John F. Kern
John F. Kern, banker, Germantown. His father, Frederick Kern, a native of Maryland, died when our subject was quite young, and his mother married Jacob Beard, and soon after the family came to Ohio. John F. was born in Frederick City, Md., October 2, 1805, and grew to maturity working on his stepfather's farm, but upon reaching his twenty-first year, he inherited a farm and saw-mill property located hear Franklin, Ohio, on the Big Miami River. Here he remained two years, when, his health failing, and thinking the locality did not agree with him, he disposed of his property, and entered the dry goods store of Winter & Fisher, at Germantown. After learning the business, he concluded to start for himself, and in 1835 he made a trip to Cincinnati on horseback, purchased a stock of dry goods, and, returning to Germantown, began business, which he continued for thirty-three years. In 1859, he was elected a Justice of the Peace, served the people faithfully, and was again tendered the office, but declined. He has been chosen several times to represent his township in the county conventions. During his mercantile career, he disposed of his business twice, finally retiring from merchandising about 1867. He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Germantown, of which he has been President nineteen consecutive years. Mr. Kern served as President of the Germantown Board of Education eleven years, and since his majority has been a member of the Reformed Church, holding official position for many years in that body, and during his entire membership his contributions have been constant and generous. Politically, he believes in principles rather than partyism, and in all affairs of life he has been always desirous of doing good and of benefiting the community in which he has been so long a leading citizen.
From History of Montgomery County, Ohio, W. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1882