Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-10-27
DEATH MOURNED
IN BLOOMINGTON
Sadness in Business District
Over Passing of Mr..
KeTns.
HAD BEEN ILL ONLY WEEK
In Front Rank Among the Active
Men OF His New Home
City.

During his four years residence ii
their city. Bloomington people hac
learned TO appreciate the character
and worth of Mr.. Kerns, whose death
was told of in last evenings Argus
Universal sadness prevailed through
out the business district, says tIe
Bloomington Bulletin of last evening
when the news was made public thaI
s. A. Kerns. of the firm of Cooper
& Kerns was no more. He passed to
the great beyond at 7:30 O'Clock this
morning at his home, 900 Elder
street.
AT the death bed were his wife, her
mother. Mrs. Martin, one son George
and his attending nurse, Mrs. Ursher
DR.. Lee Smith. whose wife is an own
cousin, remained with him during the
entire night. but without avail.
Last Friday Mr. Kerns was thought
to have typhoid malaria and was
forced TO seek his bed. He had not
been feeling well for some time. and
last week was at the store and about
his work.
Change Comes Suddenly.
Tuesday morning he was improv-
ing, really convalescent. and at 2
O'Clock in the morning was peacefully
sleeping He suddenly reused from his
sleep and made an effort to turn on
his side. The effort panied him and
he soon had a sensation as if some
vessel internally had given way. In
tense pain resulted.
DIR. Smith did not deem that ty-
phoid fever had progressed long
enough to cause liberation of the stOm-
ach. From that hour until this morn
ing Mr.. Kerns rapidly sank. Although
not in great pain during the last hours
there was a general depression, his
breathing became more labOred and
his breath grew shorter and shorter
until the finish
I'm September. 1900, Simon A.
Kcrns came TO this city from Rock
Island to become a member of the
firm of Cooper q KeTns. He was a
shrcwd. sagacious business man. and
took a front rank among Bloomington
men. He was cheerful. accommodate
ing, and soon became well known.
Those who knew him. grew to love
MIN, ana no one was lllOIt HlSulE I'-
spected than he.
Born On Farm In Ohio.
IS A. Kerns was born Jan. %, 1S47.
in Columbia county, Ohio, on a farm
between Salem and New Lisbon. He
was a son of William and Buelah
Kerns. both deceased. One brother
Charles s. of Moline. a real estate
and insurance man. is living.
when seven years of age, his par
ents moved to Moline. H., where he
received his education. When II years
of age. he graduated from the high
school and soon entered the pOstoffiCe
as assistant. his father at the time
being postmaster.
when 10 years old he entered the
Office of the Moline Plow company. His
ability won him rapid promotion and
when he resigned his position he was
assistant superintendent.
From Moline he went 10 Rock ISL
and where he took position with the
BufOrd Plow company. This company
became insoivent after a number of
years. Mr.. Kerns and wife went to
Ayr. Ontario. where he started a pillow
factory He remained but one year
here. and returned to Rock Island
to aid in the organization of the Rock
Island Plow company. He became the
superintendent which position he held
until 1900 when he resigned to come
to this city
An Inventor Of Note.
Mr. Kerns was an inventor of num-
rrn -
which are today on the Rock Island
Plow company's goods. He was known
in Rock Island and Moline as a gen
Jus and held universal respect through
out that section of the state.
May Il. 1865. Mr.. Kerns was join
ed in marriage with Miss Clara Mar
tin of Muscatine. la. The couple had
been married SO years. Mr.. Kerns
was Iovable 10 his family and did all
that he could to make those around
him happy. He had four brothers:
only one. Charles. is now living. An
older brother. George. was a member
of the federal army. who was lost in
the battle of Stone river. His body
was never recovered nor traced.
His wife's mother. Mrs. f. NJ. Mar
daughter during the last SO years
Member OF Two Lodges.
Mr.. Kerns was not a member of
any church He was q member in
good standing of the Fraternal Tri6-
unes and the Modern Woodmen in
which organizations he carried insur-
anCe"
The body Of Mr.. Kerns will arrive
In Moline at 6 O'Clock this evening
and will he taken To the home of the
deceased's brother. Charles s Kerns.
1880 Sixth avenue. where the funeral
services will be conducted at 1890
tomorrow morning by Rev. w. 5. Mar
quis. d. d. pastor of Broadway Pres
byterian church of this city.
Four Women Fined
Four women. two giving their resi-