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Following is miscellaneous information collected by the various individuals doing research
on the Keever/Keefer/Kiefer/Kefer/Kiever surname. It is arranged, as much as is practical, in chronological order. |
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From the book Eighteenth Century Immigrants from the Northern Alsace to America by
Annette K. Burgert, published 1992 by Picton Press, Camden MA. Provided by Bonnie Everhart.
"Joh. George Kleiber, second son of the deceased Georg Kleiber of Niederbetschdorf, Alsace, m. 17 Dec 1770 Rosina Margareth Weber, oldest daughter of Joh. Nicolaus Weber from Wintersburg in Zweibrucken" This son was born 9 Oct. 1740 and he immigrated to America on the Ship "Sally" arriving in Phila on 5 Oct. 1767. |
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Listing of Inhabitants in 1776 in Bedford County Pennsylvania, compiled by
S. Iscrupe, copyright 1987, Southwest
PA Genealogical Services, Laughlintown PA
Includes:
Jacob CAFER in Brothers Valley Twp.
Adam CAIFER in Turkeyfoot Twp.
Martin KEFER in Turkeyfoot Twp.
Michael KEFER Turkeyfoot Twp.
Pennsylvania Archives Vol.___page 762,
re County of York, Associators and Militia.
"AT Camp Security Jany. 7th, 1782
For a valuable consideration to me in hand paid by Patrick Sullivan I do
hereby Transfer make over all my right Title
claim and Demand of the pay and bounty due and becoming due my tour of
Militiary
Duty in the 7th Class of York County Militia under Patrick Sullivan
aforesaid. Given under my and and seal the day and year first above
written.
Signed Henrich Keever
Maryland Revolutionary Records by
Harry Wright Newman , 1938,Tuttle Publ Co. reprint Gen. Publ Co. Baltimore
MD
JOHN KEEVER private on list of persons receiving Federal Bounty Land Grants.
A private; recieved 215 acres Warrant No. 61,232.
Widow made application for pension in Jefferson County OHIO on Sept. 2, 1813
stating her name as Mary ROBY.
Bonnie Everhart |
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The Washington County Maryland
Estate Docket 1777-1867 includes
the following concerning the estate
of Jacob Kieveler/Keebler/Kebbler Junior.
1) Will filed 25 March 1780, ref:
TS 1, pg 47-50( MSA C1981
MdHR 9146, 1-63-2-14)
2) Administration account Bk 1, pg 21,
filed 16 October 1781 (MSA C1929, MdHR 16,296., 1-63-3-17)
3) Inventories TS #1, pg. 94-95 filed
29 September, 1781 (MSA C1955
MdHR 16, 262, 1-63-2-29)
4) Distributions 1778-1805, pg 13,
filed 16 October 1781 (MSA C1946, MdHR 9152, 1-63-3-25)
The following are excerpts from a photostatic copy of the will made this date
(03-21-99) by Bonnie J. Everhart.
In the Name of God, Amen, I, Jacob Kievler Junr. of Washington County in the State of Maryland, farmer, being not well in bodyly health...I do make my last will and testament...do give devise and bequeath...to my son George Kieveler... two thirds of my plantation situate in West- morland County in the Common Wealth of Pennsylvania containing...three hundred and seventy acres surveyed for a Certain William Asque by virtue of a warrant for three hundred acres bearing date as per Certificate...for cash paid dated March the thirty first...1775, which ...William Asque has sold to me...Also, I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Susannah Kieveler the other third of my plantation mentioned above... Also...my household goods, horses, cows, sheep and hoggs...be equally divided between my Dear Wife Mary Kieveler and my two children... George... and Susannah...Also, it is my will...my son George is to have over and above what is above mentioned, all my wearing clothes both Linnens & Woolings reserved for his use ....also it is my desire that if my son George Keiveler shall live to the years of fourteen that he shall be bound out till he is of age by my Executors to a good trade and further...(paraphrased for brevity-if one of children dies their share goes to surviving child)..whatever part my dear wife chooses to keep as her one third she may hold at the appraisement, the remainder to be sold by my Executors for the use and benefit of my children, the same to be put at interest till the children come of age or marry... I do ordain...my true and trusty friends Martin Kershener and Jacob Keiveler, my uncle, (as)my whole and sole executors...to oversee that my children are...educated and well done by... In Witness whereof...I set my hand and seal this thirtyfirst of January in the year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty.
Signed by Jacob Keebler
in the presence of Anthony Howr, George Noy & Martin Fruit
The three witnesses appeared in court on March 25, 1780 to attest to signing and acknowleged testor was of sound mind at time of making his will, etc... Certified by Thomas Sprigg, registrar, and recorded March 25, 1780. The foregoing leaves no doubt that the Washington Co. MD Keebler/Keiveler's were blood relatives of the Westmoreland County PA Kleber/Keevers. Remember the German "b" when pronounced sounds like the English "v". Bonnie Everhart |
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1983 Supplement Keefer/Keever
John Keeever n.a. PA, 1761, source 2565 p 78
Abra Keefer " " " " " p 64
Geo. " 1765 " " p 96
Jacob " 1740 " " p 15
Martin " 1765 " " p 140
Theobald " 1765 " " p 115
Peter " 1765
George Adam " 1767 source 1804
Source 2564 means Guiseppi Naturalizations of foreign ProtestantsSource 1804 means Egel Names of foreigners who took oath of Allegience Talma Klaasen |
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Bedford co, PA Archives 3rd Series Vol 25, p553 1771-1893
1784 Jacob Keffer 150A
Adam " 250
Jacob " jr 300
" " 300
" intrust 42
Michael Keefer 280
Martin " 200
Talma Klaasen
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Vol II Preble Co., U.S. Land patents granted in Monroe Twp.:
Keever, Adam of Warren Co., Ohio Sec 32 NE 1/4 161 acres 5/27/1824 vol. 75 page 426 Vol II Warren Co., Guardianships 1804-1817: 2-15-1811 - Samuel Bunnel 14 years on Oct 25 last chose Adam Keever as his guardian. Vol II Warren Co., Marriages 1803-1810 Adam Keever to Mary Hunter 9-20-1804 Martin Keever to Polly Stanford 8-20-1806 Vol II Warren Co., Guardianships 1818 - 1826 Aug 1818 Martha McDonald 16 years, Rachel McDonald 12 years, Samuel McDonald 15 years, Sarah McDonald 10 years. Children of William McDonald. Guardian William McDonald, guardian of Sarah, George Keever guardian of others. Vol II Meigs Co., Death Records 1867 - 1872 Keifer, John - d. 1-11-1871; at 78 years; pd Pomeroy; pb Pennsylvania Vol I Allen Co., Common Pleas Ct. Rec. 1838 - 1839 4-22-1839 Naturalization - George Berwin, Peter Rohrbacker, Michael Baerinel and Michael Keefer natives of Bavaria make their declaration to become citizens. Vol I Clark Co., Marriages 3-18-1821 to 12-28-1823 Book 1 Dr. Asa Coleman and Polly Keifer 10-25-1822 Vol 1 Greene Co., marriages 1811 - 1815 Keefer Joseph to Polly Hershman 8-23-1812 Vol I Hardin Co., marriages Keifer Benedict to Mary Oberour 5-17-1840 Vol I Champaign Co., will abstracts 1806 - 1819 Peter Smith - Bethel Twp - pg 71 - dated 6-1-1816 recorded 6-26-1818 - wife: Catherine - Heirs: Ira, Samuel, Sarah, Hezekiah, heirs of Elizabeth Faris, Abraham, heirs of Nancy John, Polly and Rhonda - Executors: Wife Catherine and son Samuel: - Signed Peter Smith - Witnesses: Rueben Wallace and George Keifer. |
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One of those county histories so popular
in the 1890's for their "wonderful" biographical data on pioneer families
says something to the effect that the
Keevers and the Venard/Vineyard families
were friends and neighbors back in Washington County PA before moving to
Ohio. While living in PA with access to
those records, I did an in-depth search of
Washington Co. where I did indeed find
land records in Amwell Township for Stephen Venard and his brother before
they went into Kentucky. Alas, no Keever's were found.
The Will of Jacob Kievler written in 1780 in Washington County Maryland (which will be given in full earlier) contains a bequest of land located in Westmoreland County PA to son George and daughter Susanna. Westmoreland and Washington are indeed neighboring counties in western PA. The 1790 and the 1800 census place a George KEBLER in Salem Township, Westmoreland Co. PA Early tax lists for the area include Henry Kever in South Hempfield Township in 1786 and 1798. Dr. Paul Miller Ruff has spent many years reading old church registers; included in his published church records of Westmoreland County are: In SalemGerman Reformed Church in Salem Township (originally in Hempfield Twp) at Brush Creek: Susanna b. 28 Feb 1798 bap 25 April 1798 Parents: Georg Keibler and Elisabeth, Sponsor Juliana Hack Anna Maria b. 4 Jun 1801 baptized 28 Jun 1801 Parents: Georg Kiebler and Elisabeth, Sponsors Peter Uber and Anna Maria Johann Jacob born 6 Apr 1803 baptized 30 April 1803 parents: Georg Kiebler and Elisabeth. Sponsors, Jacob Berlin and Magdalena In Mount Pleasant Township:at St. Johns Lutheran and Reformed Catharina b. 4 Mar 1792 baptized 9 Apr 1792, Parents: Henrich Kleber and Elisabetha; Sponsors, Ludwig Ackerman and Elis. Suess Michael b. 7 Sep 1797 Bap. 28 Sep 1797 Parents: Henrich Gleber and Elisabetha Sponsor: the parents Anna Margretha b. 6 Nov 1799, Bap 23 Feb 1800 Parents: Henrich and Margretha Gleber Henrich b. 26 Jul 1802, baptized 25 Aug 1802, Parents Henrich Gleber and Elisabeth. Sponsor: Joseph Schmit and Christina The following family was located in German Township, Fayette County PA. Elisabeth b. 10 Jan 1804 baptized 10 Jun 1804, Parents: William Kibler and Magdalena, Sponsors, the parents Magaretha b 20 Apr 1816 Parents: Peter Kebler and Elisabeth Catharina b. 15 Dec 1818 Parents: Peter Kebler and Elisabeth Bonnie Everhart |
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Volume I, No. 3, Somerset County PA Deed book - printed abstract, page 62:
5 Oct 1795 Deed Martin (X) Keefer (also
Keever elsewhere written) of Turkeyfoot Township, Somerset Co., yeoman, to
Martin Hileman of Baltimore Co. MD, farmer. Land
Keefer sells his right to a warrant dated 15 Feb 1786 to 200 acres in Turkeyfoot Twp.
lying on both sides of Braddock's Old Road adjoining George Turney, MICHAEL
KEEFER, Daniel Storms, George Isaminger and others. Price £200
PA currency.
Witness Jacob Hartzell and Peter Eberly.
* * * * *
Info received by bje from PA Historical and Museum Comm. on 2-8-94. Warrant
#29 issued on March 31, 1775 to William Asque. Acerage aplied for 300 acres; Located:
Hempfield Township.Westmoreland County
This land was patented on Dec 18, 1806 to George Neek and recorded in Patent
Book 59-pg 215.
This was sent to me as the result of an
inquiry about land mention in the will of
Jacob Keivler which he purchased from
Asque. As you see this warrant was sold
perhaps several times before being finally
patented.
Bonnie Everhart |
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Source: Federal Land Series, Vol. 1 covering 1788-1810, pub. 1972
by American Library Assn. Chicago IL.
Natl. Archives Record Group # 49;
Series Entry No. 367 dated 7 Nov 1806
Series A; microfilm roll 3, page 274
Application filed at Cincinnati District Land Office for preempted land.
Patentee Range Township Section
Martin Keever 4 4 30
Peter Keever 4 4 22
Thomas Vineyard 4 4 23
Stephen Vineyard 4 4 22
Martin Keever 5 3 25
On date 26 Jan 1808 - Cincinnati
A Final Certificate issued to John Osborne was assigned to "heirs of
Michael Kever" being Samuel Highway and Michael Kever
Range 4, Twp 4, Sec. 23.......
Series A, roll 3, pg 400.
on date 7 Sep 1809 A-4-o61
transfer from "heirs of Michael Kever" deceased" to Elizabeth Alexander, an heir
on 18 Feb 1809 Cincinnati
both of these are for military land
George Keever Range 7, Twp. 3, Sec 29
Henry Keever Range 6, Twp. 1, Sec 20
It was my understanding that Martin Keever scouted out the area as early as 1797 and
decided to apply for land when it first came available in 1801 going thru the several
steps required to obtain patent several years later........Bonnie Everhart |
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Story by Gwen Loveless Keever as told by Joseph Oliver "Earl" Keever (his son)
Joseph Perry Keever was born to William Oliver Perry Keever and Sarah E. Morris Keever in Wapello, IA. On January 25, 1866. When Joe was 11 or 12 years of age the family moved to Parnell, Missouri. I believe that at that time Joe's brothers Ira and Edward had been born. After settling in Missouri William Oliver Perry Keever had four more children. Elmer, Oscar, Clara and Elias. According to dates on the tombstones Clara passed away at age 2 years and Elias only lived a few days. Elias was born November 9, 1882 and the mother Sarah passed away November 22, 1882. She must have been 38 years of age. She was buried in the Mt. Home Cemetery 10 miles from Parnell, Missouri. Joe must have been 18 years of age now the oldest of the 5 boys. His father William Oliver Perry Keever married again on June 11, 1884. He married Angeline Bookman Cooper, a young widow with 3 boys, John, Tom, and Tim. As sometimes happens when two families merged, the Keever boys and the Cooper boys had many disputes and when a sister arrived upon the scene on August 6, 1885 the boys were none too happy. Emma grew up in the doting eyes of her parents. The boys eventually all left home. Joe has told me that they lived within a mile or so of the Platte River. Here they fished, swam in summer and skated during the winter. Often they skated the 12 miles to Parnell, Missouri. No one had a car in those days. Jeff Steward lived not far from Parnell. Jeff's wife's family lived in Cameron, Missouri. Their father was a Dunkard preacher who had come from Pennsylvania. A sister of Mrs. Steward's came to visit them and while there met Joe Keever. Joe was attracted to pretty brown eyed, Martha. On March 7, 1894 Joe and Martha were married and settled on a farm west of Parnell about 4 miles from the Platte River. Here their children, Joseph Oliver "Earl," Beulah Sarah, Perry Elias and Martha Marie were born. They lived there until June 1908 when Joe decided to seek a better living in Tripp County, South Dakota. The story of their moving and settling told in the following: Believed to have been taken from "Recollections of the History and Lives of my Pioneer Ancestry in Louisa County Iowa." The Story of a homesteader. In 1908 Joseph Perry Keever lived in Nodeway County, Parnell, Missouri. With his wife, Martha and four children, Joseph Oliver "Earl" age 13, Perry age 9, Beulah age 11, and Marie, age one. At that time Joe heard that the U.S. Government was opening up land for homesteading in Tripp County South Dakota you could draw a number for 160 acres. You were to lived on the land and plow up 10 acres and pay $6.00 an acre. After 14 months the land was yours. Joe's brothers Elmer and Ed had homesteaded in Gregory County near Burke and Lucas several years before this. Joe decided here was an opportunity. So he applied for a homestead claim. In the spring of 1909 he was notified that he had drawn a 160 acre claim. He was to appear in Dallas, South Dakota on a certain day in April to file on it. He secured a boxcar from the railroad and loaded a few pieces of furniture and household goods, a few farming implements, 5 head of workhorses, and two dogs. Then he and his oldest son, Earl, set out on their voyage. They rode and lived in the boxcar with their belongings. They left Martha and the other three children at Parnell until they had a place for them. After five days and night, they arrived in Dallas. Ed Keever met them. Dallas was a thriving frontier town, the end of the railroad. Ed had built a shack and a horse shelter on some vacant railroad property north of the present elevator and railroad tracks. Here they stayed until Joe and his claim filed and lands picked. People were arriving everyday, pitching tents and shacks on any vacant government land they could find, until they had filed for their claims and located their land. During the waiting period Earl amused himself playing with the children and dogs between tents and shacks. Here they spent about a month. At last everything was ready and Ed. Joe and Earl hitched two teams to a wagon, loaded their dismantled shacks, and some furniture and set out to find Joe's land. They followed a trail to Colome, a distance of eleven miles. Colome had a livery barn for horses, a store, restaurant, post office, and a half dozen houses. A long canvas tent had been sent for and filled with cots covered by a couple of blankets. These cots rented for $1.00 a night. Here Ed, Earl and Joe spent one night. Early the next morning armed with a crude map they headed out for a spot of land that was 5 miles south and 5 miles west of Colome, only a surveyor's stakes marked it. By that night they had located their claim. As the day drew to a close they set up camp on a low hill on the Northwest corner of Joe's land. The horses were securely tied to the wagon, after they were watered from a low slough, and were fed. The men ate over an open fire made of a few boards they had broken up. They were tired and went to bed early on their prairie land. Nest day everyone rose early and started setting up shelter for the horses. Another night was spent on the prairie. This was the first day of April. Now the horses were taken care of they started preparing space for a house. Joe returned to Dallas for more lumber and supplies while Ed and Earl continued working on the house. Joe returned the 4th day. These trips were repeated two more times. In about a week's time the Keever's had erected the first frame house to be built in the community. Dave Behen had moved in on a claim a quarter of a mile from the Keever's. He loaned them some hay for their horses. Joe made another trip for his furniture and supplies. Now he had to locate hay for the horses. After inquiring around hay was located some four or five miles south of Wewela, in Nebraska at the Kenaston Ranch. This was about a 20-mile trip. So they set out following a trail from Cedar Butte. A fire had burned off the prairie the fall before. They skirted the burned area. At last they searched and secured enough hay to last until grass grew. Now the land had to be fenced. Post and fences were hauled from Dallas. A walking plow was found to break up the sod. Trips were made to Colome for food. Ed and Earl worked at the place. By now over a month had passed. Joe wrote for Martha and the other children to come. They boarded the train in Parnell and set out for Burke. Upon arrival Joe's brother, Elmer, met them and took them to his homestead near Lucas. It was a week before Joe was able to get them and take them to their new home. This was about a 50-mile trip by team and wagon. The family was happy to be together. Amongst the items of furniture brought was Martha's old time organ. They had music to wile away the long, lonesome hours. By this time people were coming in fast to settle on their claims. There was a person or family on every quarter. Among the new arrivals was the Chas. Strom family, with their six children. They arrived in a rain at the Keever home. They spent several days until the weather settled and they had located. |
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RODGERS FAMILY OF YELL COUNTY, ARKANSAS
The Rodgers family came to Yell County in the 1890’s from Conway, Arkansas where they lived in 1880. They traveled in Arkansas from Chatooga County, Georgia, where they lived during the Civil War. The Rodgers family settled in Plainview, Arkansas near the train depot. They made a living by farming, blacksmithing and playing musical instruments. They tended to be an outgoing fun loving, gregarious group of people. Perry Keever “P.K.” Rodgers (1844-1919) was the son of David and Rebecca Rodgers, born in South Carolina, who moved to Chatooga County, Georgia in 1860. P. K. Rodgers was a Civil War veteran. He joined the Confederacy 13 May 1862 at Summerville, Georgia. He was a 3rd Corporal in Company E, 6th Regiment of the Georgia Calvary. Conditions were very bad for the Confederate troops. Many times, they did not have enough food to eat or decent clothes to wear. Once, P.K.’s regiment captured a group of Federal soldiers. The first thing he did was order another man to exchange clothes with him. After the war, when he encountered the man again, they embraced each other and cried. P. K. Rodgers married Sarah Caroline Hood (1847-1929) on 28 Nov 1865 in Chatooga County, Georgia and fathered the following children: William Zelotis; Maggie; Tolliver Robert; Homer Ebeneezer; Flora Maude; John Keever and Jessie G. Perry Keever and Sarah Rodgers are buried in the Salem Cemetery, Plainview, Arkansas. William Zelotis (1866-1928) operated a hotel-boarding house in Plainview and worked as a butcher. He married Sarah Frances Foster (1873-1917) and fathered the following: Olive Gertrude; Ernest Herval; Velma Faye; Viola; Leona Eliza; Jessie; Chell; John Vernon; Joe Wheeler; Ivan Lows; Lloyd Burton; Clarence Neal; Revis Hugh Victor; Ruby Mildred; Homer Zelatis and Earl. After the death of Sarah, he married Linnie Leach Hough (1891-1971) and fathered: Myrtle Grace; William Corbin; Lewis Eldred and Nina Mae. Once, a fire destroyed his hotel and killed some of his children. William Zelotis died of "creeping paralysis". Maggie born 1868 married James B. Moore born 1857, 6 Sept 1887 and had 10 children: Those identified were: Maudie; Roy; Romie; Tingey and Berniece. Eventually they moved to Texas. Maggie died in Woodlawn, Texas. Tolliver Robert “Uncle Bob” (1870-1933) was born in Georgia. He marned Mimmie Morris in 1889 and had 10 children: Melvin Jessee, Maggie Flavords; Margie Herella; Clyde Edgar; Roxie Tennessee; Robert Clarence; Alliene Dewey; Aifted Glen and Fred (died in infancy) Uncle Bob lived near Harkey's meadow, between Plainview and Ola. His children were musically talented and played for the community every Saturday night. People gathered from all around to dance at “Uncle Bob’s”. He made money to help support his family by “passing the hat”. Homer Ebeneezer ‘Ebby” (1874-1930) was born in Arkansas. He married Louvenia “Vina” Aibright twice, in 1900 and 1917. She had children from a previous marriage and operated a hotel in Ola. She preceeded him in death, During the depression, Uncle Ebby worked at the State Lunatic Asylum in Little Rock. He was found dead in a motel room in Little Rock 30 Nov 1930, The previous night, he had played cards with other men in the hotel. It is believed he committed suicide because he lost all his money or he was murdered for money he won in the card game. Flora Maude (1882-1979) married William Horace ‘Buck” Gilmore (1877-1926) in 1900 and reared the following children: Lena Viola; Loanna Nettie; Ruby Beatrice; Amy Ethel; John Theodore; Cecil Leon; John Keever; Velda Syble; Robert Lee and Donald Keith. Buck Gilmore was a farmer and school teacher at Sunlight Bay and Salem. John Keever (1877-1941) married Ola Deshazso and fathered two children: Eunice and Lawrence. Eunice married a Wilkerson and worked at the Arkansas State Hospital in Little Rock for many years. Eunice is buried at Ferndale. Arkansas. Lawrence was a veteran of World War II and never married. Jessie G. Rodgers (1885-1918) married Thomas A. Watson and had four children: Tommy, Clara, Sally and James. Written by Karen Tester McGrath |
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