Flora Ada Culler Kerr - Dr. Paul Kerr's Grandmother

Most Hicksville residents of an older status in life would remember Dr. Paul Kerr II and his office on Bunnell Street.  No appointments ever were necessary to see the doc - just show up, take a seat and wait your turn. He served the people of Hicksville for about 45 years.
 Dr. Kerr's grandparents, Flora A. Culler and Joseph D. Kerr, were the earliest of the Kerr family to settle in Hicksville.  Their son, Paul B, was the father of Dr. Paul B. Kerr II. 

Joseph D. Kerr died in Chicago in 1902 as the Defiance Express reported on December 17, 1902:

"The funeral of Joseph D. Kerr, who died in Chicago last week, occurred from his home in Hicksville Sunday.  Mr. Kerr was found on the streets of Chicago in an unconscious condition and soon passed away.  He was an attorney and formerly a member of Kerr Bros. in Hicksville."

This obituary of Flora Kerr from Obituaries  - Pioneers of Northwest Ohio, Carma Rowe Estate - which is available in the county libraries - detailed the early Kerr settlers.

"KERR.

Flora Ada Culler, only daughter of William T. and Mary Crook Culler, was born at Elkton, Columbiana county, Ohio, August 7, 1863, and died at Hicksville, Ohio, August 31, 1911, aged 49 years and 24 days.  

Her parents moved from Columbiana county to Hicksville, Defiance county, in 1883, and on August 10, 1887, she was married to Joseph D. Kerr, with whom she lived until December (10?), 1902, when he departed this life.  Of this marriage, two sons were born, Paul B. Kerr and DeWitt C. Kerr, both of whom survive and both of whom were with their mother at her death.  The death of Flora is the first death in her father's family of four chlldren, and she is not only survived by parents and children, but also by three brothers, Dr. Frederick W. Culler of New York City, Edward C. and Ira L. Culler of Hicksville.

At the tender age of 10 years, she experienced religion and united with the Methodist Episcopal church, a membership which she faithfully adhered to during the remainder of her life.  Her activities largely confined to her home and to the church and in these circles, she will be sadly missed by those with whom she was associated.

In the years of her health, she was known as a bright, cheerful, lovable and sacrificing character, ever ready to undertake and assist in every good work and always lending her energies, even beyond her strength, to all helpful undertakings.  After the death of Mr. Kerr, although the deceased was in failing health, her whole soul became centered in the training and education of her sons, planning and saving, and managing and sacrificing that they might finish their education and be fitted for lives of usefulness. 

She lived to see Paul graduate with honors from Athens, and to be happily married and settled in school work.  She expressed the hope, near the end of her life, that she might also see DeWitt finish his college career.  In this, she was disappointed.  During the last year she lived at Athens that she might be with DeWitt, but the ravages of the disease had made such progress that her return to Hicksville a few weeks ago became imperative and the end came quickly and peacefully in her own home.

She was a woman of high ideals, pure thoughts, splendid impulses and fine Christian character; she did not fear death, but being assured that she could not live, welcomed the grim reaper as a friend who would relief her from her sufferings.  In her life, she was absolutely unselfish, never counting the cost to her own strength and vitality, but always considering only the happiness and well being of others.  In this, her life was ideal, for though dead, she will continue to live in the lives which she did so much to shape.

The deceased was an esteemed member of the order of the Eastern Star, a delegation from which was present to manifest its respect and its loss by this death.  Funeral services were held from the residence Saturday forenoon at 9 o'clock, conducted by Rev. J. C. Shaw.  Interment at Forest Home."

 

DeWitt died soon after his mother at the Toledo State Hospital in Lucas County.  The newspapers of the day named his brother, Paul, as his guardian because DeWitt suffered from insanity, which could have been any kind of mental illness, but DeWitt actually died of tuberculosis.