W.P. Kern

© The Lahoma Sun Lahoma, Garfield Co., OK

March 20, 1914 page 1, column 5

Submitted by: Emily Jordan

Pioneer Dies

W.P. Kern died last Saturday night after an illness of several weeks duration. He had lived on his farm north of town since the opening of the Strip, alone and was always more or less of a recluse. He had held no communication with his folks for over 30 years, and did not want them informed of his condition until after he was buried. As the end approached, however, he consented to have them informed of his condition. He supposed them to be located in Pennsylvania, but he was dead before it could be ascertained where to address them.

A brother and brother-in-law have been located in Pennsylvania and orders have been received from them to hold the body here until further advised. The body is now in the undertaking rooms of M.W. Wood.

W.P. Kern

© The Lahoma Sun Lahoma, Garfield Co., OK

March 27, 1914 page 1, column 2

Submitted by: Emily Jordan

W.P. Kern left Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania about the year of 1883, at the age of 23 and came to McPherson Co., Kas. After living there for two or three years he went back to Pennsylvania for a visit with his relatives but returned to Kansas in a few weeks and made that his home until the opening of the Cherokee Strip when he came to Oklahoma, made the run and staked out the claim one mile north of Lahoma, where he lived until his death. Space will not permit a recital of his life in the early days, nor the hardships endured by him in common with other early settlers. He was always a great hunter and a crack shot and his rifle, shot gun and "Old Liz" (his revolver) kept him from want in vary many instances when those less favored went hungry. He left behind him many relics in the way of hides and horns of the different animals which fell victims of his prowess, including mountain lion, deer, wildcat and buffalo. From the time of his settlement here he lived alone on his farm except for the occasional hunting trips. The asthma with which he was afflicted for many years made his health very poor, especially for the past few years.

He kept up a desultory correspondence with his relatives for several years after he moved to Kansas, but they had heard nothing from him for twenty years at the time of his death. Several telegrams were necessary to locate his family and in response to them a brother, M.H. Kern, and a brother-in-law, D.E. Hixson, arrived in Lahoma last Monday and made arrangements for the funeral services which were held at the M.E. church last Tuesday. Rev. C.G. Goltry preached the funeral sermon and the church was crowded with the friends of the deceased. Surviving him are a father, four brothers, and four sisters. Interment was had in Sunny Side Cemetery where he sleeps beneath the sun and flowers of the land he loved.