Fred J. Kern

Fred J. Kern

Frederick John Kern (September 2, 1864 – November 9, 1931) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.

Early life

Kern was born on a farm near Millstadt, St. Clair County, Illinois, and attended the public schools of Millstadt, and attended Illinois State Normal University in Normal, Illinois. Kern was employed as a coal miner, and later taught at the public schools for five years. He was editor of the East St. Louis Gazette, and in 1891, became owner of the Belleville News-Democrat.

Political career

Kern was elected as Chief enrolling clerk of the State senate in 1892, and was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1898 to the Fifty-sixth Congress.

In 1901, Kern was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-seventh Congress, where he served from March 4, 1901 through March 3, 1903. He served as mayor of Belleville from 1902 through 1912, and served as delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1904, 1908, and 1912. Kern was President of the State Board of Administration from 1913 through 1919.

Later life

Kern ran for reelection in 1902 to the Fifty-eighth Congress, but was unsuccessful, and resumed his newspaper pursuits in Belleville, Illinois. Kern died in Belleville, Illinois, on November 9, 1931. He was interred in Walnut Hill Cemetery.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by William A. Rodenberg	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 21st congressional district 1901–1903	Succeeded by Ben F. Caldwell