Page 13 - MOST RECENT

This is the John Pinnix house on South Main Street as photographed This is the home of Mrs. E. E. Shore, Sr. The house was
around 1900. Seen in the picture is Dr. vV. C. Ashworth, (standing at the built by Mr. Shore's grandfather, Dr. Elias Kerner in 1857. At that time
fence) who worked with Dr. Elias Kerner. In the huggy is Elsvan Loy the site was in the woods. Today it is on Kernersville's Main Street. The
who was driver for Dr. Ashworth. Dr. Ashworth lived here before Mr. house was restored in 1940. Dr. Kerner's medical books are still in the
John Pinnix and wife bought the house and remodeled it. Mr. and Mrs. library and his lovely old corner cupboard and secretary are only a few
Pinnix lived h ere until their deaths. of the family treasures in the house. The sturdy shady oaks and the
magnolia trees give the passerby the mellow feeling of "That's where I'd
like to live".
Joseph Kerner was born March 13, 1769 in Furtwan-
gen, a village in the Black Forest of Germany, situated Home built in 1857 by Dr. Elias Kerner, son of John Frederick,
about 26 miles from the university city of Freiburg. He before l;>eing remodeled by the E. E. Shores. Dr. Elias is standing on the
· porch with his grandchildren in the yard.
was the son of Petrus and Magdalena Kerner ( also spelled
Komer, Kirner and Kumer, but for the sake of the town
spelled Kerner in this account). He was baptised and
later confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church. Furt-
wangen was the center of a flourishing clock and watch
business so it was natural that young Jos<?ph should tum
to this business. In 1785, at the age of sixteen, he en-
tered into a formal contract with Mathias Grieshaber, a
manufacturer and dealer in clocks, watches and precision
instruments of all kinds. In the terms of the contract he
was to go to America in an apprentice arrangement
and was to be taken in as a partner after 2½ years. He
arrived in New York City August 15, 1785.
A little over two years later, in 1787, we see Joseph
again as a successful young man living at Friedland,
North Carolina. He had left behind him an old world
career and was ready to begin a new life. As a younger
son in Furtwangen he would never inherit land at home,
but here in North Carolina was an opportunity to own
This home on East South Main Street was built in 1889 by Henry
land - far more land than the old world could dream of. C. Korner for his mother, Aunt Sallie, widow of Philip Korner, who was
the son of "Joseph of Kernersville." The house has lovely murals on the
ceilings painted by Caesar Milch of Berlin, Germany. The house has
remained in the family, and until recently was occupied by Joseph
Kerner's great granddaughter, Kathleen Korner, and great grandson, Philip
L. Korner, Sr.
This home on South Main Street was built by John F. Kerner for
his son Cornelius Kerner in the 1870's. The house was sold on November
26, 1892 to Mr. and Mrs. S. G . Ring for $550.00. Known as the Gid Ring
house, Mr. and Mrs. Ring lived here until their deaths.