Los Angeles County
Biographies
SAM L. KERN
Conscientious and energetic, Sam L. Kern never undertook a task unless he considered it worthy of his best efforts and it naturally followed that each step in his career was an upward one, bringing him a broader outlook and wider opportunities. Nationally known in insurance circles as an officer of the Fraternal Aid Union, he materially advanced the interests of that organization as its vice president, in charge of the western division, and made his headquarters in Long Beach. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, May 7, 1863, a son of Nicholas and Mary A. Kern, and was a first cousin of the late John W. Kern, of Indianapolis, who served as United States senator, becoming a nominee for the office of vice president during Bryan’s last campaign for president. By trade Nicholas Kern was a blacksmith and also followed agricultural pursuits, developing a productive farm, on which he lived with his wife for sixty-five years.
Reared and educated in the Hoosier state, Sam L. Kern remained in Indiana until he reached the age of nineteen, when he made his way westward to Iowa, where he devoted five years to the occupation of farming. In 1887 he located in Charles City, Iowa, where he established a transfer line and a grain and livestock business, which he conducted for a number of years in partnership with Ira Scofield, who was the junior member of the firm. As a contractor Mr. Kern did grading for the Illinois Central Railroad, assisting in the extension of its branch lines and switches until 1896, when he returned to the grain and livestock business. In 1904 he became connected with the land department of the Illinois Central at Charles City, Iowa, having charge of the platting of new towns and the sale of town lots, and was popular with the officials of this division of the road, who greeted him cordially as “Sam” whenever they met him. In 1910 he went to Denver, Colorado, where he spent about five years, and then returned to Iowa, locating in Waterloo. While living in Iowa he was appointed state manager of the Fraternal Aid Union and in 1920 was made manager of the western division, consisting of four states, coming to Long Beach at that time. In July, 1925, he was elected vice president, becoming a national officer of the Fraternal Aid Union, which he represented in that capacity until the close of his career, and also continued as western manager. He handled a large volume of insurance for the organization, maintaining offices in the Kress building, and was accounted one of the foremost representatives of the fraternal insurance business in this part of the country. He was an executive of marked ability and his zeal, energy and enthusiasm for the work were communicated to his subordinates, who were imbued with the same spirit.
In the Sunflower state Mr. Kern married Miss Harriet Ashbaugh, a daughter of H.C. Ashbaugh, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. Besides his widow, who resides at 3805 East Second street, Long Beach, Mr. Kern is survived by three sons and four daughters: Howard L., a prominent lawyer of New York city; Donald, who is engaged in the grain business in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Henry, who lives at Long Beach; Mrs. Bessie Regal, of Charles City, Iowa; Mrs. Irma Thuressen, of San Francisco, California; Mrs. Estelle Hoover, of Beverley (sic) Hills, this state; Mrs. Hazel Cumming, of Los Angeles. There are fourteen grandchildren.
Mr. Kern was an adherent of the republican party and took a keen interest in all matters of public moment, but never sought political office, preferring to discharge the duties of citizenship in a private capacity. In Masonry he was connected with the chapter and the Sciots. He also belonged to the Order of the Eastern Star, the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Long Beach Country Club. He was removed from his earthly sphere of usefulness May 25, 1928, at the age of sixth-five years, and his passing brought deep sorrow to his family and friends, for he possessed many lovable qualities. At that time the following tribute appeared in the Charles City paper, written by L. H. Henry, editor of “The Passing Show, a Column a Day,” under the caption of “S. L. Kern—An Appreciation.”
“We have been called upon frequently during the past few years to record the deaths of very near and dear friends and companions but none have touched us with greater force or more tender sentiment than that of S. L. Kern, of Long Beach, California, whose death occurred last Friday and who was well and favorably known in Floyd county, where he spent his early days and where all those with whom he had intimate relations were his interested and devoted friends.
“He was not favored with those educational advantages in his youth calculated to fit one for a successful business career, but he had what was more, a natural genius for making friends and retaining them, and his judgment was exceptionally fine as to property valuations, enabling him to readily forsee (sic) the opportunities in trades and investments. While he was always a contender for his rights, yet it has never been charged against him that he ever took advantage of his fellowman in any transaction in which he was involved. . . . And yet, with all his business capacity, he had his ups and downs and disappointments, but his courage never failed him. He ever kept ‘moving on.’
“Incidentally he became interested in a local insurance company, the Modern National Reserve, the success of which was many times on the rocks, but it was largely through his direction that it weathered the storms and vicissitudes of financial distress and became one of the strongest fraternal companies in this country. The work of placing loans for the company was for many years in his hands in California, where he established the record of never having lost a dollar for his company. Also, he was at once recognized by the financial institutions of Long Beach and Los Angeles as safe and dependable. He possessed an enviable reputation in business circles and public affairs and accumulated a very comfortable fortune.
“Mr. Kern was a big man among big men. He had a strong and winning personality, always bringing cheer with him wherever he went, and Charles City people visiting California never had a more enthusiastic friend and advocate.
“Upon his recent brief visit to Charles City, after calling upon a half dozen of his closer friends, he was driving through Main street when he was obliged to stop at the curbing and hold a reception with his friends, for when the word was passed along that ‘Sam’ was in town, his old friends hastened to extend to him the friendly hand, a distinction and courtesy not often shown a returning citizen, and especially when his visits were annual affairs.
“So we bid ‘good-bye’ to a royal good fellow, a true friend and a real friend to his friends, a man generous to a fault, and liberal with and devoted to his family, by all of whom his presence will be greatly missed. All hail and farewell.”
Transcribed
3-29-12 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: California
of the South Vol. II, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages
231-234, Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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