BIO: WILLIAM ORR KER, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm
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  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 461-462
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/cumberland/zeamer/

  
    WILLIAM ORR KER is a representative of the fourth generation of his family
  in America, his great-grandfather having come from Ireland in 1745 and
  settled in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania.
    
    William Ker, the grandfather of William O., was born Oct. 30, 1791, in
  Huntingdon county, where he grew to manhood and lived until a year after his
  marriage. In 1826 he and his wife came to West Pennsboro township, Cumberland
  county, where they settled on the farm now occupied by their grandson, and
  here passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. Ker had first come to the
  county in 1825, on June 26th of which year he married Miss Eliza Belle
  Sterrett, daughter of David and Isabel Sterrett, who were natives of
  Cumberland county and belonged to prominent pioneer stock. He accumulated a
  fine property, and devoted the greater part of his time to its improvement
  and manage-
    
    462  CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
    
  ment, though he took a lively interest in the public welfare. He was one of
  the founders and a member of the board of directors of the banking firm of
  Ker, Brenneman & Co., who conducted what has since been known as the First
  National Bank of Carlisle. Mrs. Ker passed away Dec. 23, 1844, and Mr. Ker
  survived her many years, passing away Sept. 20, 1874. Of the children born to
  them four attained maturity; Elizabeth Jane and Mary Isabel, both of whom are
  now deceased; William A., father of William O.; and David Sterrett, who was
  educated in the common schools and Mt. Joy Academy, and has passed all his
  life on the old homestead.
    
    William A. Ker, father of William O., was born Nov. 30, 1829, and received
  excellent educational advantages, attending the academies at Huntingdon, Mt.
  Joy (Lancaster county), Juniata county and Good Hope (in his native
  township). He and his brother engaged in farming on the old home place, on
  which they have made many improvements. The place comprises 100 acres of
  fertile land, which under their careful management has been brought to a high
  state of cultivation. On Jan. 10, 1854, Mr. Ker was married to Miss Elizabeth
  B. Orr, of Franklin county, Pa., and they became the parents of two children,
  Mary Eliza and William Orr.
    
    William Orr Ker was born in 1863 on the old Ker homestead, and has passed
  all his life there. He commenced his education in the public schools of the
  township, subsequently attended the public schools at Philadelphia for two
  years, and then attended the Chambersburg Academy for one year. Returning
  home he commenced to work for his father, and he has, continued on the farm
  ever since, keeping up the traditions of the family for pride in his work and
  the appearance of his surroundings.
    
    In 1882 Mr. Ker married Miss Jane Brattan, daughter of S. W. and Margaret
  G. Brattan, of Newville, Cumberland county, Pa., the former of whom died Aug.
  26, 1899; the mother is living in Harrisburg. Two children have blessed this
  union: William Sterrett, born Dec. 22, 1890, and Margaret Bleam, born April
  15, 1893. The family attends the Presbyterian Church at Newville. Mr. Ker is
  a Democrat in political sentiment. He is a worthy member of a family which
  has taken a marked interest in the development of Cumberland county, and is
  an esteemed citizen of his community, whether from a business or personal
  standpoint.