John William Keefer (1852 - 1931)

Born 1852 in Ohio, United States

Husband of Esther Agnes (Rowland) Keefer — married 3 Dec 1874 in Stark County, Ohio

Descendants

Died 1931 at about age 79 in Stark County, Ohio

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kim Coers [send private message]

Research Note

My grandmother, Ruth Elizabeth Ann Murtaugh Allen, remembers William Keefer's mother as being Mary Dinwiddie, a woman who married an older widower who already had older children. When her husband died, my grandmother recalls that "Mary" took her son William back to her own parents house and raised him there without ever remarrying. I am strongly inclined to believe my grandmother's memories, as she was freaking brilliant and never forgot a single thing as long as she lived. However, if Christiana died when he was young, it may be possible that "Mary Dinwiddie" was not J. William Keefer's mother, but rather his grandmother or earlier. The actual records show that "Christiana Oberlin" was his mother, so I am going to leave it at that until I can track down where Mary Dinwiddie fits into the scheme of things. ~Kim Coers, 4th great granddaughter of William Keefer

Biography

John William "William" Keefer was born in 1852 and passed away in 1931. He is the son of Joseph Keefer and Christiana Obertin.

His father died in 1862, when William was about the age of 10. His mother apparently died between 1860 and 1870, leaving John William an orphan.

Death certificate lists his name as J Wm Keefer and his parents as Joseph Keefer and Christiana Obertin.

1860 census, Lawrance Township, Stark, Ohio, United States

Joseph Keefer M 53 Pennsylvania

Christiana Keefer F 38 Pennsylvania

Ann Keefer F 23 Ohio

Frances Keefer F 14 Ohio

John W Keefer M 8 Ohio

J Kailer M 17 Ohio

1870 census, Canal Fulton, Stark, Ohio

Joseph Early M 36 Pennsylvania, stoves and tinware

Nancy Early F 62 Pennsylvania

William Keefer M 17 Ohio, tinner's apprentice

John Walk M 17 Ohio, tinner's apprentice

Abraham Wise M 30 Prussia

Mary Suetes F 25 Bavaria

1880 census, Lawrence, Stark, Ohio, United States

William Keefer Self M 26 Ohio, United States, farmer

Ester A Keefer Wife F 22 Ohio, United States

Charles F Keefer Son M 3 Ohio, United States

Carrie M Keefer Daughter F 0 Ohio, United States

William Dithick Other M 15 Ohio, United States

1900 census, Chippewa Township (north part) Doylestown village, Wayne, Ohio, United States

William Keefer Head M 48 Ohio

Esther Keefer Wife F 43 Ohio

Charles Keefer Son M 22 Ohio

Carrie Keefer Daughter F 20 Ohio

George Keefer Son M 18 Ohio

Grace Keefer Daughter F 13 Ohio

Lily Keefer Daughter F 9 Ohio

Pearl Keefer Daughter F 2 Ohio

Ida Rowald Sister-in-law F 29 Ohio (see Ida Rowland)

1910 census, Baughman, Wayne, Ohio, United States

William Keefer Head M 55 Ohio

Esther Keefer Wife F 53 Ohio

Pearl Keefer Daughter F 12 Ohio

1930 census, Marshallville, Wayne, Ohio, United States

William Keefer Head M 77 Ohio

Esther Keefer Wife F 74 Ohio

Sources

• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCLY-WFS : 13 December 2017), John W Keefer in entry for Joseph Keefer, 1860.

• "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6LT-56R : 12 April 2016), William Keefer in household of Joseph Early, Ohio, United States; citing p. 4, family 193, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,767.

• "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZ6F-PMP : 8 December 2017), William M. Keefer and Ester Rowland, 03 Dec 1874; citing Stark, Ohio, United States, reference p 328 it 1; county courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 897,631.

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8ST-FKJ : 15 July 2017), William Keefer, Lawrence, Stark, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district ED 142, sheet 32A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1067; FHL microfilm 1,255,067.

• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMXL-N9B : accessed 29 December 2017), William Keefer, Chippewa Township (north part) Doylestown village, Wayne, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 143, sheet 21A, family 463, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,331.

• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ML8D-JG3 : accessed 29 December 2017), William Keefer, Baughman, Wayne, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 156, sheet 6B, family 115, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1239; FHL microfilm 1,375,252.

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4ZL-BTN : accessed 29 December 2017), William Keefer, Marshallville, Wayne, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1, sheet 3B, line 60, family 76, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1887; FHL microfilm 2,341,621.

• "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XD1V-6C4 : 8 December 2014), J Wm Keefer, 08 Jan 1931; citing Marshallville, Wayne, Ohio, reference fn 6460; FHL microfilm 1,992,422.

• Find A Grave: Memorial #112213083

• Keifer Family Bible