The Rev John Kerns was the father of Caroline Kerns (who was the wife of Elisha West Sinex Sr).

Born: January 2, 1809 Harrison County Kentucky
Died: August 6, 1895 Fullerton, Nance County, Nebraska
 

FULLERTON POST
Page 1, Column 3
Fullerton, Nance County, Nebraska
August 9, 1896

REV. JOHN KERNS

Rev. John Kerns was born in Harrison County, Kentucky, January 27, 1809. He moved to Davis County, Ill., with his parents at the age of ten; was converted at the age of 16, was licensed in his 18th year, and joined the Illinois conference the same year (1827). In 1829 was ordained deacon by Bishop Soule. At the organization he became a member of the Indiana conference in 1831, and was ordained Elder by Bishop Roberts. He filled appointments in the Indiana conference at Vincennes, Evansville, New Albany and Indianapolis, besides travelling circuits; was presiding elder for seven years on the Evansville and New Albany districts. He was superannuated the year 1858 on account of sickness. At the close of this year he was transferred to the Wisconsin conference, which then included Minnesota and was stationed at St. Paul for two years. He was then presiding elder of the Minnesota district. At the end of six months he was changed to the St. Paul district to fill a vacancy caused by the transfer of Rev. David Brooks to the financial agency of Hamlin university. In the sketch of his life prepared by himself from which these facts are gleaned, our brother was too modest to state that at this time, through his intimate acquaintance and influence with Bishop Hamlin, he secured from the good Bishop a donation of property located in Chicago then valued at $25,000 and now worth nearly $1,000,000 ~ thus placing the university forever on its feet financially.

After two years on the St. Paul district he was sent back to the Minnesota district, which he reorganized and called the St. Peter's district, where he remained for several years.

From 1861 to 1865 he was collector of public monies in the land office at St. Peters, Minn., having been appointed thereto by President Abraham Lincoln. Bro. Kerns was married twice. His second wife died in Texas July 15, 1892. He made his home with R. S. Sumner, his son-in-law and daughter since 1892, where he found a quiet home for his last years, and where he departed this life August 6, 1895.

MEMOIRS
Year Book of the Northern Minnesota Conferences,
Methodist Episcopal Church, 1895

JOHN KERNS

Rev. John Kerns was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, January 2nd, 1809 and died in Fullerton, Nebraska, August 6th, 1895. He was for sixty-eight years a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, a pioneer preacher and savior of men, who has at last received his just recompense of reward. When he was ten years old his father moved from Kentucky to Jo Daviess county, Illinois. He was converted when he was sixteen years old, and was licensed to preach and joined the Illinois Conference in his eighteenth year. In 1831, when the Indiana Conference was organized, he fell within its territory, where he did efficient service for twenty-three years. He was ordained Deacon in 1829, and Elder in 1831. Besides doing the work of a Methodist preacher as a pioneer itinerant, he was Presiding Elder of the Evansville District three years and of the New Albany District four years. He represented the Indiana Conference in the General Conference in 1848, being elected over Doctor, afterwards Bishop Ames. In 1854 Brother Kerns was transferred to the Wisconsin Conference, which then included Minnesota, and was stationed at St. Paul where he remained two years. He was then appointed Presiding Elder of the Minnesota District, but at the end of six months he was transferred to the St. Paul District to fill a vacancy. At the end of two years he was returned to the Minnesota District, which he re-organized and which was afterwards called the St. Peter District. Here he served for four years. He was subsequently stationed at Mankato for two years; St. Peter Circuit two years; Red Wing three years, and Mankato Circuit one year. From 1861 to 1865 he was collector at the St. Peter Land Office. He supplied the Methodist Church at Lawrence, Texas one year.

Brother Kerns was married twice, his first wife being Miss Edna Smith, sister of Rev. Dr. Smith, widely known in the early days of Indiana Methodism. Mrs. Kerns died in 1876. Of their six children three survive. Brother Kerns' second wife, Mrs. Dr. McCullough of Winona, Minn., died in Texas in 1892.

Brother Kerns was the first president of the Minnesota Conference. Bishop Simpson who was to have presided at its first session failed to appear at the opening and Brother Kerns was elected to preside in his stead. He was also influential in the organization of Hamline University and in securing from Bishop Hamline the bequest that gave the University its financial standing and its name. He was an able and popular preacher, an earnest and forcible interpreter of the Word of God. As a Presiding Elder he was full of sympathy and exceedingly helpful to his men, and well adapted to spread the Kingdom of God and to organize the new territory for future conquest. His life was a benediction to all who came within its influence. The hope he preached to others was a cource of constant joy and peace to himself.

Thus one by one the old veterans are called away, but their fruits remain with us in ever increasing measure. They laid the foundations upon which we are permitted to build and gave us a type of Christian manhood formed out of their trials, discouragements and hard work; one of the noblest and best specimens of which was Rev. John Kerns.
John W. Powell, G.S. Innis