Tunis R. Kershaw1,2

M, (circa 1851 - after 1909)

Father*George S. Kershaw1 (c 1813 - 17 Jun 1865)
Mother*Susan Van Ness1 (c 1810 - 1889)
Tunis R. Kershaw|b. c 1851\nd. a 1909|p476.htm|George S. Kershaw|b. c 1813\nd. 17 Jun 1865|p2145.htm|Susan Van Ness|b. c 1810\nd. 1889|p2146.htm|Tunis Kershaw|b. bt 1785 - 1790|p2147.htm|Sarah Sorls|b. bt 1781 - 1784|p2148.htm|||||||

Relationship 3rd great-granduncle of James Jay McKinney.
Last Edited 4 Dec 2003
Researcher 0
Unrelated 0

Birth*circa 1851 Mt. Morris, Livingston Co., NY3 
Census*1855 Nunda, Livingston Co., NY, Age listed as 4. Place of birth listed as Livingston Co.4 
(Witness) Census8 June 1860 Flagg Township, Ogle Co., IL,
1860 IL, Ogle Co. Flagg Township
George Keshaw, (age:)46, M(ale), (occupation:) Clerk, (value of real estate:) $100, (value of personal estate:) $100 (birth place:) New York
Susan (Kershaw), (age:) 50, F(emale), (birth place: indicates New York)
Caroline E (Kershaw), (age:) 14, F(emale), (birth place: indicates New York) (indicates attended school within year)
Sarah E (Kershaw), (age:) 12, F(emale), (birth place: indicates New York) (indicates attended school within year)
Tunis R (Kershaw), (age:) 9, M(ale), (birth place: indicates New York) (indicates attended school within year)
Judson Jaymes age 28, Louisa age 24, and John Smith age 34 appeared to live with them as well.
, Principal=George S. Kershaw, Principal=Susan Van Ness5 
Census24 June 1870 Flagg Township, Ogle Co., IL, Name: Kershaw, Tunis;Age:19;Male;White;Occupation:Attorney Clerk;Place of birth: New York; Implied that he could read and write; implied parents not of foreign birth6 
Marriage*30 April 1879 Principal=Mattie Bowen2 
Note*1903 Hello: I am seeking info on Tunis R. Kershaw, son of George S. Kershaw. Tunis married Martha Wheeler Bowen and they moved to Whatcom Co., Washington State.
Here is a bio I located on Tunis R. Kershaw. Glad to exchange data.
Kershaw, Tunis R
Among the state officers of Washington is numbered Tunis R. Kershaw, one of the prominent citizens of Whatcom, who is now serving as fish commissioner. He has long figured actively in political interests of the northwest, and the Republican Party finds in him a stalwart supporter whose efforts in its behalf have been effective and far-reaching. In the discharge of his duties he shows that he has the best interests of the state at heart, and has done not a little for the promotion of what is fast becoming one of the most important industries of this section of the country.
Almost the width of the continent separates Mr. Kershaw from his birthplace, for he is a native of Genesee County, New York, his natal day being February 26, 1853. His parents were George S. and Susan (Van Ness) Kershaw, who were also natives of the Empire state, and there passed away, the father in 1886 and the mother in 1889. Their children are: Peter F., a farmer of Missouri; Carrie E., who is employed in the United States treasury department in Washington, D. C.; Sarah, the widow of George Weyman, of Sycamore, Illinois; and Tunis R.
The last named acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of Rochelle, Illinois, and later attended Blackburn University at Carlinville, that state, being graduated in that institution in 1872, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then took up the study of law in Rochelle, in the office of P. J. Carter, and was admitted to the bar at Ottawa, Illinois, in June, 1874. He then began practice in Rochelle, and the following year was elected city attorney.
In the spring of 1876, however, Mr. Kershaw went to Dakota, locating at Rockport, where he remained until 1877, when he removed to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, being there engaged in the practice of his chosen profession until 1882, and during the greater part of that time was a partner of ex-Senator Pettigrew. On the expiration of that period Mr. Kershaw removed to North Dakota and laid out the town of Carrington. When the capital was removed to Bismarck he took up his abode in that place, but in January, 1884, came to Washington, settling at Seattle, where he was engaged in the abstract business until after the disastrous fire which swept over that city in 1889. Mr. Kershaw then came to Whatcom and once more resumed the practice of law. He has since made his home here and was also engaged in the real estate business with Hugh Eldridge from 1898 until 1902, when he was appointed state fish commissioner .by Governor McBride, entering upon the duties of the office in March, 1902, for a term of four years. His appointment came in recognition of his faithful service in behalf of the party and of the great fishing industries of Whatcom. As fish commissioner he has already done effective work and is putting forth every effort in his power to preserve and propagate food fish and to enlarge the industry, which is already a source of much income to Washington. He is now giving special attention to the building up of the oyster business. Since Mr. Kershaw assumed the duties of fish commissioner he has been very persistent in establishing a hatchery on the Frazer River in British Columbia for the purpose of propagating sockeye fish. There being no streams in the state of Washington that the sockeye fish ascend for propagating, and this being the best variety of fish, he deems it essential to the perpetuating of the industry on Puget Sound that there should be a good system of hatcheries established on the Frazer river.
In politics Mr. Kershaw has ever been an active Republican, with firm faith in the principles of the party and in their ultimate triumph. He attended every state convention of his party in Dakota during his residence there, and has also been a delegate to the county and state conventions in Washington, his opinions carrying weight in the party councils.
On the 30th of April, 1879, Mr. Kershaw wedded Miss Mattie Bowen, a daughter of Hiram Bowen, who was the original editor and founder of the Milwaukee Sentinel and who afterward conducted the Janesville Gazette, of Janesville, Wisconsin. In 1885 he retired from the journalistic field and established a large stock farm in South Dakota. Mrs. Kershaw is also a sister of W. S. Bowen, the editor of the Sioux Falls Press, a paper established by Senator Pettigrew, who sold out to the present proprietor. Mr. and Mrs. Kershaw had one child that died in infancy. They now have an adopted daughter, Bessie Colburn, a niece of Mrs. Kershaw and now a student in Pratt's Art Institute of Brooklyn, New York. Their friends in Whatcom are many, and Mr. Kershaw is well known throughout the state, especially in political circles. His genial manner, unfailing courtesy, and stalwart advocacy of whatever cause he espouses have gained for him the admiration and regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
>From "A History of the Puget Sound Country" by Col. William F. Prosser. Lewis Publishing 1903, pages 315-317.
, Witness=George S. Kershaw7 
Death*after 1909 8 
Census1910 Bellingham, Whatcom Co., WA, Sheet Line Surname, Given Name Age Birthplace ED# County Town
Ward/Pct
15A 2 KERSHAW, Tunis R 54 IL 319 Whatcom
Bellingham 1/2
15A 3 KERSHAW, Martha B 53 WI 319 Whatcom
Bellingham 1/2
15A 4 COLBOURNE, Elizabeth A 24 SD 319 Whatcom
I have lost this family after 1910.8 

Family

Mattie Bowen
Marriage*30 April 1879 Principal=Mattie Bowen2 

Citations

  1. [S56] Unknown compiler, compiler, "Kershaw Genealogy"; Livinston Co. NY State Census of 1855. Vivienne Jones has Mt. Morris listed as place of birth, but Census states only that Livinston Co. was place of birth., Ancestral File (c.a. 1977), unknown repository, unknown repository address.
  2. [S70] E-mail: From e-mail address Mailed on May 28, 2003 to Jim McKinney (e-mail address) which quotes "A History of the Puget Sound Country" by Col. William F. Prosser. Lewis Publishing 1903, pages 315-317.
  3. [S56] Unknown compiler, compiler, "Kershaw Genealogy"; Livingston Co. NY State Census of 1855. Vivienne Jones has Mt. Morris listed as place of birth, but Census states only that Livingston Co. was place of birth., Ancestral File (c.a. 1977), unknown repository, unknown repository address.
  4. [S56] Unknown compiler, compiler, "Kershaw Genealogy"; Nunda, Livingston Co. NY State Census of 1855., Ancestral File (c.a. 1977), unknown repository, unknown repository address.
  5. [S120] 1860 US Federal Census: Illinois, Ogle Co., Flagg Township, Page 41/399, Dwelling 307, Family 284.
  6. [S135] 1870 US Federal Census: Township of Flagg, Ogle Co. IL Line 8 Family 174.
  7. [S70] E-mail: From e-mail address Mailed on May 28, 2003 to Jim McKinney (e-mail address).
  8. [S70] E-mail: From e-mail address Mailed on December 2, 2003 to Jim McKinney (e-mail address) which cites the 1910 Census Extractions for the City of Bellingham, Whatcom Co., Washington
    ED #319, pps. 15 .