Saturday, July 27, 2002

The KEFFER-WORK Bible
 

Back in August of 2001, I got a tip that a 173-year-old Bible containing information about a Catharine KEFFER and David WORK, was being auctioned off I decided then and there that I was going to bid on it, get it and find any living relatives to return it to. I am somewhat, though distantly related to Catharine's father, Valentine; I got the Bible and set out on my "quest."

I couldn't understand first of all how it would get into the hands of the Goodwill Industries. There had to be a story here somewhere and I was determined to find it. What do I do now? Who were these people? Where to begin? Why did they leave Ohio? Or did they? Who took care of these three little girls? Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.  Where should I start/look?
 So many questions were running through my head. I First put pictures and page descriptions of the Bible on my website thinking someone would immediately come forward. After all this was a very old Bible and some relative had to be looking for it.  But sadly, that was not the case. Oh many did come but none were related to my Catharine and David. Many wanted the Bible but I had vowed to return it to a rightful family member and then ONLY if they could prove that fact.

A lady from an Ohio Historical Society contacted me and said they would run a story in their fall issue. Hoping to generate even more interest. Whether it did run or not I have no knowledge. I did e-mail her but never received an answer. Obviously it didn't.

I then contacted my cousin Pete, who knows the most about the Keffer's in general. He gave me more information on Col. Valentine Keffer, who was originally from Pennsylvania. Pete had written an article some years ago on Col. Valentine Keefer. He asked to run a story with a picture of me with the Bible in the "KEFFER NEWSLETTER". I believe it was in the fall issue. We are not completely positive that Valentine is of our Keefer lineage but my quest had to continue. To him also go many thanks. I also had the distinct honor of meeting Pete at our KEEFER ASSOCIATION Reunion in Pennsylvania last month (June).

Through this story I found that Valentine Keffer had left Pennsylvania and moved to Ohio with his first wife Catharina Zeigler Keefer and six daughters, Catharine, Eleanor, Susan, Judith, Elizabeth, Henrietta, and Mary. They lived in Circleville, Pickaway, Ohio, so I subscribed to several county mailing list in and around that area. I posted my information and referred people to the website. I began to scour the county websites for anything I could find. I got a few responses to my queries but nothing worthwhile. While reading from the book, "Histories of Franklin and Pickaway Counties", it made references to several court cases involving Valentine's sons-in-law and his then-widow Maria Heinemann Keffer  (Catharina Ziegler obviously had died). Valentine owned a lot of property in and around Pickaway County along with his father-in-law, Jacob Ziegler. The daughters were named along with many of Valentine's grandchildren, one of who was Catharine E. Work Wilson of Knox County, Missouri.

 BINGO!!!! There was my Catharine's daughter.

I knew from the Bible that David Work and Catharine Keefer were both born in 1800, He January 3, 1800 and she, February 27, 1800 and were married May 27, 1828. They had what I thought to be three daughters, Nancy, Jane and Catharine E. I had thought there was the name Henry mentioned but that now looks to have been Nancy. Catharine died just two hours after giving birth to her namesake, Catharine E.
How devastated David must have been. He now had three children with no Mother to raise them. Who took these children, I asked my self? What happened to David afterwards? Someone directed me to an article about a David Work on a site about Perry and Franklin Counties. I could not, nor do I to this day believe what I read. Not my David. Not the father of these three little girls, hanged for murder??? No, no, no.

I have the Court manuscript from his trial but sad to say I don’t understand most of it. And since is very long, 7 pages, I won’t be posting that. I can just imagine what the poor fellow must have been going through. Wife gone, three little children and now he is charged with murder?  If anyone would like to read this transcript please e-mail me and I will be happy send it to them.
 

I must diversify a bit here and give the facts I was able to get thus far.

David Work's parents were Joseph Work and Nancy Crone.

Joseph Work came to this country from Ireland around 1792.  He lived
First in Pennsylvania and then came to Ohio. I am not sure but think all of the children may have born in Ohio.

Their children are as follows:

**David, born in 1800, married Catherine Keffer, and had three daughters.
Jane, March 4, 1829, Nancy and Catharine E. Catharine E. married Daniel WILSON April 10, 1857, Fairfield County, Ohio. Nancy married Augustus STIENMAN April 13, 1854 and Jane, Gilruth F. WEBB,

Nancy was born in 1803, and married her cousin, Joseph Work son of Henry Work. (He, Joseph came here from Ireland around 1820.  Nancy died in 1850.

Joseph was born in 1808, and died in 1860.  He married Susannah Keffer (sister to Catharine Keffer who married David) and they had three children - Mary, Rosealtha Corneieal, and Valentine Keffer.  Susannah died in 1843.  Joseph then married Henrietta Peebles and had several other children.

John was born in 1814 in Ohio and died in 1878.  He was a tinnier, and married
Mary M. Davis.  Their children were Sarah, Mary M, Charles G, and Maggie.

Robert was born 1817 and died in 1890.  He married Mary A. Wilson, and they had four children – Ed W, Allie O, Carrie F, and another whose name isn't known.

Henry was born in 1822, marriage uncertain.

*Elizabeth married Thomas Propeck in 1818.  They had seven children - David,
Martha, Josiah, Joseph, Hester, Hieronymous, and William.

Sarah possibly married Robert Reed.

Jane married Henry Levering.

It is believed that most of the family stayed in Ohio. Although the Propecks, did move to IL in the 1860s.

The Keefer girls married the following:
Catharine, David Work
 Eleanor, Levi Pedrick
 Susan, Joseph Work
 Judith, Michael Strayer
 Elizabeth, Abraham Gephart
 Henrietta, Wittich Gottlieb (very influential family in Pickaway County)
Mary, Thomas Pedrick

I was able to find our Catharine E. through some legal proceedings brought about by Mr.’s Pedrick, Gephart and Gottlieb, (she was mentioned to be living in Knox County, Missouri.) That is where I started to hunt.

Catharine E. and Daniel left Ohio soon after their marriage in 1867 and went to Missouri. First, to Knox Co., Missouri. Maggie, (my friend and relative of William WORK) found Catherine Work Wilson and her husband Daniel Wilson in 1860 in Knox Co, Missouri. They were also in Knox Co. in 1880.  Daniel Wilson was 46, Catherine was 45, and they had two daughters- Elley (Ellen) C., 22 and Jinnie S., 18. There were also two sons - Edwin 15 and Everly W. 5.  All of the children were born in Missouri.

In 1900, Catherine age 64 and Daniel age 66 were living in Vernon Co, Missouri.
It shows that Catharine has had 8 children but only 3 were living.
They lived on a rented farm.

In 1910 they were living in Barton Co, Missouri. Daniel is 76 and Catharine is 74.
Daniel and Catharine Work Wilson were living near Lamar, MO, in Barton
Co.  He was 78 and she was 74. The census record indicated that Catharine had
8 children, 3 of which were living in 1910, Edwin, Ellen and Jinnie S. So the other children must have died before 1910

In a household next to the Wilson’s, were Thomas J. Locey and Jennie S. Locey. I had been looking for a Jennie S. Lacey, that's why I couldn't find any trace of her. Thomas was 68 and Jennie was 47. The census record indicated that Jennie had no children and they had been married 20 years.  I contacted an ancestor of Thomas' (Mary) and found out that he, Thomas had been married before and had several children.

Thomas's first wife was Charlotte Jane Bonner.  Charlotte was born 17 Feb 1846 in Posey, IN and died 30 Oct 1886.  They had 3 Children, Jane Viola, Dora and Frank Ellsworth Locey.
Marr:    26 Oct 1865, Grant co., WI

Children:
    Jennie Viola -1866-1938
    Dora 1868-1938
    Frank Ellsworth 1871-1938

Thomas served through out the war in the 15th IL. Cavalry finally discharged at New Orleans, June 5, 1865.

I often wonder why Thomas and Jennie didn't take these 3 children to live with them except that they were all grown by the time Thomas and Jennie married in 1891.

In February Maggie went to Lamar, Missouri too see if she could find more information.

She was able to locate obituaries for both Catherine and Daniel Wilson.  Jennie very beautifully wrote them, probably. It very clearly shows the deep love they had for on another. Having been child Sweet arts.

Catherine and Daniel had only 3 children that reached maturity, and all three
Were still living in 1914 when Catherine died.  They are The Rev. Mrs. John White of
Seattle, Washington, Edwin V. Wilson of Bellingham, Washington, and Jennie Locey
Of Lamar, Missouri.

Daniel Wilson died August 23, 1920, at the age of 86 years.  All three of there children were alive at that time.

Thomas J. Locey died on April 30, 1918.

Jennie Wilson Locey died on May 21, 1936.

Edwin V. Wilson, son of Catherine and Daniel Wilson, married Hattie
Hoselton, in Barton Co, MO. October 27, 1891

In Daniel Wilson's obituary there is a mention of one granddaughter, but it
doesn't give her name or if she was the daughter of Edwin or Ellen.
We later discovered the daughter to be named Gladys and the daughter of Edwin and Hattie.

In Jennie's estate papers, there was a list of the sale of her personal items.
Among them there was a bible that sold for 15 cents.  I personally believe that this was the KEEFER/WORK Bible I had obtained. Her estate sale paper will also be displayed along with both the obituaries for Catharine and Daniel. It is truly a "Love Story", as it shows in the writing of their Obituary.
Maggie also felt this and here is her comment on the subject:
"I felt the same way about the obituaries. They were written with a lot of personal information.  Also, the reference to "Uncle Dan" made me think he was a favorite with everyone in his community.  I had the feeling that Catherine and Daniel had known each other all of their lives.  Two other members of the Work family in Ohio married "Wilson's," says Maggie. "Although I have not done any research to see if they come from the same Wilson family.  I was also impressed with the amount of detail in the obituaries and references to Catherine's maiden name of Work several times, even on her tombstone.  It was like they were trying to preserve facts about their lives for future generations.  Also, she must have been proud to be a "Work". "

 Jennie and Thomas Locey were buried in Lamar and Catherine and Daniel were buried in the Sheldon cemetery.  On Catherine's stone, it showed her maiden name was Work. Pictures of the stones were taken which I will also display.

Catharine E. and Daniel's son Edwin was found in the 1910 and 1920 Census. He was found to be living in Washington State in King Co. In the 1920 Census himself lists him as a "boarder," working at a logging camp. His wife Hattie must have died during the years between 1910-1920.

Ellen, (Ellie) and Rev. John W. White are also found on the 1910 and 1920 Washington Census, living in the Seattle area. John is listed as Minister-retired of the Methodist Episcopal in those days. Their phone number is listed in the Seattle area up until 1937. So they both were still living at that time. Maybe longer. John was from West Virginia but I have not looked for his family at this point.

I am hoping to locate both the children Edwin (Ed) V. Wilson and Ellen (Ella) White as soon as I can get more information on the 1930 Census.

Maggie has since been sent the Bible, as she is the closest member of this KEEFER-WORK Family whom I was able to find. Her Elizabeth Work married a Propeck and she has searched/researched her Propecks for 30 odd years and in my mind deserves this Bible. She has promised to Love, Protect and Preserve it for future generations. And that was my ultimate goal.
Her Father who is 88 yrs old is the grandson of a cousin of our David WORK of this Bible. And his grandmother's sister also married a Work from Ohio.
Many thanks go out to my friends, Iona, Lee and to Maggie. Last name will not be posted for their protection.
Last but not least Pete Keefer, he helped me a great deal with ideas and some facts. …………….
MANY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU

Sources:

1800 OH Federal Census
1820 OH Federal Census
1830 OH Federal Census
1840 OH Federal Census
1850 OH Federal Census

1860 MO Federal Census
1870 MO Federal Census
1880 MO Federal Census

1900 WA Federal Census
1910 WA Federal Census
1920 WA Federal Census

Lamar, Barton Co, MO
Lamar Cemetery, Lamar, MO
Burton Cemetery

** Footnotes and references:
Daniel and Catherine in 1870 in Knox Co.  They were listed under
Willson.  That is why they couldn't be found before.  They are in Benton Twp on page
41 line 11.  The dwelling number is 333 and the family number is 364.  It just shows their children as Ella 12, Jennie 8, and Edward 5.  Their other children may have died at birth or shortly after.

In 1900 in Washington and found Edward V. Wilson in King Co, with wife Hattie age 34, son Claudius age 7, son Sprague age 6, and daughter Gladys age 3.  They are at Vol. 8, E.D.111, Sheet 10, line 7.
Gladys is probably the granddaughter mentioned in the obit.  I bet the sons died.  Could not find them in 1920, and they have unusual names. Maggie found a marriage license request for Edwin V. Wilson and Hattie Hoselton in Barton Co, Mo.  Edwin lived in Irwin, Mo and Hattie lived in Lamar, Mo.  This matches with the 1900 record found in WA.

I also found John W. White age 43 in Pierce Co. with wife Ella age 42.  The only difference is that they show Ella as born in Ohio.  However I believe this is they, and the birthplace is just a mistake.  They are at Vol. 12, E. D.  148, Sheet
6, and Line 22, in 1900.  The record shows that they had one child, but no children are living in 1900.

So... I am now going to direct efforts to see if I can find anything on Gladys Wilson, b. Oct 1896, in WA.  It will be harder because she probably got married and has a different last name.  I did look for Gladys Wilson in 1920 in WA, and could not find her.  Since her father is living alone, she is probably married. I am beginning to feel like I know a lot about this family.

I am sure I have left someone out and for that I apologize.

It’s been almost a year ago that I started this "Quest", and I am very happy with its out come. I spent many long and diligent hours pouring over this family. Now I can rest in Peace knowing it’s made it’s was back to the proper home.

God Bless

Katherine L. Dusek
Kat
JstPlnKAT@aol.com