Last week we presented the story of the Beaupre family in Grosse Pointe. Eugene Beaupre Sr. moved to Grosse Pointe, he was the head of the Beaupre family and established quite a life for himself and the many family members who were and have had a noted presence in the community.
This week we stick with family history as we explore the Kerby family. As we mentioned last week Grosse Pointe has a rich French heritage that stems from some of the earliest families to inhabit Grosse Pointe, including Vernier, Cadieux, Trombley, Moross, Renaud, Beaufait, Poupard, Beaupre’s, and the Kerby’s.
It is acknowledged the Kerby family are one of the community’s earliest settlers. John Kerby Sr. was born 1754 in Albany, New York, the son of Thomas Kerby (who was born in Belfast, Ireland). In June 1781, he married Alison Donaldson in Detroit (Alison was the daughter of Sgt. James Donaldson, who was originally from Scotland. She was born in Detroit in 1760). They had 12 children.
It is reported “in 1796, shortly after Michigan had been ceded to the United States, the earliest member of the Kerby family settled in the sparsely populated settlement, which a few French families and “voyageurs” had named Grosse Pointel.” It has been suggested the Kerby’s made their money in the fishery business, which brought them immeasurable wealth and influence within the local government. That same year, John Kerby Sr. purchased 120 acres of land from his father-in-law James Donaldson. The scenic property, situated on Lake St. Clair, just south of Moross Road extending as far back as Mack. Several years later, in 1811, “his wife, Alison, following the death of her father, inherited additional land that was situated adjacent to the Kerby property. Following the acquisition, we understand the Kerby ribbon farm was 242 acres, starting at Lake St. Clair and extending north to where I-94 is today. It is reported John Kerby constructed a log home facing the lake, the wooden structure is now the core of the house which is located at 310 Kerby Road. He also opened a dirt lane that ran to what is now Mack Ave. The tree-lined lane ran through the center of the property that would later become known as Kerby Road. After many years in Grosse Pointe, John Kerby Sr. gave his farm to his son John Jr. He then went to Canada where he lived the remainder of his life (John Kerby Sr. passed in 1841).
The house, built by John Sr., ultimately became the home of his grandson Rufus Mark Kerby (born on 9 November 1823, in Grosse Pointe) who lived in the house with his wife Catherine Van Antwerp (the couple married in 1853). It is reported “Rufus was the village’s first postmaster and ran a post office and small general store from the home in the late 1800’s.” Source: Grosse Pointe Historical Society (GPHS). Having lived in their lake front home for many years, Rufus Kerby donated part of the site, an 80’ x 300’ lot to the village for a church - Rufus Kerby was one of the founding members of the congregation. The lot was located at 299 Lake Shore, on the corner of Lake Shore Drive and Kerby Rd. The church was erected in 1867, it was a small white wood frame Gothic style building that became known as the “Little White Grosse Pointe Memorial Church”. Source and image: The Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, 1865 – 1990 Its History, Its Life. By Thomas A. Arbaugh.
In October 1894 the church was moved to a piece of land, that had been donated by Eugene Sr. Beaupre, for use as a village hall. Meanwhile what was the location of the Kerby lake front home, many years later, would later become the site of the Henry B. Joy Estate (301 Lake Shore). Source: Detroit Free Press (February 1952) and vanantwerpfamily.com
During this period, it is acknowledged many of the lakefront homes, roadhouses, and businesses were being relocated to make room for Jefferson Avenue, including the Kerby house. In 1893, Rufus sold the remaining lakefront portion of his property and moved the house inland on Kerby to the corner of Ridge and Kerby Road, not far from the Kerby family cemetery. Rufus M. Kerby passed on 3 February 1904. His wife Catherine died three years later in 1907. Research by GPHS explains in 1912, the house was sold to Rufus’s cousin, E.J. Tucker. Then in 1916, the property known as the Kerby Farm, which by that point was comprised of 50 acres (adjoining the Henry Joy property) on the south side of Kerby Road, was sold through a broker on behalf of the heirs of Rufus Kerby. Image courtesy of: Google Earth.
It appears E.J. Tucker resided in the former Kerby home for many years. In 1928, he sold some of the property to the school system as the site for the “new” Kerby School – you can read the full story of the home by clicking here. Kerby Elementary School is one of the oldest schools in Grosse Pointe. It was named after John R. Kerby Jr. wo was an original member of the Grosse Pointe Board of Education from 1922-1926 (he was president for the last year of his service).
Under the ownership of Mr. Tucker, in the 1940’s the house was then moved for the third time to its present location on the east side of Kerby Road between Williams Avenue and Beaupre Avenue. At that time of the move it is reported “renovations included the removal of the long front porch, while brick replaced the original wooden exterior walls.” Meantime the plot of land where the house was situated (on the corner of Ridge and Kerby) was sold for development. During 1952, work began to develop the property to create what is now part of Ridgemont Road. When the project was completed, there was more than 50 new houses. Source: Detroit Free Press (February 1952).
The present address of the original Kerby house is 310 Kerby Road. It is currently 1,800 sq ft, however this probably wasn’t the size of the home when it was first constructed. In 1994, the house still contained the original mantle and staircase. Source: GPHS. Color image: Google Earth.
The Kerby family have had a huge part to play in the development and history of Grosse Pointe. It goes without saying that without them certain parts of the community would be very different today.
If you have a home, building or street you would like us to profile please contact Higbie Maxon Agney – homes@higbiemaxon.com - we will try and feature the property.
* Photos courtesy of the Higbie Maxon Agney archives unless stated.
** Research, information, and data sources are deemed reliable, but accuracy cannot be fully guaranteed.
Written by Katie Doelle
Copyright © 2025 Higbie Maxon Agney & Katie Doelle
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