re-
mrmbcrcd rs the most attractive character
i.tic OF his person, for it was rich and mu-
steal. and he spoke with q broad Irish
Lrngue. That boys dead body is now on
i. wav from Washington to New Albany,
Ind, and the name upon the cotfin-plate is
Michael c. Kerr.
TIE Future SPEAKER'S SCHOOLING.
There are many here who remember him
., he crew rapidly in intellectual develop
mont ~ 4 plant from cellar bursts with
life wien the sunshine strikes it, and they
sax that before the first winters term was
over he was the first boy in the school. He
wen, back to Titusvile in the spring, and
worked till fall on his fathers farm, return
in"to Erie again after harvest. He spent three
winters in the academy. graduated, and en-
,crri The office OF Judge John Galbralth, Z
,,romincnt llri>t oi that day, ana 4 man pro-
mincntly identified with early Pennsylvania
politicS, 10 study law. 1t was an honor many
vouno men sought-to study law with
.Iudrc Galhraith. and the best lawyers IN
Western PENNSYLVANIA were his students.
For two wears Young Kerr was student IN
Galbraith's office, and, although obscure,
was noticeable for Il brilliant intellect and
the persistent devotion to duty that became
his characteristic in after life. lie was Sc
elusive in his habits. never sought society,
and never seemed TO encourage those VINO
sought him. His business was the study OF
Judge Galbrath'> law-books; his recrca-
ton debating society ut the academy OF
which he was i leading member.
He WAS Very poor, and clothed himself
with honcSpun from his mothers loom.
He lived with Widow CoOyer. his aunt, who
earned scant sustenance by binding shoes,
and kept company with Polly Coovcr,
his cousin. who taught private school in
room over little store which stood where
Wri-ht'> block now stands, near the park
in Erie. Polly Coover'S school was attend
ed bv all OF the more aristocratic children
in the village; her pupils did not need tc
work summers so aS to earn enough to buy
aWintcr'S leisure for study, and she KEPT
her school in constant session. One sum
ncr she was standing in the window OF
her >chool-room, tacking up Il curtain Will
a lar-e hammer, when she slipped ant
iyll hvadlong to the ground below. Hel
hammer in some strange way got under hel
chin. and in the conclusion its claws were
forced through her jaw. That is the wa!
Mrs. Kerr received the scar which dis
figures her neck to-day. Both arms were
broken in her fall from the window, ant
she lav i'll Tor 4 long time. This story wa:
told me by those who nursed her. Polly
Coover was very popular, especially will
the children. The class Of younger enid
d!c-agcd" people here who were her pupil:
say She was the best teacher they evel
knew. She was tne-looking, attractive in
feature and manner, spirited, and witty.
Mr.. HERR's SECRET MARRIAGE.
Michael Kerr read law here two years.
was admitted to the bar, taught school for 9
year, and made money enough to carry him
TO Indiana, where he commenced practice.
After he had been there several years he re-
turned to Erie, and when he game Polly
Coover introduced him rs her husband.
They had been secretly married while be
was here studying law. That explained
why Polly Coover had refused attentions
from other young men, apd gave the gos'
sips an interesting topic. They (Mr. Kerr
and his wife) went back TO Indiana, and
took their mother with them; but they all
have frequently visited Erie to notice the
changes that time has made in the scene OF
their courtship and early struggles. Many
relatives OF both Mr.. and Mrs. Kerr still
live in this section Of the State. He has a
sister here, Mrs. DR.. Elliott, the esteemed
Wife OF II prominent dentist.
THE IRON-CLAD OATH. .
Speaker kerr's death will not only be re-
@rettcd where he was personally known,
but wherever his sterling qualities had
thrown their influence The worst that was
ever SAID OF him was that he sympathized
WIN inc rebellion. / believe it was true
lhat ne did; and when I looked in bis face
"nei nc was taking the iron-clad oath, after
oeihs elected Speaker last fall, thought /
"a" atWllching OF the muscles and shadow
VI uoupt IN his eyes ut the propriety OF
swearing that he had never furnished "aid
VI encouragement to any government or
pretended governments Those who wit
messed that scene will remember it for
ever. Inc new Speaker stood be-
"..h, VIII HIS lace Us Dal6 us Wullc
ashes, and his uplifted hand trembling with
agitation. Judge Kelley came forward and
Tead The lron-clad oath to him. The full
meaning OF that covenant was never real
ized before Kelley's enunciation gave it a
iorce that made Kerr tremble more than
ever, Tor his voice is deep and resonant and
ms lhtonation perfect. But Kerr would not
nave taken that oath had he not believed
himself sincerely capable OF subscribing to
II. How he adjusted matters with his
own conscience ! do not know; but Kerr
was an honest man. II he sympathiZed
with the rebellion he did so not because it
was his interest, for it was not; not be-
cause he had revenge to crafty or spite
10 satiate, for he had neither. He believed,
with many other honest men, in slavery Us
I divine institution, and his convictions
needed to be decomposed before that belief
could be eradicated. He believed the
south was right, and, while he could not go
with them, he thought he should be let |
II'ohe. When in Congress Kerr was no
n!Mcrite; his record Is as good as that OF |
any rebcl-it is consistent; it is aowhere |
contradictory, even II every vote was cast
against the Union, against the sentiment Of
the North.
KERR IN CONGRESS-.
He enforod /,rx,...... n.az..,h~~ 4 fo0e /