Regarded as the oldest Angelina County business in continuous operation, Kerr's began in 1870 as a general store in the early county seat of Homer (5 mi. SE). It was started by Civil War veteran Capt. Joseph Kerr (B. 1828), a native of South Carolina. The operation was moved to Lufkin in the 1880s, soon after the railroad town was founded. An active business, civic, and political leader, Kerr was later succeeded in the firm by his sons. Started in the early days of the county and later operated as a tin shop, Kerr's Inc. is now a leader in steel fabrication. (1981)