Francis also had a son, Frank Esco Kern b. 21 Sep 1891 with Martha Emma Chambers but I don't find a marriage for them. His son Frank took the last name Chambers as his last name instead of Kern.
***Women he had children with:
Isabelle Mink
Susan Delia Hopkins
Martha Emma Chambers
Ida Mae Musgrave
Hettie Pearl Musgrave
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
HE HAS TWO WIVES ---
AND HAS BEEN CHUCKED IN JAIL FOR IT. ---
So Comes the Interesting Story From Bedford ---
HIS WEALTHY FAMILY ISN'T HELPING HIM ---
And He May Have a Hard Row to Hoe Before He Gets Through With It ---
Bedford, Ind., Nov. 1 -- Francis M. Kern, an oil drummer, who is well known in southern Indiana, and whose home is at Springville, this county, is now in jail at Rockport, charged with bigamy, and his friends here are making an effort to secure his release. Kern's home is presided over by a niece of the late Ziba Hopkins, to whom he was married about 20 years ago and by whom he has five children. Some six years ago Kern met a Miss Musgrave, in Spencer county, and married her. She was a school teacher and daughter of a well-to-do farmer. About four years ago the Musgrave woman became suspicious that Kern had perpetrated a fraud upon her and came to Springville, living one winter with first and lawful wife, giving birth to a baby while there. She refused to expose Kern at the time on account of her parents, who, she said, would be overwhelmed with grief if they knew of her trouble. Recently Miss Musgrave's father died. She continued to suffer in silence until the last few weeks, when she became aware, it is said, that Kern was attentive to her younger sister. Miss Musgrave caused his arrest. Kern's relatives in this county are all wealthy, but they are not coming to his rescue as yet. (Indianapolis Sun - Mon., Nov. 1, 1897, pg. 3)