John Stephens Kernick

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

John Stephens KERNICK, the prominent citizen and conscientious official of Wharton, New Jersey, is a member of a family of English origin and representative of the best type of that strong and dominant people, who formed in the early days of American colonization the firm foundation for our citizenship, upon which has been erected in safety the subsequent complex fabric of our population, composed of elements from every quarter of Europe, to say nothing of Asia and Africa, elements as divergent as the four corners of the earth.

His parents were both born in the southwest portion of England in that long arm that stretches out into the stormy Atlantic south of Wales. Lewis KERNICK having been a native of bold and rocky Cornwall, and his wife of picturesque Devonshire. The latter was born May 2, 1851, daughter of John and Mary STEPHENS, who came to America when she was twenty-two years of age, in 1873. The STEPHENS family settled in Mount Hope, Morris county, New Jersey, and there lived a considerable time, though they finally removed to Franklin Furnace, New Jersey, where they died. A brother of John STEPHENS, Richardson STEPHENS, was the superintendent of the great Mount Hope iron mines. Lewis KERNICK, father of JOHN Stephens KERNICK, came to this country from Cornwall when he but nineteen years of age. This was in 1870, and he immediately went to Mount Hope, Morris county, New Jersey, and there made his home for a year. His life in America was somewhat nomadic, and he moved hither and thither about the country, seeing a large portion of it and becoming familiar with the industries, especially that of mining, in which he was engaged. After spending a year in the iron mines of New Jersey, at Mount Hope, he removed to the other extremity of the country and found employment in the mines of California. Here he remained for eighteen months and then returned to Mount Hope, New Jersey, and to work in the mines there. It was while in Mount Hope on this occasion that he met Mary STEPHENS, and on August 19, 1875, they married at Hamburg, Sussex county, New Jersey. Shortly after his marriage, he once more went west, this time to Colorado, where he remained three years. Again he returned to New Jersey, and this time stayed in the east, moving about, however, both in that State and Pennsylvania. He first went to Franklin Furnace in Sussex county, New Jersey, where he remained for about three months, still following his occupation of mining, and then was employed in the famous Mount Pleasant and Orchard mines of Port Oram or Wharton. This was in 1879, and he continued in that place until 1884, when he removed to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and there engaged in coal mining, a new work for him. He gave this up three years later, however, and once more returned to New Jersey, staying for a few months in Sussex county, and then finally, on September 24, of that year, moved to Wharton, where he made his home up to the time of his death. He found work in the Orchard, Mount Pleasant and Hurd mines. His death occurred February 5, 1905, when he but fifty-four years of age. His wife and two sons survived him, Mrs. KERNICK, now residing at Wharton, at the age of sixty-three years. The two sons born to them and mentioned were both born in Colorado, during the three years residence of their parents in that State. They are: Frederick, born June 28, 1876, now a resident of Newark, New Jersey, where he is associated with the large paint establishment of the Sherwin-Williams Paint Company; John Stephens, of whom further.

John Stephens KERNICK, the second and youngest child of Lewis and Mary (STEPHENS) KERNICK, was born June 30, 1877, at Silver Plume, Clear Creek county, Colorado, about two miles from the town of Georgetown in that State. He was still an infant at the time of his parents’ return to New Jersey, so that all his childhood associations are with the eastern State, rather than the place of his birth, and especially with Morris county, where he passed the majority of his youthful years, attending the public schools of Wharton until he was nine years of age, and then receiving employment in the ROSS & BAKER Silk Mill, where he was employed until he was eighteen years of age. One of the very large industries of the section surrounding the busy city of Dover, New Jersey, is the manufacturer of furnaces, ranges and other heating appliances, and one of the largest plants of the kind is that of RICHARDSON & BOYNTON, well known all over the country for their heaters. Two years after he had left the work in the silk mill, Mr. KERNICK secured a position in the manufactory of this company, remaining with them a considerable period, from January 6, 1897, to February 13, 1906. When he finally left this concern it was to take a number of temporary positions with concerns of many sorts, in different parts of the region. The first of these was the Standard Oil Company of Newark, but here he remained but a sort time, later going with the Governor E. Smith Lumber Company of New York City, where he held a position as clerk and bookkeeper. He then received an offer of a position as clerk with the Dover Trust Company of Dover, New Jersey, and accepted it, remaining with this flourishing institution for just a year, from February 13, 1907, to February 13, 1908. In February of that year Mr. KERNICK was taken ill and had to abandon business altogether for a considerable period.

For many years Mr. KERNICK had taken a keen interest in politics, both national and local, but particularly the latter, and not only that of an interested onlooker, but of an active partisan of the right as it appeared to him. His word was regarded with respect in the councils of the Republican party, of which he is a member, and he came to be considered a strong man for a political office. Conscientious and able, with unimpeachable habits and an integrity never called in question, and added to all this, a very wide spread popularity in the community, he appeared a most available man for an important candidacy. Accordingly in 1908 he was nominated on the Republican ticket for the office of collector, and in November of that year was triumphantly elected to the office. Mr. KERNICK served for the three years term prescribed by law, and evidently to the entire satisfaction of his constituency, for in 1911 he was re-elected for another three years, and is now the incumbent of that office. How satisfactory is his work in the above capacity may be gathered from the fact that in 1913 the office of borough clerk was added to that he already held, and in January, 1914, this appointment was repeated. Beside these responsible offices, the people of Wharton have entrusted Mr. KERNICK with that of school custodian. In spite of his manifold duties in connection with his official positions, Mr. KERNICK has not entirely given up his financial and mercantile interests, but still retains the office of secretary and treasurer of the Wharton Fire Company. Every scheme and plan whatsoever, the purpose of which is the development and improvement of the town, may count on friendly interest and aid from Mr. KERNICK, not only of a pecuniary nature, but of his time and energy as well. In line with this side of his character it is to be noted that he is a very prominent member of the Wharton Board of Trade and serves that body in the capacity of secretary. He is also treasurer of the Shade Tree Commission of Wharton. His activities cover a very wide range, and to the others just related, he adds those of the active church member. He is a devoted communicant of the Methodist Episcopal church, attending St. John’s Church of that denomination. He is a conspicuous member of the congregation, doing fully his part in all church work, and supporting in a material manner the many benevolences in connection therewith. He is treasurer of the board of stewards of the church and secretary of the Sunday school. During the many years in which Mr. KERNICK has made Wharton his home, he has moved but once. This move was in 1901, when he took up his abode at No. 72 East Park street, Newark, New Jersey. He is highly respected and honored in the community of which he is a so valuable a member and the same qualities which have won for him so general an admiration, have also gained him a great number of warm personal friends. Mr. KERNICK is unmarried.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)