Captain J. W. Kern Dead
The End Came While He Was Sleeping
On a Visit to Philadelphia, He Passed Away at the Home of a Friend
Captain J. W. Kern, a well-known resident of Portland, and a pioneer of 1853, died yesterday very suddenly at the home of John B. Kelly, a relative, in Philadelphia. Last evening a message addressed to his son, C. W. Kern, who lives on Powell and East Twenty-seventh streets, announcing his death, was received by Mrs. Sarah Kern, wife of the deceased. It was a terrible shock for the entire family. It had been but a short time since that Captain Kern left for the East, and he was then in fairly good health, although he had but shortly before recovered from a dangerous attack of heart trouble, superinduced by acute indigestion.
The message contains only the bare announcement that he died while sleeping, from an unknown cause. His death was probably caused by fatty degeneration of the heart. Two weeks before he left for the East he had a serious attack at night, and was attended by Drs. Richmond, Kelly and Dav Rafetty. For a time it was feared that he could not recover. Dr. Kelly said last night that Captain Kern evidently died from heart trouble, but that when he started East he appeared to be in sound condition. It is inferred from the dispatch that the captain had gone to the home of John B. Kelly, and had there lain down and fell asleep, and was found dead. He had been East several months before on business connected with the range finder, which he had invented, and this last trip was for the same purpose.
Captain Kern was born in Washington, Castle County, Ill., July 1, 1838, and came to Oregon in 1853. Between 1861 and 1865 he had a line of steamboats in operation between Portland and Astoria in opposition to the old O. S. N. Co. On retiring from that business he engaged in farming and handling real estate in and about Portland. The Kern addition, where Inman, Poulsen & Co.s sawmill stands, was laid out by him. His home for a number of years has been on the old Kelly place on Powell and East Twenty-eighth streets. He was a man of much force of character, and was well informed. He had a mechanical and practical turn of mind, and his range finder bid fair to prove a success. A wife, a daughter of “Father” Clinton Kelly, and the following children survive him: Loyal B. and C. W. Kern, Eugenia, Beatrice and Vera Kern, Mrs. Mary Lebo, Mrs. M. Hawes, and Mrs. E. A. Yerex. The remains will be shipped to Portland for interment.
A reunion of the family was to have taken place at Captain Kern’s residence tomorrow, but in view of the sad news, The Oregonian has been asked to announce its abandonment.
[The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, Friday, June 29, 1900]
The End Came While He Was Sleeping
On a Visit to Philadelphia, He Passed Away at the Home of a Friend
Captain J. W. Kern, a well-known resident of Portland, and a pioneer of 1853, died yesterday very suddenly at the home of John B. Kelly, a relative, in Philadelphia. Last evening a message addressed to his son, C. W. Kern, who lives on Powell and East Twenty-seventh streets, announcing his death, was received by Mrs. Sarah Kern, wife of the deceased. It was a terrible shock for the entire family. It had been but a short time since that Captain Kern left for the East, and he was then in fairly good health, although he had but shortly before recovered from a dangerous attack of heart trouble, superinduced by acute indigestion.
The message contains only the bare announcement that he died while sleeping, from an unknown cause. His death was probably caused by fatty degeneration of the heart. Two weeks before he left for the East he had a serious attack at night, and was attended by Drs. Richmond, Kelly and Dav Rafetty. For a time it was feared that he could not recover. Dr. Kelly said last night that Captain Kern evidently died from heart trouble, but that when he started East he appeared to be in sound condition. It is inferred from the dispatch that the captain had gone to the home of John B. Kelly, and had there lain down and fell asleep, and was found dead. He had been East several months before on business connected with the range finder, which he had invented, and this last trip was for the same purpose.
Captain Kern was born in Washington, Castle County, Ill., July 1, 1838, and came to Oregon in 1853. Between 1861 and 1865 he had a line of steamboats in operation between Portland and Astoria in opposition to the old O. S. N. Co. On retiring from that business he engaged in farming and handling real estate in and about Portland. The Kern addition, where Inman, Poulsen & Co.s sawmill stands, was laid out by him. His home for a number of years has been on the old Kelly place on Powell and East Twenty-eighth streets. He was a man of much force of character, and was well informed. He had a mechanical and practical turn of mind, and his range finder bid fair to prove a success. A wife, a daughter of “Father” Clinton Kelly, and the following children survive him: Loyal B. and C. W. Kern, Eugenia, Beatrice and Vera Kern, Mrs. Mary Lebo, Mrs. M. Hawes, and Mrs. E. A. Yerex. The remains will be shipped to Portland for interment.
A reunion of the family was to have taken place at Captain Kern’s residence tomorrow, but in view of the sad news, The Oregonian has been asked to announce its abandonment.
[The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, Friday, June 29, 1900]
Captain J. W. Kern Dead
The End Came While He Was Sleeping
On a Visit to Philadelphia, He Passed Away at the Home of a Friend
Captain J. W. Kern, a well-known resident of Portland, and a pioneer of 1853, died yesterday very suddenly at the home of John B. Kelly, a relative, in Philadelphia. Last evening a message addressed to his son, C. W. Kern, who lives on Powell and East Twenty-seventh streets, announcing his death, was received by Mrs. Sarah Kern, wife of the deceased. It was a terrible shock for the entire family. It had been but a short time since that Captain Kern left for the East, and he was then in fairly good health, although he had but shortly before recovered from a dangerous attack of heart trouble, superinduced by acute indigestion.
The message contains only the bare announcement that he died while sleeping, from an unknown cause. His death was probably caused by fatty degeneration of the heart. Two weeks before he left for the East he had a serious attack at night, and was attended by Drs. Richmond, Kelly and Dav Rafetty. For a time it was feared that he could not recover. Dr. Kelly said last night that Captain Kern evidently died from heart trouble, but that when he started East he appeared to be in sound condition. It is inferred from the dispatch that the captain had gone to the home of John B. Kelly, and had there lain down and fell asleep, and was found dead. He had been East several months before on business connected with the range finder, which he had invented, and this last trip was for the same purpose.
Captain Kern was born in Washington, Castle County, Ill., July 1, 1838, and came to Oregon in 1853. Between 1861 and 1865 he had a line of steamboats in operation between Portland and Astoria in opposition to the old O. S. N. Co. On retiring from that business he engaged in farming and handling real estate in and about Portland. The Kern addition, where Inman, Poulsen & Co.s sawmill stands, was laid out by him. His home for a number of years has been on the old Kelly place on Powell and East Twenty-eighth streets. He was a man of much force of character, and was well informed. He had a mechanical and practical turn of mind, and his range finder bid fair to prove a success. A wife, a daughter of “Father” Clinton Kelly, and the following children survive him: Loyal B. and C. W. Kern, Eugenia, Beatrice and Vera Kern, Mrs. Mary Lebo, Mrs. M. Hawes, and Mrs. E. A. Yerex. The remains will be shipped to Portland for interment.
A reunion of the family was to have taken place at Captain Kern’s residence tomorrow, but in view of the sad news, The Oregonian has been asked to announce its abandonment.
[The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, Friday, June 29, 1900]
The End Came While He Was Sleeping
On a Visit to Philadelphia, He Passed Away at the Home of a Friend
Captain J. W. Kern, a well-known resident of Portland, and a pioneer of 1853, died yesterday very suddenly at the home of John B. Kelly, a relative, in Philadelphia. Last evening a message addressed to his son, C. W. Kern, who lives on Powell and East Twenty-seventh streets, announcing his death, was received by Mrs. Sarah Kern, wife of the deceased. It was a terrible shock for the entire family. It had been but a short time since that Captain Kern left for the East, and he was then in fairly good health, although he had but shortly before recovered from a dangerous attack of heart trouble, superinduced by acute indigestion.
The message contains only the bare announcement that he died while sleeping, from an unknown cause. His death was probably caused by fatty degeneration of the heart. Two weeks before he left for the East he had a serious attack at night, and was attended by Drs. Richmond, Kelly and Dav Rafetty. For a time it was feared that he could not recover. Dr. Kelly said last night that Captain Kern evidently died from heart trouble, but that when he started East he appeared to be in sound condition. It is inferred from the dispatch that the captain had gone to the home of John B. Kelly, and had there lain down and fell asleep, and was found dead. He had been East several months before on business connected with the range finder, which he had invented, and this last trip was for the same purpose.
Captain Kern was born in Washington, Castle County, Ill., July 1, 1838, and came to Oregon in 1853. Between 1861 and 1865 he had a line of steamboats in operation between Portland and Astoria in opposition to the old O. S. N. Co. On retiring from that business he engaged in farming and handling real estate in and about Portland. The Kern addition, where Inman, Poulsen & Co.s sawmill stands, was laid out by him. His home for a number of years has been on the old Kelly place on Powell and East Twenty-eighth streets. He was a man of much force of character, and was well informed. He had a mechanical and practical turn of mind, and his range finder bid fair to prove a success. A wife, a daughter of “Father” Clinton Kelly, and the following children survive him: Loyal B. and C. W. Kern, Eugenia, Beatrice and Vera Kern, Mrs. Mary Lebo, Mrs. M. Hawes, and Mrs. E. A. Yerex. The remains will be shipped to Portland for interment.
A reunion of the family was to have taken place at Captain Kern’s residence tomorrow, but in view of the sad news, The Oregonian has been asked to announce its abandonment.
[The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, Friday, June 29, 1900]
Family Members
Children
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Loyal Ellsworth Kern
1862–1945
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Mary Moriah Kern Leo
1863–1954
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Mildred Laura Kern Hawes
1866–1949
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Clinton William Kern
1868–1941
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Annie Penumbra Kern Yerex
1873–1963
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Sarah Eugenia Kern Faucett
1876–1950
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Beatrice Victoria "Jennie" Kern Hurd
1880–1963
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Vera Margaret Kern Lang
1882–1964
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Frank Willard Kern
1890–1956
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