08/04/2026
Cecil Kern was the grandson of German immigrants who came to the United States in 1867. They made their way to the Hell’s Bend area of Marmaton, Kansas. Mr. Kern’s parents Henry and Anna Johes Kern are both buried in the Marmaton Cemetery. Mr. Kern was born in 1897 and joined the United States Navy near the onset of World War I. He served on the USS Arkansas as well as a few others.
When the war was over, he returned to Fort Scott and resumed his job as a tailor. When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Cecil felt he must do his part and this time joined the United States Army. Once victory was once again gained, Cecil returned to his home at 618 Heylman Street. He married Gladys Viola Northcutt on May 13, 1948 and she died in January of 1952. He never remarried and left no heirs. He passed away on January 25, 1980 at the age of 82.
Upon his death, he left quite a few of his possessions to the Historical Preservation Association of Bourbon County with some of them being displayed in the old Ralph Richards Museum. Fortunately, most of his collection survived the many harsh years of storage in the old MKT freight museum after the museum closed. His photos and items from World War I were displayed for a time at the Bourbon County Courthouse.
Recently, I reached out to the World War I museum in Kansas City and showed them his photos and personal items from the war. They immediately responded that they were interested in receiving the items, and it is my great honor to announce that I delivered the items to the museum this afternoon. His memory and story will be forever housed at the highest level World War I museum in the United States.
