Robert Kerr

Robert H. Kerr (born February 14, 1856 in Washington County, Illinois; died February 1, 1909 in Birmingham) was an attorney and member of the Birmingham Board of Aldermen.

Kerr was the son of Thomas and Margaret Hetherington Kerr of Pilot Knob, Illinois. As a young man he was employed as a teacher, and graduated from the National Normal University in Lebanon, Ohio in 1882. He went on to complete a degree from the Union College of Law in Chicago, Illinois in 1884. He married the former Belle Fitzgerald of Washington D.C. on August 6 of that year.

The couple moved to Birmingham in 1887 and he entered into a professional partnership with W. F. Dickinson. In 1894 he joined L. J. Haley in the firm of Kerr & Haley, with offices in the 1st National Bank Building.

Kerr was first elected to the Board of Aldermen from the 3rd Ward in 1896. He was re-elected, to a four-year term, in 1899. During that term he served on the judiciary committee and chaired the finance committee.

Kerr was an officer of the Fountain Heights Land Company and lived in the Fountain Heights neighborhood, at 1142 12th Street North. In 1900 the Kerrs shared their home with Mary Campbell, a 16-year-old niece and Robert Marsh, an 11-year-old nephew.

Kerr was a member of the Myles J. Greene Lodge No. 530 of the Free and Accepted Masons, of First Christian Church, and of the Birmingham Commercial Club.

On February 1, 1909 Kerr complained of discomfort and retired early. He died before physicians could attend to him. His death was attributed to heart disease. He was buried at Elmwood Cemetery.

References

• "R. H. Kerr Dies Suddenly Of Heart Failure At Home." (February 2, 1909) The Birmingham Age-Herald