Aged Resident Passes Away

Richard Kearns, 91, Dies at Daughter's Home; to be Buried Tuesday Richard Kearns, 91, Ann Arbor's oldest citizen, died at 11:45 Saturday night at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William Beranek, 320 North Main St., after a short illness. Mr. Kearns came to Ann Arbor when three months old, and had resided in Ann Arbor since that time, making his home with his daughter since the death of Mrs. Kearns 31 years ago. He was born Aug. 15, 1836, at St. Thomas, Ont., his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Kearns being en route to the United States from Ireland. For sixty years, he was employed in a blacksmith shop located on the site of the present Ann Arbor Dairy Co., retiring from business 25 years ago. The city was sparsely settled when Mr. Kearns came to Ann Arbor, and during his 91 years of residence here, he has watched the village and surrounding wilderness progress to its present status. He is survived by a son, Richard Kearns of Ann Arbor; two daughters, Mrs. Beranek of Ann Arbor and Mrs. J. M. McDonald of Detroit; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 9 o'clock Tuesday morning at St. Thomas church, with interment in St. Thomas cemetery. John Kenny, William Corson, John O'Mara, William Clancy, Clarence Sweet and Charles Kapp will be pallbearers.