Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 2. Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 679. ANDREW KERSHAW, M.D. who is now living retired, but is prominently identified with various enterprises of Willamina, was born a Oldham, England, on June 28, 1855, and is a son of Moses and Betsy Kershaw, also natives of the mother country. The father, who was the manager of a cotton mill in the old country, together with his wife and family emigrated to the United States in 1859, locating in Pennsylvania. After residing there for three years they removed to Coles county, Illinois, where the father continues to make his home at the venerable age of eighty-seven, having been born in 1824, but the mother passed away several years ago. Moses Kershaw is one of the well known and prominent residents of Coles county, where for many years he has discharged the duties of justice of the peace and coroner. He is a worthy exemplar of the Odd Fellow's order, having been identified with this organization for sixty-six years, and is a member of the Grand Lodge. He has always been a zealous worker in the order and is well known in lodge circles throughout the state of Illinois. There are four generations of the Kershaw family living and three of them are identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Kershaw were the parents of two children, a son and daughter; the latter, Mary, is the widow of John Russell and now makes her home in southern California. As he was only a child of four years when he came to the United States with his parents, Dr. Kershaw has practically no recollection of his native land, and almost his earliest memories of his life in America are associated with the Civil war. He was very young when the war opened, but his whole nature was thrilled by the martial spirit that pervaded the air, and it was practically impossible to keep him in school or center his attention on his lessons. Still too young to realize its horrors and the suffering it entailed, he was keenly interested in the details of every battle and it was the ambition of his life to be a soldier. Everything that was connected with the war had a wonderful fascination for the lad and despite the watchfulness of his parents his enthusiasm would sometimes lead him into danger and on the 3d of June, 1863, he went with a party of comrades to watch an army train pass through the village in which they lived. At an unguarded moment the little chap lost his footing and fell under the wheels, losing his left foot. Surgery at that period was not the wonderful science it is today, and the verdict of the country physicians was amputation two inches below the knee. Thus from his ninth year he has been handicapped all through life by the loss of his foot, but doubtless he felt it most in his early years when his affliction made it impossible for him to participate in the sports and games of his playmates. This accident had a tendency to sober his boyish spirits somewhat and from then on he applied himself closely to his studies until he had completed the course of the common schools. Having decided that he would adopt the profession of medicine for his life vocation, upon attaining his eighteenth year he entered the office of one of the local physicians under whose direction he pursued his studies for two years. At the expiration of that period he matriculated in the Rush Medical College at Chicago and was awarded the degree of M.D. two years later. He began his professional career at the age of twenty-two years when he opened an office at Charleston, Illinois, that he maintained for eight years. From there he went to Missouri, but soon thereafter applied for a government post as physician to the Indians, his application bearing the signatures of John A. Logan, John G. Cannon and Major James A. Connolly. Very soon after he was appointed to the Tulalip reservation in Washington, remaining there until 1889, during which time he had the supervision of five different reservations. From there he was transferred to the Grande Ronde reservation, Yamhill county, Oregon, where he discharged the duties of physician until 1896, when he was appointed superintendent. He continued to serve in this capacity until the 1st of April, 1909, when he resigned his post and has ever since been living retired. In 1891, Dr. Kershaw purchased a general mercantile store in Willamina, later taking for a partner Paul Fundman, who had the entire management of the business. He subsequently bought Mr. Fundman's interest, however, and turned the enterprise over to his son, who is still conducting it under the name of the Kershaw Department Store. In 1907, Dr. Kershaw became associated with a number of Portland men in the organization of the Pacific Face Brick company and the Sheridan & Willamina Railroad Company, the two being incorporated for two hundred thousand dollars. He is vice president and a member of the board of directors of both organizations, which are now well established and thriving. Always having had great faith in the ultimate development of the northwest, Dr. Kershaw has invested at various times during the long period of his residence in the country heavily in real estate, much of which he has sold at a good profit, when capitalists could be brought to realize the wonderful possibilities of the natural resources, while he still has some valuable holdings. He has always been an enterprising man of more than average sagacity, and has been interested in the promoting and upbuilding of various public utilities. Charleston, Illinois, was the scene of the marriage of Dr. Kershaw and Miss Ella Mitchell, the event being celebrated in 1881. Mrs. Kershaw is a daughter of General G. M. and Catherine Mitchell, the father a well known officer of the Civil war, and at one time a prisoner of General Price, who entered the service as a general and was mustered out with the rank of major-general. After the close of hostilities he was postmaster at Charleston for several years, but was subsequently appointed superintendent of the southern Illinois penitentiary. Both General and Mrs. Mitchell are now deceased, their deaths having occurred the same day. Of the marriage of Dr. and Mrs. Kershaw there has been born one son, Harry, whose birth occurred on the 15th of June, 1883. He is also married and has a little son, Andrew, who celebrated the second anniversary of his birth on October 17, 1911. Fraternally, Dr. Kershaw is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has filled all of the chairs, and he also belongs to the Grand Lodge and is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of Salem. He attends the Congregational church, in which Mrs. Kershaw holds membership, although she was reared a Presbyterian, while his political support is accorded to the republican party. He takes an active interest in all municipal affairs and in 1910 served as mayor of Willamina, and during the period of his residence in Charleston for a time discharged the duties of city clerk. Dr. Kershaw is a man of many estimable qualities and during his residence here has won and retained the friendship of the majority of those with whom he has had dealings, because of his straightforward upright method of conducting his transactions. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.