Abraham Kearns

!BIRTH-MARRIAGE-DEATH: Family Bible and obit.

!Abraham is probably the posthumous son of Abraham & Ann(_____) KEARNS.

He was 73 years, 11 months and 9 days old.

He married Mary Ann BECHTOL, daughter of Joseph and Achsah (HARLAN) BECHTOL

(Darke Co., OH MARRIAGE BOOK 1 (name was given as Mary Ann BECKDOWEL).

Abraham is listed as a brickmason in the 1850 census of Gratis Twp, Preble,

OH. In 1860 in Meroin, Gill Twp, Sullivan Co., IND. he was a tavern keeper. In

1870 in Madison Twp, Clark Co. MO., he was again a brickmason, and in 1880

Kahoka, Lincoln Twp., Clark Co., MO., he was a hotel kepper. Early in the 1890s

he kept a grocery store also.

He married at a very young age...17! Abraham and his two brothers all

assumed marital responsibilities very young, since they had to provide for

themselves earlt in life.

On 15 May 1886, Mary A. KEARNS applied for a pension based upon the military

service and death of her son Joseph A. KEARSN in the Civil War. In it she

stated that she and her husband "are boath crippled up & unable to support

themselves by manuel labor their only means of support"(original spelling). Her

husband swore that he "is at present crippled up with Rheumatism" (Claim No.

340,003; National Archives, Wash., DC).

Abraham KEARNS executed his will on 27 Jan 1890. He left all his property to

his wife, Mary Ann KEARNS. After her death all the property was to be divided

among his seven children, Catherine MILLER, Martha J. DE KALB, Etta FERGUSON,

John KEARNS, George W. KEARNS, Thomas W. KEARNS, and Charles W. KEARNS.

Executrix: Mary Ann KEARNS; date of probate: 12 Feb 1897. Mary Ann KEARSN was

granted Letters Testamentary on 12 Feb, but since she died four days later,

Thomas W. KEARNS was appointed Administrator on 25 Feb.(Clark Co. Estate File.)

!BURIAL: Buried in Kahoka Cemetery.