Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 78

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co.
Number of Pages: 1090

USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1 > Part 78

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Mr. Sober, it would seem, shoots by instinet rather than by sight. The number of ruffed gronse, alone, killed by him during the last few years is astonishing. In 1884 he shot 95; in 1885, 87 ; in 1886, 108; in 1887, 40 : in 1888, 117; in 1889, 116; to Dee. 15, 1890, 148; to Dee. 21, 1891. 103: in 1892, 105: in 1893, 79; in 1894, 97; in 1895, 84: in 1896, 92; and in 1897, 106 -- a total for the fourteen years of 1,377 birds, or an average of over 98 each season. On Nov. 5, 1897. he killed seven ruffed grouse out of eight fired at and many a day he shot at and killed every grouse he would see. In a two days' hunt, in De- cember, 1880. at the foot of Shade Mountain,

(ruffed gronse), twelve rabbits, four wild turkeys, and one gray squirrel.

Coleman K. Sober

AN UNPARALLELED RECORD ! Game killed by C.K.Sober-the Champion All-round Shot-gun Shot' of the World- in a two days hunt in December 1880, at foot of Shade Mountant, near Adamsburg, Pennsylvania: Sixteen pheasants, twelve rabbits. four wild turkeys and one gray squirrel.

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Mr. Sober says that most of his birds were his beautiful home in Lewisburg. there are sug- killed on his own lands during his business tramps, gestions, from the number and variety of guns, of and that one of his best shots he ever made at ruf- a small arsenal. But after long experience with. fed grouse was at follows: Ile had been on the various makes of shotguns he has arrived at the mountains chestnutting and was returning home conclusion that American-made arms are equally with a bag of chestnuts on one shoulder, his gun as good as and he believes superior to, those of foreign manufacture, for shooting in the field and cover. with a basket hanging from the barrels slung over the same shoulder, with an ax in the other hand; while walking along a hunber road a rutfed grouse suddenly flushed from the side of the road. KEEFER. There are a number who bear this name residing in the borough of Sunbury, North- umberland county, in and about which region the name is particularly well known for the reputa- tion those members of the family who have eu- Mr. Sober dropped the ax, bag and basket in time to shoot the bird. He has never met any one who had the requisite endurance to stay with him an entire day in field or cover shooting when he trav- eled at the gait he usually takes while hunting gaged in contraeting and building have made for alone. To still more fully set forth the wonderful skillful work and honest construction. In this connection the Keefers have been famous in their locality for many years, and numerous buildings -public and private-and bridges testify to the

ingenuity of our subject, it is proper here to speak of a simple device he invented and always carries with him on his hunting expeditions. It is an implement for eviscerating game birds, and when- important part they have taken in the material up- ever he kills one he immediately, or as soon after building of this section of Northumberland coun- as he may have opportunity, uses the little instru- ment. It is very simple, merely a little twig,

ty, though their, work has not been confined wholly to that neighborhood. Moreover, the num-

. sharpened at one end, with a small spur near the ber of contracts which come into their hands shows pointed end. This lie inserts under the tail of that their work has stood the test of time. the the bird, then gives a twist of the arm and the confidence of their fellow citizens being well de-

entrails are at once ejected. The larger part of the game he kills goes to the tables of his friends and the bedside of the sick. In hunting the ruffed grouse (which, by the way, he claims is the gam- est bird in America ) he uses pointer dogs trained by himself to such a marvelous degree of perfec- tion that their intelligence seems almost human. He has no use for setters in that pursuit, for, as he says, they are too headstrong and fast and not sufficiently cautious.

served. At the present time four of the family. George W .. Philip W., John S. and Peter R. Kec- fer, are established as contractors and builders in Sunbury. Jacob J. Keefer, owner of the original homestead farin, of Keefer's station, in Upper Augusta township. is a cousin of the three first named. and a second cousin to Peter R. Keefer.

The Keefer family came to Northumberland county from Berks county, Pa., where Jacob Kief- fer, the first of whom we have record, lived in

About his guns we must also say something. Richmond township, near Lyons. owning there an The first one he used was, when he was a lad, an excellent farm known as the original Kieffer home- old "flint-lock" owned by an elder brother, and stead and now the property of his grandson. Nich- with that the boy killed squirrels and rabbits by olas Kieffer. He married Annie Sell. and to their the hundreds (game was plentiful in Pennsylvania union were born : Peter: Rebecca, wife of Jonathan Bieber, a prosperous farmer of Maxatawny. Berks county ; and Valentine, a farmer of Richmond township, who married Maria Merkel.

then), and with it he downed quails, occasionally on the wing, as well. The first gun he owned he bought for $1.50 and it was a 28-inch, 20-gauge, single barrel, which he says was made from pot metal for all he knows; but with it he did great work on quails and pheasants ( ruffed grouse) on

Peter Keefer, son of Jacob, was born in Berks county, and came thence to Northumberland county about 1806-07. with wife and two children. the wing and he still has that old gun. Next he He was among the early settlers in Augusta (now had another single 28-inch. 14-gauge gun made Upper Angusta) township, where for the remain- to order, with which he did fine shooting also. der of his lite he followed farming and prospered, His third gun was a double barreled (30-inch bar- owning a tract at Keefer's station which has now rels ). 14-gange, that weighed six pounds, and with been in the family for over one hundred years. he- it he defeated the best shots in Pennsylvania, at ing owned at present by Jacob J. Keefer. He died the trap in pigeon shooting. The next gun he on his homestead about 1850, and is buried at Suy- bought was a Parker Brothers make. He still dertown. He married in Berks county, and his uses their guns, and says he will do so until he children were: Daniel, George. Peter ( a deaf mute. finds a better arm; for shooting game he uses a who lived at Keefer's station. in Nortlamberland cylinder-bore, 28-inch barrels, of either 10-gauge county), John, Catharine, Molly, Elizabeth and Hannah. Two of the daughters married and lived

or 12-gauge. In his "den." as he calls it, a room which he has appropriated to his exclusive use in in Berks county.

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The following interesting article concerning the are Mrs. Margaret Hoover . and Mrs. Amelia Keefer farm appeared in the Sunbury Daily: "On Farnesworth.

Saturday, Sept. 7, 1907, the Keeter farm, at

George Keeter, son of Peter, was born in 1796 in

Keefer's station, about five miles from Sunbury on Oley township, Berks Co., Pa., and came to North- the creek road. was in the possession of the Keefer family for the period of one Inindred years, a fact demonstrated by deeds shown a reporter of this paper by Mr. Calvin Keefer, one of the attaches in the office of the county commissioners. Cumberland county with his parents when eight years old. After his marriage he moved to Lower Augusta township, settling near Lantz's Church. and he owued three farms in that township, becom- ing very prominent in the business and public af-

continued to follow both farming and milling until 1864. when he disposed of his gristmill : he farmed until his death, which occurred Oct. 16, 1879, in Angusta township, when he was eighty-two years .

well known member of the Democratic party and active in its councils. and held township offices. He was twice married, his first union being with Re -. becca Lantz, daughter of Samuel. by which mar- riage there were six children: Hannah married

garet married Henry Arnold : Molly married John Zimmerman: Peter, boru March 3. 1838, is de- ceased : Mary died young. Mr. Keefer's second marriage was to Elizabeth Weiser. daughter of Philip Weiser, who served as a lientenant in the Revohitionary war from Northumberland county. Catharine married William Fogley: George W. is mentioned below; Philip W. is mentioned below: Sarah J. married Jacob Goss, of Sunbury; John S. is a well known contractor of Sunbury: Lucy Alice married Luther Cooper.

"This farm has been the birthplace of a num- ber of generations of Keefers, among whom were SAMUEL L. KEEFER, son of George and Rebecca William, David, Eliza ( wife of Joseph Wolverton), (Lantz) Keefer, was boru March 29, 1829, in what Benjamin F., Charles and Joseph, all of whom are deceased, and surviving are Mrs. George W. Stroh, of Sunbury: Amelia McCloughan, of Rushtown : Peter Keefer, of Danville, and Jacob, who now owns and occupies the old homestead. The fourth generation is living in the house, which was built by Christopher Reed, who bought the land at sher- iff sale in 1789, making it one of the oldest hous- es in this section of country."

was then known as Augusta (now Rockefeller) township, and was reared to farm life, which he fol- lowed throughout his aetive years. Upon his re- tirement. in 1886, he moved to Sunbury, where he owns the property at No. 816 Market street. He still spends his summers in Rockefeller township, however, owning a farm of fifty-six acres there, part of the old original homestead of his grand- father, Peter Keefer. Mr. Keefer always preferred to devote his time and energies to his own affairs, refusing offices at various times, but he has never- theless done his duty as an intelligent, public- spirited citizen, having served eight years as school director in Rockefeller township and two years as

Daniel Keefer, son of Peter, had children as fol- lows: Mary married George Hile and (second) Samuel Savidge: Elizabeth married Abraham Ruch and (second ) Benjamin Kreigbaum : Cath- arine married Joseph Savidge, and died in 1909 in her ninety-sixth year: Hannah married Fred overseer of the poor after his removal to Sunbury. Reigel and (second ) Thomas Van Kirk: Julia He is a Democrat in politics and in religion an ac- married Andrew Hoover: Samuel died in the tive member of the Reformed Church. to which he West; Michael died in Sunbury ; Margaret married has given valable service as deaeon and elder and in the church council. He helped to creet the par- Benjamin Hoover, brother of Andrew: Amelia married James Farnesworth : Rosanna married Jer- sonage of the Augusta charge, assisting in the work emiah Weaver. The only survivors of this family

to a considerable extent. His family have also

"The deed of this tract of land, amounting to fairs of his locality. He was a miller by trade. and about 123 acres, was originally issued from the surveyor general's office of the Province under the Penns in 1769 to Samuel Pearson, after whose death it descended to his son George, who, in 1786, conveyed it to William Clark, of Catawissa town- old. He is buried at the Lantz Church, having ship, and in the same year Clark deeded it to Alex- been an active member of the Reformed congrega- ander Porter, of Harrisburg, at the price of 410 tion of that church, which he helped to build. He pounds, which in the present currency would be served many years as trustee and elder. He was a about $1.693. Porter being unable to pay the whole of the stipulated price the tract was seized by Sheriff Martin Withington and sold at sheriff sale on Jan. 6, 1789, to . Christopher Reed, of Tul- pehocken township. Berks county, for 106 pounds and 10 shillings. Reed held it until Sept. 7, 1807. Isaac Albert : Samuel L. is mentioned below ; Mar- when he deeded it to Peter Keefer, for the sum of 1,100 pounds, or about $5,346 in present cur- rency. It was in this way that one hundred years ago this well known property came into possession of the Keefer family, remaining in that ownership for that long period without a break. In 1829 Peter Keefer conveved it to his son, John Keefer, There were also six children by this marriage: who retained the ownership of it for about fifty vears and then transferred it by deed to Jacob Keefer, grandson of the original Peter Keefer, who is the present owner and occupant of the land.

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belonged to this church. Mr. Keefer joined the engaged in the mercantile business at what was P. of H. grange at Seven Points.

known as "Hall's store" in Lower Augusta (now Rockefeller) township, he and his brother Peter doing business there for a year and a half, at the

In 1850 Mr. Keeter married Barbara Ann Sav- idge, daughter of George Savidge, of Plum Creek, and three children were born to them : William G., end of which time they sold out to Jeremiah Fas- who died in infancy : Amelia, now the wife of John Rebuck, of Lower Angusta : and Peter R., of Sun- bury, mentioned below. The mother died in 1861. Mr. Keefer's second marriage was to Harriet Mal- ick, daughter of William Malick, and by this imion there were five children : Jennie (deceased ). who married David Wolf : David Franklin, of Sunbury; Charles M., of New York : Harry Otto, who is en- gaged as clerk in the railroad office at Sunbury ; and Eva, who is at home.

old. They then moved to Herndon, where they were in the same line of business for another year and a half, George W. Keefer coming to Sunbury in 1869. There he established himself in business at the corner of Fourth and Market streets, where he was located for nine years, but within a com- paratively short time he became interested in what has proved to be his life work. taking up contract- ing and building in 1872. The important con- tracts for buildings in and around Sunbury which PETER R. KEEFER, son of Sammel L., was born Aug. 1, 1859. in Upper Angusta township, and lived on the farm until he reached the age of sev- enteen years. He then began to learn the car- penter's trade in the employ of his unele, George W. Keefer, working as journeyman some years be- fore he formed his partnership with Samuel Ruth- rauff. The firm, known as Ruthrauff & Keefer, he has filled are many, and he has achieved espe- cial success in the building of bridges, in different sections of the State of Pennsylvania. In 1887 Mr. Keeter built the present high school building in Sunbury, and also erected the Zion's Luth- eran Church, for which he also did all the design- ing and drafting: the Harrison building, now the First National Bank building of Sunbury, is of lasted for seven years, and since its dissolution Mr. his construction : as are the Episcopal Church and Keefer has been in business alone, his home and . many fine residences in and around Sunbury. Mr. business being in Sunbury. He builds from five to Keefer has built nine bridges across the Juniata ten houses yearly, and has as many as twenty-five river; the Northumberland bridge across the Sus- men in his employ. Mr. Keefer frequently does quehanna (1876) : the bridge across the Susque- the designing and drafting as well as the construc- hanna between Milton and West Milton : and about tion work of his varions contracts, and there are one hundred other bridges, large and small, in some very creditable specimens of his craft in this various parts of Pennsylvania. He has built a number of schoolhouses in Sunbury. Altoona. Ber- wick and other cities, at times employing as many locality, he having erected the Moses Kauffman building on Market street : the East End Hardware Company's building : the C'lemmer building : an ad- as seventy-five men. He is still active in the con- dition to the "City Hotel": and the Lemnel Rocke- tracting business, and does his own designing and feller home-a large private residence of eighteen rooms.

On Feb. 21. 1881, Mr. Keefer married Emma R. Crowl, daughter of Jacob and Susan ( Huey) ('rowl; of Sunbury, formerly of Elysburg, and they have had one daughter, Mary Belle. Mr. Keefer and his family are members of the Reformed Church. He is a Democrat in his political preter- ences, and fraternally belongs to several local or- ganizations, holding membership in Fort Augusta Lodge, No. 620, I. O. O. F .; Maclay Lodge, No. ery line, social, political or business, in which he 632, F. & A. M., and the Royal Arcanum, all of has taken any interest. He is a Democrat in pol- Sunbury.

GEORGE W. KEEFER, ellest son of George and Elizabeth ( Weiser) Keefer, has been established in three terms: he and his family worship at the

business in Sunbury as a contractor and builder since the early seventies, and has made a wide rep- utation in that line of work. He was born April 22, 1845, near Lantz's Church in Lower Augusta (now Rockefeller ) township, and there received his education in the public schools. He was reared npon his father's farm and continued to assist with the work at home until he reached the age of six- lingnished these associations.

First Presbyterian Church of Sunbury. where he was leader of the choir for many years. Fratern- ally he is a Mason, holding membership in Sham- okin Lodge. No. 255, F. & A. M., and he is a char- ter member of the Temple Club at Shamokin. For many years he continued his membership in vari- ous scoret societies, but of late years has re-

On Nov. 16, 1869, Mr. Reefer married Isabella

teen, when he began to learn the carpenter's trade. working four years as a journeyman. In 1865 he M. Zeigler, daughter of George W. and Mary _A.

drafting. Meantime he has also acquired other business interests. having become president of the Sunbury Mutual Life Insurance Company upon its organization in 1896 and president of the Sun- bury Board of Trade upon the organization of that body. in 1891. In this connection, as well as in his capacity of chief executive of the borough, a posi- tion he filled for three terms, he has had consider- able influence in the progress and welfare of Sun- bury. In fact, he has been a leader in almost ev-

ities, served a number of years as member of the town council, and as stated was chief burgess for

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( MeQuistion ) Zeigler, the former of whom was at er important structures. He has about twenty one time a prominent attorney at Sunbury, re- skilled mechanics in his employ. Mr. Keefer has tiring in 1895: Mr. and Mrs. Keefer have no chil- been quite active in a number of movements af- dren.

PHILIP W. KEEFER, son of George and Elizabeth (Weiser) 'Keefer, was born Nov. 22, 1846, in Lower Augusta township, where he attended pub- lic school. He worked on the farm until he reached the age of seventeen, when he came to Sunbury to learn the trade of carpenter, serv- ing his apprenticeship with Solomon Brosius. After remaining in his employ six years he went West, for a year working in Chicago, Ill., whence he went to Wisconsin, in which State he spent six vears. Returning to Pennsylvania in 1876 he set- tled at Sunbury and followed his trade and also took contracts on his own account, building houses . and bridges, in which work he is still engaged. Many fine residences in Sunbury are of his con- struetion, and he has built many bridges in North- umberland, Mifflin and Juniata counties, this State, his work being substantial and of workman- like execution. He has been successful from a fi- nancial standpoint and has been able to make a number of good real estate investments in Sun- bury, where he owns considerable valuable prop- ertv. Mr. Keefer was formerly a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity. In religion he unites with the Reformed Church.

Mr. Keefer married Annie H. Kemp, of Mil- waukee, Wis., who died in 1899. at the age of forty- six years, and is buried at Sunbury. . Two children were born of this union : George H., of Mount Car- mel, who is fully mentioned elsewhere in this work : and Elizabeth A., wife of Ernst F. Beals, of Sunbury ( they have three children, Georgiana, Gordon and Manford).

fccting the progress and upbuilding of the borough. He was a member of the first Board of Trade or- ganized in the borough, which body was instru- mental in influencing the Susquehanna Silk Com- pany to establish its plant in this place. He is a director of the Sunbury Mutual Fire Insurance Company, having served as such since its organ- ization, in 1896. His enterprise and executive ability have made him a factor of value and influ- ence in encouraging and promoting movements for the advancement of the welfare of the community.

Mr. Keefer is a Democrat in political faith and has long been active in the councils of the party, having served a number of times as ward commit- teeman. He served two terms as overseer of the poor and two terins as councilman from the Fourth ward. At one time he was active in the Odd Fel- lows and Knights of Pythias fraternities.

In 1877 Mr. Keefer married Annie Beidelspach, daughter of Judge Isaac Beidelspach, of Northuni- berland county, and two children have been born to them : Maud, now the wife of Dr. H. M. Beck- er, of Sunbury: and Edna M., at home. Mr. Keeter and his family are members of the First Reformed Church of Sunbury.

John Keeter, one of the sons of Peter Kecfer, who came from Berks county, was born in Berks county in 1801, and died Aug. 1, 1882, aged eighty years, nine months, two days. By his first wife, Mary ( Martz), who died young, he had two chil- dren, David and William. His second wife, Susan ( Martz), a sister of the first, died July 7. 1875, aged sixty-six years. . To this union were born children as follows: Eliza, who married Joseph Wolverton, of Snydertown; Sarah, Mrs. George W. Stroh : Benjamin F .: Jacob J .: Amelia, wife of Samuel McCloughan, of Rushtown: Charles, of Sunbury; Joseph, of Sunbury; and Peter, of Dan- ville, Pa. Jacob J. and Peter are now (1911) the only survivors.

JOHN S. KEEFER, son of George and Elizabeth (Weiser) Keefer, was born July 13, 1850, in Lower Augusta (now Rockefeller) township, and was there reared. He began to help with the farni work at an early age, and was thus engaged until he went to learn the carpenter's trade, when a young man of eighteen. He has followed this work fromn 1868 to the present time, having been em- CAPT. BENJAMIN F. KEEFER, son of John, was horn Aug. 3, 1838, on the old home place at Keefer's station, a short distance from Sunbury. When a young man he went to Shamokin. where he learned the trade of carpenter. and upon the ont- break of the Civil war he answered the first call for volunteers, becoming a private. He served as such three months. Returning to Shamokin he re- inained there only a short time, going thence to Muncy, where he organized Company H, 131st Pennsylvania Volunteers, going to the front in command of that company. He served nine months with credit and distinction, being mus- tered out with the rank of colonel. At the close of this period of service he returned to Muncy. in ployed as a journeyman until 1880, when he 'be- gan to take contracts for himself. At that time he entered into a partnership with his brothers George W. and Peter and Richard Gass, under the firm . name of Keefer Brothers & Gass. This firm built and operated a store, which they sold out after three years to , C. W. Boss- ler, the brothers George W. and John S. Keefer continuing the contracting and building business. Mr. Keefer has, like his brothers, done considerable work in the way of bridge-building in his day. Among his contracts have been the annex to the "C'entral Hotel" and school buildings in Sunbury : the large cap factory at Northumber- land which was destroyed by fire in 1909; and oth- 1863, and was there married to Caroline Johnson,

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of that place. They moved to Sunbury in 1865

per Augusta township. was born March 12. 1840, and ever afterward made their home in that bor- at the place where he now lives. The common ongli. Captain Keefer was not only a carpenter and contractor of recognized ability, but also an architect. and built up such an excellent patronage in the borough that it contained many evidences of his skill in his chosen field of work. He was a man of active mind, progressive and public-spir- ited, and took part in the affairs of the municipal- ity for many years, serving twelve years as a mem- ber of the school board and from 1893 to 1896 as chief burgess. He was influential in promoting many of the most beneficial changes in the admin- istration of local affairs and wa's instrumental in the advancement of the local school system to an appreciable extent. A man of cheerful and sunny disposition, inclined to look on the bright side of life though practical in his habits, warm and sincere in his friendships, genial and hospitable, his death, which occurred at his home on Spruce street, in November, 1902, was mourned by many beyond his family cirele. He was buried in the lower cemetery at Sunbury. Captain Keefer was a member of the G. A. R. and of Local No. 838, Carpenters' and Joiners' Union. He was survived by his wife and fonr sons, Clyde, Harry, Frank and Edward, all residents of Sunbury. .

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 78

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co. Number of Pages: 1090

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co.
Number of Pages: 1090