EDWARD T. AND MARY K. KEARNS FAMILY

The Kearns family on River Road dates back around 1852. The land was purchased by William Kearns, who migrated from Ireland in 1848. He arrived in New York with no friends, fifteen years old and fifteen cents left after he paid for his voyage. He was born in Belfast, Ireland on June 10, 1833.

He worked on a ferryboat on the Hudson for a while, and then migrated to Detroit, Michigan. From there he went to Chicago and then to Wheaton, where he worked as a wood chopper. With his first $500, he bought some land about a mile south of Warrenville on River Road and started farming.Eventually he acquired over 300 acres. He also loved horses besides his land.

He married Ellen Dady and they had three children: William, who died as an infant, Anna and Edward. Edward and his wife Mary (Kohley) and eight children farmed the land after his father retired. The children were William A., Charlotte (Donner), Alice (Otterpohl, deceased), Anna (deceased), Marion (Adams, Edward, deceased), Wilhelmina (Ulrich) and Laura (deceased), William died in 1915.

William A. Kearns was the last to farm the land. Since then the toil-way and industry have taken over the land that once belonged to the Kearns family

As a family they went through the Depression and had their lean years, but on the whole they felt they were better for it. The family had a very close relationship that meant a lot to all of them.

William A. Kearns was born July 2, 1896, the son of Edward and Mary Kearns. He married Amalia Baumgertner on November 16, 1920 and they lived in Naperville for a year and a half. They then moved to the homestead on River Road a short distance from his parents. They were members of St Irene Church in Warrenville, Illinois. William died on June 29, 1963 and Amalia died on October 17, 1980. 

Six children were born to them: James and Geraldine (Petry) have no children. They live in Naperville. Marjorie and N. Edward Konsbruck have five children. Melody and Harlan Bower are the parents of Harlan and Sandra. Vickey Evans has two children: Charles and Tracy. Gail is married to Dan Lulling. Nicholas Konsbruck has a son, Nicholas Jr. Mark Konsbruck is single. Marjorie and Ed live in Batavia.

Mary Jane and Edwin Drafke have two children and four grandchildren. Edward and Kay (Springborn) have a boy, Edwin and a girl, Sarah. Jane and Natail Amadeo are the parents of Nataile and Anthony. Mary Jane and Ed, live in Warrenbille. Ruth was married to Harlod Wright (deceased) and they had no children. She then married Robert Heckman (deceased) and they had three children, Robann, Rita, and Richard. Ruth has one granddaughter, Rebecca. Ruth lives in Earlville. 

Kathryn and Harlan Beatty have ten children: Kenneth, Linda (Ronald Leonard). Daniel, Wanda, Lawrence (Carol Vaklyes), Robert (Janis Brudi), Mary Lou (William Horrell), Anna Mae and Bonnie. They also are the grandparents of twelve: Brian, Shirl, and Kenneth Beatty, Rene and Ryan Leonard, Jason and Daniel Beatty, Linsey Beatty and William Jr, Brandon and Robert Horrell. Katy and “Tex” live in West Chicago.

William T. and Barbara (Moore) had fourteen children: Doris (John Frohn), William (deceased) was married to Diana Craig, Michael (Deborah Kuhr), David (Mary Lou Staffeldt), Catherine (Howard Gehrke), John, Frank, JoAnn (Larry Borhart), Lori, James, Kimberly, twins Philip and Phyllis and Bernard. Bill and Barb live in Monroe, Wisconsin and have fifteen grandchildren. They are: Heather, John and Thomas Frohn, William, Kristi, Angela and Richard Kearns, David, Patrick and Scott Kearns, Carollyn, Mathew, Stefanie and Kevin Gehrke and Rachel Borhart.