J. Frederic Kernochan

Joseph Frederic Kernochan (December 8, 1842 – August 17, 1929) He then attended and graduated from Columbia Law School with a Bachelor of Laws in 1865, where he was valedictorian of his class.

Career In May 1865, he was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of New York County. After a year spent traveling abroad, he joined the law office of Abraham R. Lawrence in New York City working there from 1867 until 1869. In 1869, he formed a partnership with his brother Frank under firm name of F. E. & J. F. Kernochan in New York, operating until 1873 when decided to stop practicing law. After that point, he practiced independently focusing on testamentary law, dealing with trusts and estates. Conveniently, 400 was the number of people that could fit into Mrs. Astor's ballroom.

From 1893 to 1901, Kernochan was the president of New York Free Circulating Library (which was later absorbed by the New York Public Library) and was a charter member of New York City Bar Association in 1869. He was a warden of All Saint's Memorial Church in Navesink, New Jersey, a member of vestry of Grace Church in New York City. Together, they were the parents of five children:

Eweretta Kernochan (1870–1954), who did not marry. William Kernochan (b. 1873), who died in infancy. a Chief Justice of the Court of Special Sessions who married Elizabeth Howland (1885–1973). Mary Stuart Whitney Kernochan (b. 1880), who married Courtland Smith (1884-1970), son of Orlando J. Smith, in 1929. Whitney Kernochan (1884–1969), who married Helen (née Gaynor) Bradford (1894–1951), daughter of New York City Mayor William Jay Gaynor, in 1921. She was divorced from Edward Thomas Bedford, a son of oilman E.T. Bedford. He later resided at 907 Fifth Avenue. and after a funeral service at Grace Church, he was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, which was founded by his wife's grandfather.