The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-02-05
q, CENTENARIAN DEAD
Mrs Mrs. Mary 0. Kerr Died ID Petersburg
at the Age Of IOI.
Tue Ne OLDEST PERSON IN VIRGINIA
Her Mind Remained UnImpnircd 10
The Inst Moment Of Existcncc-.
The Question as to Who il to Cur.
ry the Mails from Norfolk to Rich.
mond Mny Not DO Finally settled.

I 1 b. ~ b o.. =
ry tho Mails from y orGoik to Rich.
mond ssay Not DO Finally sc.t,ed.
petersburg. Va, Feb. 4-(Speciul, 81
PROBABLY the oldest person In Virginia.
| to-day. and certainly the oldest resident
OF petersburg, died this morning mt II
CLOCK at the residence Of her grand
oaughter, Mrs. w. H. Lane, on South
street. The deceased Is Mrs Mary A.
herr, who was born ut Wakefield. IN
ninwtddie county. about four milea
from Petersburg. on tho Courthouse
road. December s, 179G.
Her father was the late w. H, Wills
an inspector of tobacco in Petersburg
fier mother was Miss Mary Watkins.
Nr. Wills owned all the property from
the corner Of -JnFnyette and washing
Ton streets, in this city, down to what
! IS known as Brickhouse Run Mrs,
Kerr had twice married Her first
husband was the late Benjamin Bols
setlu, VINO owned what was then known
1 as the Fleet Mills, in Chesterfield coun-
! ty. and also the property on which now
STANDS the Virginia Normal and Col
ieSiatc institute. BY this MARRIAGE
! she had six children only two OF whom
arc now living. They are MIR. w. p.
3oisseau. Of Chesterfield county. and
Mrs. Hmma w. Chase. or Petersburg.
Mrs. Kerr was married to Mrs. Bois-
seau IN the Old Branch mansion, which
now stands ut the extreme end OF Wost
High street. This house was once tho
nome or the late Thomas Branch, who
now resides In Richmond. 1cr second
narrfnse WIS to Rev. John Kerr. n
Methodist minister. who had a. supcr-
numerarY. relation to the Virginia
Methodist conference, and who dintl
about the time OF the evacuation of
petersburg. April ., 1865. There were no
children by this marriage
Mrs. Kerr had spent the most OF her
life in Petersburg She FIRST resided NJ
the corner OF Washington aud La
| fayette streets. on which lot now stands
! the handsome brick residence OF Mr..
samuel ?. Mitchell After her marri-
age to MIR. Bolsseau she moved 10 his
residence. on the corner Of Hirh mud
South streets -
rms house was taken down a few
years ago to give place to q. foundry
erected by Mr.. Il. t. Titus When
quite young. Mrs. Kerr connected her
/ self with High street NJ. e. church, and
a LOT years was Il pillar in this church.
She afterwards Joined Washington
street NJ. T.. church. and for half n
century was n valued member OF #.
subsequently she connected herself with
Aiarket street M. e. church, OF which
she was u member at the time OF her
death. =
This remarkable lady celebrate her
Tooth birthday on Dee. 8. 1896. Her
mind remained perfectly clear almost
to the time OF her death.
INSPECTORS CHANGED.
| Lieutenant Q. NJ. Lissok, of the
| United States Ordnance Department.
who has been inspector Mt the Peters
burg iron works, has been transferred
to the United States Arsenal at Water.
town. Mass. Lieut.. Ltssok will he sue
ceeded by Lieut. Marye, of Fort Monroe.
and Mr.. Charles c.. Macgher. of Rich
! mond.
The Petersburg Iron Works. which
has a large contract for furnishing the
mas finished the first delivery OF pro-
occtiies No order. however, for the
Shipment Of the same has yet been re-.
| ceived t|aH -. /. ii 100, :
Mr.. \. W. Coleman and family, Of
ehesterfleld county, left this morning
Gently purchased farm and where he
ana his family Will In future reside.
Miss Augusta Mays and Mr. william
Farley. OF Chesterfield county were
married last night at the residence OF
| me parents of the bride. Rev. r. b.
Scott off1clated -" n
FOR BREACH OF PROMISE.
! IT Is reported that n suit for breach
OF promise to marry Is to be instituted
by a young lady Of Chesterfield county
against young man OF the same
! county.
| The new pews for the Second Baptist
church. which were purchased in Phil
adelphia. arrived to-day They are of
handsome oak
CIRCUIT COURT.
| The February term of the Circuit
Court OF Petersburg. Judge B. A. Han
cock presiding, will open to-morrow
morning at 10 o'clock, when it IS ex-
pected that Judge Hancock will render
| his decision In the suit OF Tenant VS..
! Dunlap. which was SO slaborately and
ably argued before him at the January
term Of the court
! Mrs. e. II. Beasley Is quite sick at her
residence on Washington street
MAY NOT BE SETTLED.
| Mr.. l. W. Phillips, Of this city. 10
whom 1t was thought the contract for
carrying the mails between Richmond
and Norfolk would be awarded. was
seen to-day by The VirGinian CORE