Case School of Applied Science - Differential Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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of Cleveland, and they all, with the exception of General Devereaux, left for the south on one of the Havana steamers to make an extended trip through the Southern States and the West Indies. Landing at Jacksonville, they boarded a steamboat bound up the St. Johns River. On the evening of Thurs- day, March 19, the party separated for the night at about eleven. Mr. Kerr Went down to the lower deck, and at the foot of the stairs, which led directly to the edge of the boat, he stumbled and fell overboard. The alarm was immedi- ately given, and searching parties were organized at the nearest city, but his body was not recovered for several days. The funeral was at Painesville, Ohio. ..2O..

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IJEVI KERR. TRUSTEE OF THE COLLEGE FROM 1881 TO 1885. EVI KERR was born near Painesville, Ohio, June g 25, 1822, where he lived a considerable portion of Qmd his life. When but a boy he was seized by the spirit OE adventure and shipped before the mast for a three years' cruise in the East Indies and Japan. When he returned he engaged as a book keeper in one of the large firms in New York City, where his methodical habits attracted the attention of all who knew him. He afterwards engaged in the oil refining business at Tar Farm, Pennsylvania, but being able to get a good price for his works he sold out to the Standard Oil Company and returned to New York. During his residence in that city he for many years had the full confidence of the eminent ship builder, john Roach, with whom he was largely interested in' lines of steamers. For a number of years he was president of the Paines- ville National Bank, having succeeded his father to that position. In January, 1886, he was appointed administrator ofthe estate of his cousin, Leonard Case, the founder of Case School of Applied Science, and his quick and satisfactory settlement of the same won for him the admiration of all men of worth in Cleveland. Mr. Kerr was married in 1859 to Miss Mary Blanchard, of Sing Sing, with whom he lived happily till her death, February II, 1882. On March 8, 1885, Mr. Kerr joined a party consisting of judge Bowman of Springfield, Judge Rufus P. Ranney and General I. H. Devereanx of Cleveland, and went to New York City. There they were joined by Mr. C. A. Otis, ..19.,.

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BIOGRAPHY OF JUDGE R. Dy RANNE-Y-. -' TRUSTEE OF THE! COLLEGE FROM 1881 TO 1889. CS fa UFUS P, RANNEY was born in Hampden county, 6 J Massachusetts, in 1813. His father, who was a J x L. , Y Q19 9 farmer moved with his family in 1824 to Portage county, Ohio, and settled in the midst of the wilderness. The boy was ambitious and determined upon securing an education. Being warmly indorsed in this desire by his parents, he went to Nelson, where he studied for some time, earning his books by chopping wood. Ffom this academy he entered Western Reserve College, where he studied for two years, supporting himself during this time by working and teaching school. In 1834 he went to Ashtabula county and entered the law oihce of Giddings 81 Wade, to study law. His progress was such that in Cone year he was admitted to the bar, and in two years was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court. Shortly after this, the firm of Giddings 81 Wade being dissolved, he became a partner of his former instruc- tor, Mr. Benjamin F. Wade. The nrm of Wade 81 Ranney lasted for nearly ten years, and was noted for its strength and the extent of its business. , In 1845, Mr. Ranney withdrew and opened a law office in W'arren, and immediately took a front place in the bar of Trumbull county. Although never seeking for political honors, he was nominated and elected to various offices, showing the high opinion which the people held of him. He was nominated to the State Senate in 1842, 346 and '48. In 1850, Mr. Ranney was elected by a very large majority, as a member of the convention called to revise the State Constitution. He served with great ,distinction as a, member of this convention, and after its adjournment was elected to the Supreme Court, and held this position an 1857. ' I i In that year he was appointed by the President to the position of United States Attorney for the 'Cleveland District, but resigned and again took up the practice of law in Cleveland, with F. T. Backus and C. W. Noble.