California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


FORD F. KERR.� As proprietor of the Fresno Rug Manufacturing 
Company, Ford F. Kerr has won a place in the ranks of the enterprising 
business men of Fresno and his successful and growing business tells its 
own story. Born in Ripley, Brown County, Ohio, October 22, 1885, he was 
reared and educated in that locality until 1901, when he came west, remain- 
ing in Oklahoma a short time and then continued the journey to California, 
arriving in Redlands in 1902. Going to Pasadena soon after his arrival, he 
entered the employ of the Pasadena Rug Works, and also worked in the 
Pasadena Upholstering Company's plant. In 1906 he went to Alameda, and 
there worked for the Alameda Rug Works. Locating in Berkeley, in 1909, 
he established the Dwight Way Rug Works in that city, built up a good 
business, and sold out in 1912. 

After selling his Berkeley establishment, that same year Mr. Kerr came 
to Fresno and established his present business, on G Street. As the rapid 
growth of the business demanded, he made extensive improvements in his 
factory and now employs thirty hands at the Fresno plant and uses four 
automobiles for delivery purposes, and, besides his local work, does a large 
mail order business, his field of operations including all of California, as 
well as customers in Arizona and Nevada. A comparatively new industry, the 
method of rug making is both unique and economical. Old carpets furnished 
by the customers are cleaned, sterilized, and cut up and rewoven into new 
carpets and rugs, all of which are reversible, both sides being alike. It takes 
but one week from the time the old carpet enters the factory to have it re- 
appear a new rug. Besides the manufacturing of rugs and carpets, a depart- 
ment of the factory is devoted to cleaning and renovating like furnishings, 
and this concern is now one of the big industries of Fresno, built up by 
businesslike methods and is modern in all its appointments. Mr. Kerr has 
done all the work for the Fresno Hotel, besides making and selling to 'them 
a large number of rugs ; he also handles the work for the Hughes and the 
Sequoia Hotels. The excellence of the work done may be judged by the 
fact that Mr. Kerr won First Prize at the Fresno, Modesto and Bakersfield 
Fairs, in 1917. and in 1918 received the First Prize at the State Fair in Sacra- 
mento, also at the Fresno Fair. 

On February 1, 1919, he established a rug works at 1922 Mission Street, 
San Francisco, where he employs forty to forty-five persons. 

While devoting his time and energies to the building up of his business, 
Mr. Kerr has found time to enter into the fraternal and social life of the 
city, and to aid in the progress and upbuilding of his community. He is a 
member of Fresno Lodge No. 138, K. of P., and has attained to the highest 
degree in that order, that of D. O. K. K.