Throwback Thursday: William Young Kerr

William Young Kerr was born on a farm in Highland Township, Clayton County, on December 3, 1886 – 129 years ago today. Named after his uncle, Will was the second child and only son of Tom and Ella (Moats) Kerr. They had family in Chicago and Will was a regular visitor to the Windy City, including a trip to the 1893 World’s Fair. By his teens, he was farming with his father and uncle in Highland and Illyria townships.

On December 1, 1909, Will and his cousin, Homer Moats, enrolled in the Oelwein Business University. Though he enjoyed the course, his focus was elsewhere – mostly on a young waitress in Elgin named Anna Gruver.

Their courtship had gone on for a year, Will taking Anna for rides with a team of fancy driving horses. After spending New Year's 1910 with his parents and sisters, Will boarded a train to Oelwein on Tuesday, January 11, claiming he intended to continue his business course. The same day, Anna was seen boarding a train in Elgin heading south toward Oelwein. By the weekend, the pair were in West Union, tying the knot in the Methodist parsonage on Saturday, January 15. Will was 24 years old. Anna was three days shy of her 18th birthday.

The newlyweds began farming near Volga, Anna driving a team into town twice a week to sell cream. That first summer they welcomed a daughter into their home, adding seven more children over the next 16 years. In 1916, they moved to Illyria township, where they farmed until March 1, 1957, when a grandson took over working the land.

In 1972, Anna’s health began to fail and she moved to a nursing home in Postville. Will joined her the next year. They were married 65 years before Anna died in 1975. Will remained in Postville until he passed away December 26, 1977, at the age of 91.