William Kellar (1820 - 1892)

Born 24 Dec 1820 in Louisville, Jefferson Co., Kentucky

Descendants

Died 25 Feb 1892 at age 71 in Albert Lea, Freeborn Co., Minnesota

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Biography

Burial: Graceland Cem, Albert Lea, Freeborn Co., Minnesota.

Information from "History of Freeborn County," 1911, page 749; Census records, 1830, Kentucky, 1850 Grant Co. Wis., 1860 and other censuses, Freeborn Co.; family records.

From "History of Freeborn County," 1911, page 749--.

"His [William Keller's] ancestors were of German descent and emigrated to Kentucky with Bryant, a co-explorer with Daniel Boone, settling at Bryantsville, near the present city of Danville.

"In 1832 Mr. Keller removed with his father's family to Edgar County, Illinois, where he remained until he reached manhood.

"In 1842 he went to the lead mines in Grant County, Wisconsin. 1843 he was engaged in teaming, hauling goods for the government from McGregor, Iowa, to the Winnebago Indian Reservation at Fort Atkinson.

"In 1844 he returned to his old home in Illinois where on 2-15-44 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth C. Kies. To this union three sons were born:

Curtis B. (father of Horatio), William G. (father of Ina), and Martin V.

"He at once removed to Grant County, Wisconsin, where he followed farming until the fall of 1855, when he sold his farm, and on May 5, 1856 he arrived at prospective village of Albert Lea, locating on the old Blue Earth Road, one mile southwest of the court house.

"Here he remained to the end of life, his wife passing to that undiscovered country September 16, 1884.

"In 1864 he enlisted in Co. C, First Minnesota Heavy Artillery, and was honorably discharged at the close of the [Civil] War" [Grade: Private].

[He enlisted at St. Paul, Minn., Sept 21, 1864, and was discharged June 17, 1865 at Chattanooga, Tenn., at the close of the war. Holly Barck Andersen had a copy of his honorable discharge.].

"For forty years he was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and it was at his home that the first religious meeting ever held in the vicinity of Albert Lea took place, Viz., May 3, 1857, Rev. Sylvester N. Phelps, officiating or preaching.

"He was known as an honest, kind-hearted, Christian gentleman.".

The 1860 Census for Freeborn County, Minnesota, supports this information.

It lists: William Kellar, 39, farmer, born in Kentucky. Has real estate valued at $800; personal estate, $500. It also lists his wife Cordelia, sons Curtis B., Granville, and Martin V., and [mother-in-law] "Elenor" Kies. See individual entries for this information. The 1870 Census for Freeborn County verifies the same information except that it does not mention Eleanor Kies or Curtis Kellar.

The 1865 State Census for Albert Lea, Freeborn Co., Minnesota, shows William and Cordelia Kellar, with Curtis, Wm. G., and Martin. William, the father, is listed as a soldier "in the service of the U.S., June 1, 1865.".

In the 1885 Minnesota Census, William Kellar (64, born in KY), is shown with Martin "B." and "Emma" (the latter name is almost illegible).

Coincidentally, perhaps, a Frank Kellar, physician, born about 1835 in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, is listed in the 1870 census for Albert Lea, Minn.

In the next house, Alex Peltzer, physician, is listed as having been born in Prussia. Each had personal possessions valued at $500 -- not a great sum for a physician. They must have been recent immigrants. Could Frank Kellar be a relative of William Kellar? The "ar" spelling might be significant, especially since it applies to an educated man, who might be fussy as to how his name is spelled.

An excellent photo of William Kellar appears in the History of Freeborn County, Minn., published about 1910.

Sources

• History of Freeborn County, 1911, page 749
• United States Census, 1830, Kentucky
• United States Census, 1850, Grant Co. Wisconsin
• United States Census, 1860, Freeborn Co., Minnesota
• United States Census, 1865, Freeborn Co., Minnesota
• United States Census, 1885, Freeborn Co., Minnesota
• Family records of Dorothy (Rempel) Blumer, and Gladys (Barck) Rempel