Hazel E. (Zeh) Keller (1893 - 1989)

Born 31 Jan 1893 in New York, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 14 May 1989 at age 96 in New York, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Nancy Van Antwerp [send private message]

Biography

Hazel was born in 1893, the daughter of Edwin Zeh and Emma (Smith) Zeh. According to family oral history, Hazel was raised by an aunt, "Libe" Palmer, believed to be the sister of Emma Smith Zeh. The family story was that Emma's sister lamented not having any children, so Emma gave Hazel to her to raise, without consulting her husband, Edwin. Edwin reportedly was quite unhappy about it and refused to acknowledge Hazel as her daughter. Later in life, Hazel resumed the use of her birth surname and was very close to her biological sisters.

Hazel married Chester "Seabridge" Keller in 1913. Two daughters born to this marriage were Elise and Miriam (Jane). The family lived in Coeymans, New York. Hazel's husband died in 1936. Hazel died in 1989 and is buried at Grove Cemetery, Coeymans, New York.

Note: 1900 U.S. Federal Census data confirms that Hazel was being raised as the adopted daughter of Irving, 61, and Elizabeth ("Libe") Palmer, 58; however the age of Mrs. Palmer, born in 1842, makes her too old to be a full biological sister of Emma (Smith) Zeh. The Find A Grave memorial #50831716 for Elizabeth J. (Smith) Palmer confirms that her maiden name was Smith. The 1855 New York State Census shows an Elizabeth Smith, 13, born about 1842, living in the same household as a brother Henry Smith, 9, born about 1846. This appears to be the same person as Elizabeth Palmer, the adoptive mother of Hazel Z Palmer in the 1900 census. Elizabeth Palmer would be Hazel's great aunt, not her aunt.

Sources

• Personal knowledge
• Zeh family Bible (in private family collection)
• Genealogical work of Jennie Zeh (1890-1989), sister of Hazel Zeh.
• Funeral home memorial card for Hazel Zeh
• [1]1900 U.S. Federal Census; accessed 8 Aug 2019, via Ancestry.com. Hazel is listed as Hazel Z. Palmer, the adopted daughter of Irving Palmer, 61, and Elizabeth J. Palmer, 58. They are living Coeymans, Albany, New York.
• [2]New York State Marriage Index, 1881-1967, accessed 8 Aug 2019, via Ancestry.com. Hazel E. Zeh's marriage to Seabridge Keller on 19 Jan 2013 is recorded. Her maiden name is listed as Zeh.
• [3]1940 U.S. Federal Census, accessed 8 Aug 2019, via Ancestry.com. Hazel Keller, 47, is a widow, living in Coeymans, Albany, New York, with her daughter Jane, 23.
• [4]1855 New York State Census, accessed 6 Aug 2019, via Ancestry.com. The adoptive mother of Hazel is the daughter of Alfred Smith, Hazel's grandfather.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Nancy Van Antwerp for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Nancy and others.