Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/527
of the South Boston Savings Bank, which was merged with the P. & M. National Bank of South Boston, and is now president of the American National Bank of Danville, a position he has held since its organization. This bank differs somewhat from other banks of Danville, inasmuch as it is owned largely by farmers, formed for the purpose of doing business with farmers, and to extend to them special facilities. The bank does a regular banking business, and is one of the prosperous financial institutions of Danville.
Mr. Kerns is a Democrat in politics, and represented Halifax county for one term in the Virginia state senate. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order, has held the various offices in subordinate and grand lodge of Virginia, attaining, in 1900, the distinguished honor of grand master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Virginia. He was continued in this high office for two terms, rendering distinguished service to the order. His youngest son, John Blair, was born while his father was presiding over a meeting of the grand lodge at Richmond, and was named by that body, John Blair Kerns. In religious faith, Mr. Kerns is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, having joined when a lad of fourteen years. He is steward of the Danville district, recording steward of his church, superintendent of the Sunday school, and for four years has been lay reader. He is one of the most influential laymen of his church, and gives to its service freely of his business experience, his wisdom and his means. He is held in the highest esteem as a man of affairs, as a fraternal representative in the church, and as a citizen, no department of city life but claims his interest. and receives his liberal support. He is president of the Sons of the Fifth Virginia Cavalry.
Mr. Kerns married, in Gloucester county, Virginia, in February, 1875. Julia Florence Trevilian, born in that county, daughter of Augustus Smith Trevilian, of an old Virginia family, and a veteran of the Thirty-fourth Regiment, Virginia Volunteers, Confederate States of America. He married Julia Dutton, both deceased. Of the twelve children of Hiram O. and Julia F. Kerns, one, Clarence, died in infancy. The other children are: Oscar Littleton, now of Birmingham, Alabama; Gertrude Lee, married R. H. Robertson and resides in Pocomoke City, Maryland; Florence Martin, residing with her parents; Ruby Trevilian, a teacher; Maris Vernon, a railroad man, resides at home; Stella J., resides at home; Benton, in the United States navy, now on foreign service; Trevilian Augustus, a machinist, resides at home; Hiram Oscar (2), in charge of his father's mill, resides at home; Stanly Martin, and John Blair, school boys. The family home is in Sutherlin, Virginia.
Langhorne. The ancient family of Langhorne came originally from Pembrokeshire, Wales. The arms of the family are: Gules three lions' heads erased or. The crest: A lion's head erased or. Motto: Ostentare jugulum pre capite alterius.
Fenton, in his county history of that shire, says: "The Langhornes were enriched by marriage with the heiress of Lord de St. Bride * * * The house at St. Bride's formed at one time the side of a quadrangle enclosed by a high embattled wall with a walk round the top * * * The ocean washes the walls of the enclosure, and nowhere are to be found remains of greater consequence, the episcopal palaces and castles excepted.”
As far back as the middle of the fourteenth century there is record of an Owen Lacharn, of St. Bride's, espousing Elizabeth O'Brien, granddaughter of Sir Guy O'Brien (or de Brienne). (See Boswell's "Ruins and Ancient Buildings in England and Wales," vol. ii). She brought to him as her marriage portion Abercoran Castle with all its demesnes. He gave it his name then spelled Ta Lacharn (the ancient form of Langhorne), which it has retained ever since. It remained in the possession of the family for several succeeding generations. This castle, even then, of great antiquity, was erected long before the Norman conquest and belonged to the princes of South Wales. Here Henry II. kept his Easter on his return from Ireland in 1172, and made his peace with his host Prince Rhys of Dynevor. Through the daughter of this prince it passed to Sir Guido O'Brian (variously spelled de Brienne, Brion, Bryan, etc.) who died in 1390. Sir Guido O'Brian was fifty-seventh knight of the Garter, lord high admiral of England in the reign of Edward III. He also inherited the barony of Ta Lacharn. He married Elizabeth, daughter of William