Transcribed without making changes to spelling and grammar. Transcribed by Joyce Robinson The Portsmouth Times Dated: April 24, 1880 Death of Cpt. WASH. KERR. Those who saw the Buckeye State move off from the wharf boat Tuesday morning, little thought that the man in command on the roof -- one so well known in this community -- in a few hours would be cold in death. But so it was. Capt. KERR left the boat at Ironton and went to his home, complained of being sick, and by two o'clock was dead. Capt. KERR was a native of Burlington, the old county seat of Lawrence county, and when a mere boy went upon the river, where he remained up to the time of his death. From one who knew him from the time he first began steamboating up to his untimely taking off, we have learned some of the particulars of his life. He was for years a prominent and efficient pilot between Pittsburg and Louisville. For a time he was on a small steamer called the Home, Capt. SAMUEL COLE, recently of Ashland, now deceased. In 1838 he was on the Transit, a semi weekly packet between this place and Cincinnati. At different times he was on most of the boats owned by Capt. J. W. DAVIS, and the late JOHN McDOWELL. He was on the Oneida, Capt. WM. TINKER, the first tri-weekly boat built for the Portsmouth and Cincinnati trade, and the pioneer of a line of boats which, from that day to this, have been distinguished for speed and general excel- lence. The Oneida burned up at Letart, and was succeeded by the Ashland, Captains TINKER and KAPNER, and Cept. KERR took the wheel, his partner being 'NISS COOPER, long since dead. Capt. WASH. WILLIAMSON was mate. The Ashland's pilot house blew overboard at Charleston bar on one occasion, injuring Mr. COOPER, and Capt. KERR handled the wheel the balance of the trip by himself, while the carpenters built another pilot house around him. He was on the Eagle, in the Big Sandy trade, and the Victor, Cept. HORATIO GILLET, from Cincinnati to Guyandotte, the boat running in connection with the old stage route over the mountains from that place. We believe Capt. GILLET is living yet. Later he was on the Pittsburg and Cincinnati packet, Messenger, Capt. FISHER, and the famous Uniopn Line packet, David White, commanded by out late fellow citizen, Capt. WILLIAM McCLAIN. Many will remember what a clipper the White was, and with two such steppers on board as "Bill" McCLAIN and "Wash" KERR, it is no wonder she made it lively for such boats as the peerless Buckeye State. In those old days Capt. KERR doubtless little dreamed that in future years he would command and largely own a boat of the same name as that of his formidable rival. Along about 1849 he commanded the Lady Byron, a stern-wheel boat, distinguished for a deplorable lask of speed, which must have been a thorn in the flesh of the high-pressure Captain. He built up a fine trade between this city and Pittsburg, commanding the Irene, Robert Moore, Kenton, Highlander and the two Granite States. At the time of his death he commanded and partly owned the Buckeye State, which was built under his special direction. Cept. KERR was 67 years of age. He leaves his family in comfortable circumstances.