Ernest William Kersten

Narrative:

     Ernest William Kersten was born on 7 May 1898 in Steward, Lee Co., Illinois.^7,8,9
     He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Reynolds Twp., Lee Co., Illinois, in the household of his parents, John H. Kersten and Anna Wiener.⁴ He appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Ashton Twp., Lee Co., Illinois, in the household of his parents.⁵
     Ernest registered for the draft for World War I on 12 Sep 1918, while living at Ashton, Lee Co., Illinois, reporting he was employed as a farm laborer working for Charles Mall in Ashton.²
     Ernest graduated from North Central College, with a B. S. degree. He obtained an M. A. degree from Columbia University.¹⁴
     By 1920, at age 21, he was teaching at the Miami Military Institute, at Germantown, Ohio. The school originated in 1894 as a music school, but later changed to a military program. It closed in 1933 when enrollment dropped during the Great Depression. The property, later a church camp, fell into disrepair and was demolished in 2015.^15,16
     Ernest appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Germantown, Montgomery Co., Ohio, on West Warren St., enumerated 17 Jan 1920, apparently sharing a room with Ray Heck, another teacher, age 24. They were living in a building with other Institute staff, including officials and their families, other teachers, cooks, and servants.¹⁷
     Ernest married Rachel Elizabeth Glabe, daughter of Sebastian Glabe and Anna Katherine Ruppel, on 16 Jun 1920 in Chatsworth, Livingston Co., Illinois, with Rev. Julius A. Giese officiating.^10,11
     Ernest and Rachel moved frequently in the early years of their marriage. Their first child was born in Chicago, in Jun 1921.¹⁸
     By 1922 he was teaching at Menominee High School in Menominee, Michigan.¹⁹
     Ernest and Rachel moved back to Illinois by 1926. He was a science teacher at Elgin High School, in Elgin, Illinois, by 1927.^20,21
     Ernest and Rachel appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Elgin, Kane Co., Illinois, on Division St., enumerated 14 Apr 1930, reporting they were renting their home, for $45 per month, and owned a radio. Their children Juanita, Jeanne and Donald were listed as living with them.²²
     Ernest and Rachel moved to Coles Co., Illinois, before 1935. They appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Mattoon, Coles Co., Illinois, at 2609 Western Ave., enumerated 9 Apr 1940, reporting they were renting their home, for $35 per month, and had lived in the same town in 1935. Their children Juanita, Jeanne and Donald were listed as living with them, though Janetta was marked as absent from the home.²³
     By 1940 Ernest William Kersten was principal of a public high school. That year he reported he had worked 60 hours the last week of March, and had worked 52 weeks the prior year, earning $3,150.²³ He registered for the draft for World War II on 11 Feb 1942, while living at 2609 Western Ave., Mattoon, Coles Co., Illinois, reporting he was employed by the senior high school in Mattoon.²⁴
     Ernest and Rachel moved to Peoria by 1946, where they lived at 106 Barker Ave..²⁵
     He was a representative for Equitable Life Assurance in Peoria, by 1946. reporting in the 1950 census he had worked 45 hours the prior week. He also reported working 50 weeks in 1949, earning $4,500 in wages or salary, $550 from his own business, and $522 in interest, dividends, etc. By 1952 he was an assistant agency manager for the company.^26,27
     Ernest and Rachel appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 106 Barker, enumerated 3 May 1950, reporting they lived in a home that was not on a farm and they lived in the same house the year before. There were two lodgers, Maurace Griffitts and Lucas Chinn, age 24 and 23 respectively, listed in the household.²⁸
     Ernest and Rachel moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, by 1953, where they lived at 1805 Georgia NE.²⁹
     In Albuquerque he was employed by the Sandia Corp., at the Atomic Energy Commission facitlity.²⁹
     Ernest died on 20 Feb 1989 at age 90.¹²