Joseph William Keys (1880 - 1961)

Born 29 Mar 1880 in Wiconisco, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Jane (Coleman) Keys — married 17 Feb 1903 in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 12 Feb 1961 at age 80 in Pottsville, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jacqueline Clark [send private message]

Biography

Descendant of Tillman Miller and Elizabeth Kreider.

Joseph was born in 1880, son of William Joseph Keys and Elizabeth Katherine Miller.

We first find Joseph living with his Miller grandparents and listed as a Miller, by looking at the census sheet it notes birth month as March^[1]. First thought is that he is one of Tillmans sons children.

He was baptized in the St John Lutheran Church in Lykens, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, on February 2, 1889, Henry Kindler and wife of Wiconisco Township stood as GodParents. He was 8 years old at the time^[2]. Research has shown that the wife of Henry Kindler is Elizabeth Miller so mystery of parentage found.

In 1900 we find him living on North Market Street in Mount Carmel with his Uncle John Miller and family and the last name shows as Keys. Tillman his grandfather is also in the home.^[3]. He was employed as a Mine Laborer.

On February 17, 1903 he married Sarah Coleman^[4] in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Parents on marriage lines say William Joseph Keys and Lizzie. They set up house at 312 South Second St in Pottsville. He was employed as a brakeman for the railroad. They had 3 children Dorothy 5, Joseph 3 and newborn Raymond^[5].

On September 11, 1918 he registered for the WWI draft^[6]. He was working as a brakeman for the Philadelphia and Ridge Railway Company.

By 1920 they were living on Walnut Street in Cressona^[7]. Dorothy was 15, Joseph 13 and Raymond 10. he was still working for the railroad. They moved to 14 North 4th St by 1930^[8]. He was now a Flagman for the railroad. Raymond 20 and granddaughter Geraldine 9 was living with them. Unable to find a 1940 census.

In 1942 he is working for the Reading Company in St. Clair^[9].

Joseph had a stroke which resulted in paralysis of his left side and passed away in 1961 in the A C Milliken Hospital in Pottsville.^[10], he was still working as a brakeman up until his illness. He is interred in the Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA^[11].

Note Find a Grave Contributor has declined to change mother of Joseph Keys "Reported Problem: Not accurate - Their data conflicts with my data." Clark-15765 12:23, 8 February 2022 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," Database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWFQ-SPW : accessed 24 June 2015), Joeph Miller in household of Tillman Miller, Wiconisco, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district 118, sheet 287B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1124; FHL microfilm 1,255,124..
2. ↑ St John Lutheran Church Baptisms page 38. Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Collection Name: Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," Database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M379-C19 : accessed 24 June 2015), Joseph Keys in household of John Miller, Mt Carmel borough Ward 2, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States; citing sheet 4B, family 73, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,449.
4. ↑ "Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950," Database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VF9P-2M2 : accessed 24 June 2015), Joseph William Keys and Sarah Jane Coleman, 17 Feb 1903; citing Marriage, Pennsylvania, county courthouses, Pennsylvania; FHL microfilm 961,098.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," Database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGZR-2B7 : accessed 24 June 2015), J W Keys, Pottsville Ward 3, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 65, sheet 16A, family 381, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,375,431.
6. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," Database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6KP-48Y : accessed 24 June 2015), Joseph William Keys, 1917-1918; citing Schuylkill County no 4, Pennsylvania, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,926,601
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," Database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF1P-JRF : accessed 24 June 2015), Joseph W Keys, Cressona, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States; citing sheet 9B, family 211, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,649.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," Database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH4R-HD9 : accessed 24 June 2015), Joseph W Keys, Cressona, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0020, sheet 1A, family 15, line 47, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2144; FHL microfilm 2,341,878.
9. ↑ "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," Database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQFY-HCL : accessed 24 June 2015), Joseph William Keys, 1942; citing NAID identifier 563728, NARA microfilm publication M1936, M1937, M1939, M1951, M1962, M1964, M1986, M2090, and M2097 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 2,240,588.
10. ↑ Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates #019183-61, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
11. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134051876/joseph-william-keys : accessed 08 February 2022), memorial page for Joseph William Keys (29 Mar 1880–12 Feb 1961), Find A Grave: Memorial #134051876, citing Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by sheljus (contributor 48982187) .