Josiah Kerr
American politician (1861–1920)
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Josiah Leeds Kerr (January 10, 1861 – September 27, 1920) was an American politician. A Republican, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Maryland.
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January 10, 1861
Josiah Kerr | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 1st district | |
| In office November 6, 1900 – March 3, 1901 | |
| Preceded by | John Walter Smith |
| Succeeded by | William Humphreys Jackson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Josiah Leeds Kerr January 10, 1861 Vienna, Maryland, US |
| Died | September 27, 1920 (aged 59) |
| Party | Republican |
| Occupation | Politician |
Biography
Kerr was born on January 10, 1861, in Vienna, Maryland,[1] the son of Josiah L. Kerr Sr. and Kate (née Cromwell) Kerr.[2] Educated at the public schools in Vienna, he later worked as an educator in Kennebec County, Maine. In 1880, he moved to Crisfield, Maryland, where he worked as a clerk for a lumber company. In 1885, he moved to Cambridge.[1]
Kerr was a Republican,[1] though was an Independent Republican and a leader of that political movement.[3] From August 1898[1] to August 7, 1900,[4] he served as a school superintendent.[2] Following the death of John Walter Smith, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, representing Maryland's 1st district from November 6, 1900, to March 3, 1901.[1]
Kerr was not nominated for the following election,[1] instead running for the Maryland Senate and losing to William F. Applegarth. He again ran for the State Senate in 1909, losing to J. Hooper Bosley.[2] In 1916, he again ran for the U.S. House, losing the election.[5] Ideologically, he was conservative.[6]
After serving in Congress, Kerr returned to Cambridge and worked as a traveling salesman[1] for printing and publishing company of Charles Gilbert Sower. He was married to Kate C. Jackson, with whom he had a son.[2] He died there on September 27, 1920, aged 59,[1] from indigestion,[2] and was buried at Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery,[1] in Cambridge.[7]