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288. William (Of Curles) Hatcher
1. GENDEX - http://paulw.ne.mediaone.net/html/fam00261.htm - April 28,1998.
2. CD V703-01, Vol. 03, World Family Tree, @1996, Broderbund Software,Inc.,
3. Nel Hatcher's web site at http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~nhatcher/dat97.htm, April 7, 1999.
289. Anne Burton
1. GENDEX - http://paulw.ne.mediaone.net/html/fam00261.htm - April 28,1998.
2. CD V708-01, Vol.08, World Family Tree, @1997, Broderbund Software,Inc., Pedigree Files #0492.
3. CD V703-01, Vol. 03, World Family Tree, @1996, Broderbund Software,Inc.
4. Nel Hatcher's web site at http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~nhatcher/dat97.htm, April 7, 1999.
296. William C. Crowson
1. GENDEX - http://paulw.ne.mediaone.net/html/fam00261.htm - April 28,1998.
2. "The Crowson Family" by Leone Amott Rose, 1956.
297. Comfort Littleton
1. GENDEX - http://paulw.ne.mediaone.net/html/fam00261.ht - April 28,1998
2. CD V709-01, Vol.09, World Family Tree, @1997, Broderbund Software,Inc., Pedigree Files #1405.
3. "The Crowson Family" by Leone Amott Rose, 1956.
4. "Wills and Administrations of Accomack Co., VA 1600-1800".
336. George Keller
[Elijah Keller [email protected] 7-29-00.FTW]
DEATH: PLAC Shenandoah County, Virginia
This is the story of the Tyler County, WV Keller/Kellar family whichcame from
the Shenandoah Valley in old Virginia.Good researchers are working on earlier generations: Mrs. Alma ToolSteider of
Eureka, IL, a retired librarian, a Magma Carta Dame, MayflowerDescendant,
etc.; and her cousin, Mrs. Elsie Clark Cress.Certainly "tradition" is important for earliest years. Mary Elizabeth(Garvin)
Keller wrote her granddaughter what she had been told of early Kellers byher
father-in-law, Jacob Keller, born c 1777/78. She was no doubt an oldlady when
she wrote and would have forgotten or become confused about some points(perhap
mixing men of same name but different generations?) but her writing isstill a
valuable source. By: Flo MontgomeryEDITOR'S NOTE: Mrs. Montgomery is now deceased. She collected muchinformation
on Tyler County, WV families.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * *
* * * *In the early 1700's to Philadelphia, PA, came Kellars from Switzerlandand from
across the Rhine in Baden Germany: Adam, Christof, Heinrich and Jacob.They
seem to have joined other Germans going west or south to the Shenandoah.Mary E. Garvin Keller's granddaughter provided a copy of a letter writtenby he
(Mary Keller), recording the story of the family as told by Jacob Keller,
Martin's son. She said the first Keller in the family came fromSwitzerland to
Philadelphia in 1680 and worked on a farm there for seven years to payfor his
passage to this country. He married and went to Page County, VA, in the
Shenandoah Valley. He died there, leaving three sons, two of whom wentsouth to
Georgia and North Carolina early in the 1700's. Martin was the brotherleft in
VA. He had seven sons. five born in Page County. Later, in 1774, theymoved t
what is now Marshall County, WVA where they received land patents.In 1777, they were driven from their homes into PA and stayed there forseven
years before returning to their home. (1777 was known as the year of the"blood
sevens" in the Ohio Valley.) Mary Keller mentions in her letter thatThomas wa
killed by the Indians, tells where all the brothers finally settled andthat
they all had served their turn as Indian Scouts, and about Jacob Kellerbeing i
the War of 1812.The first Germans in the Shenandoah Valley were the Adam Miller Colony in1727.
Then came the Hites, Stevens and Van Meters. About 1730, Jost Hite andparty
went to the Shenandoah, then Augusta County, Va. In 1738/43, FrederickCounty
was cut from Augusta and in 1772, Shenandoah County was formed (until1778 was
called Dunmore County.)NOTE: An immigrant of 1680 would likely be too old to have been thefather of
the Keller men who came to Shenandoah. Martin who went to the OhioValley, who
was born about 1735. Martin Kellar came about 1774 to the Ohio Valley,where he
is found during the Revolution. Remaining in Dunmore (Shenandoah) County,were
Abraham and George Kellar (not believed to be related to the Kellerfamily of
the lineage of this family tree) of his generation and some younger menwho
served.NOTE: "Revolutionary Records", Brumbaugh - tells of a Captain AbrahamKellar
(again, not believed to be related to this family) of the IllinoisRegiment.
Abraham was given a Land Warrant for 4,000 acres in 1785 for havingserved thre
years. The next year he was fatally wounded at "Shipping Post" by theIndians.
The Will of Abraham Kellar of Shenandoah County, VA, dated 16 April 1787,names
wife, Elizabeth; sons, Joseph, William and John; daughters, Rachel, and
Elizabeth. Son Joseph named Executor. Witnesses: Peter Miller, GeorgeMcKay and
Charles Catlett. Bond: Joseph Keller, Edwin Young, Mary Funk and JeremiahMcKay
Probated: 26 April 1787. (These people are not believed to be related toour
family Kellers.)1775 Census - Dunmore County, Va (Shenandoah) Keller, Abraham: 3 males16+, 2
males 0-16, 3 females and 2 slaves Keller, George 2 males 16+ 3 males0-16. 4
femalesThere are two Shenandoah County, Va Wills for George Keller. The first isdated
13 July 1779 and probated 28 Mar 1783. Names wife, Barbara. Children:George,
William, Henry, John, Elizabeth, Mary, Jacob and Barbara. Sons George andJacob
are Executors. Witnesses: George Huddle and Augustine Wendle. Bond:George
Keller, Henry Travel (son-in-law), and David Keaner.The second Will is dated 28 December 1787 and probated 31 Jan 1788.
George Keller resided Beckford Parish, Shenandoah County, VA. (Notbelieved to be
related to our family.) Names wife, Barbara. Children: Jacob, ElizabethSnapp
Mary Sherman, Madalena and Barbara. Witnesses: Alexander Hite, PhilipWendle an
George Coop. Bond: Joseph Snapp, Adam Sherman, Jr., Adam Sherman, Sr.,Samuel
Bowman and George Fekley. Executors: Joseph Snapp and Adam Sherman, Jr.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Our George Keller, born about 1710 in Bern, Switzerland, married thedaughter o
the plantation owner where he served his seven years as an indenturedservant,
in order to repay his boat passage. There is no known record of the nameof hi
wife.When the Kellars came to the Valley, it was unbroken wilderness, but thisfille
up rapidly. Sons of the settlers cast their eyes still westward for newlands
and homes. The Ohio Land Company was formed in 1748 and othersfollowed---The
Traders, Vandalia Company and others. They spread the word of favorable
opportunities across the mountains. France and England noted thewestward
expansion, made their claims and war was inevitable. Braddock's defeatin 1755
delayed real settlement, but Colonials in Braddock's army had seen thecountry
and talked of it's promise when they returned home. Land was cheap.History
gives the impression that a man could acquire land by raising a crop orby
blazing trees but conveyances and sales were needed then as now.Settlers
brought deeds describing their lands. If they found another family"squatting"
on the land, rather than litigation, they would make a trade, for landwas so
cheap.Martin Kellar went, so the tradition goes, in 1774 to the Ohio Valley.Since he
had a wife and children, he may have made several trips to prepare a homefor
them. He is not on the 1775 Census of Dunmore County, Va.According to Mrs. Steider (mentioned earlier), Martin's land grant was
originally a tomahawk claim he made in 1774. If he came with CaptainBonnet,
this would check out about right. Martin Keller "Virginia Land Grant,1785
-Assignee of John Wetzel (father of Lewis Wetzel. Indian fighter.) Theseland
grants were not given when the people settled here but when theirproperties
were surveyed from 1785.Coming in 1774 made the Kellers one of the earliest families in the area.The
Indians were at peace with the white man from 1763 until the Revolution.There
were some hardships, chiefly those of living in rural conditions --- farfrom
schools, doctors and markets.About the settlement of Wheeling, WV: The Zanes explored here in 1769 and
returned a year or so later to settle. In 1772 there were about fifteenpeople
in Wheeling and many more in 1775. Other families were there about thesame
time, but not in Wheeling. The Wetzels Bonnetts, Mercers, Shepherds andKellers
settled out Big Wheeling Creek into Marshall County. The McCollochs,
Swearingens, Biggs, Mitchells, Van Meters, Ridgleys, Pumphreys, Boones,Hedges
and Coxes, to name a few, settled on Short Creek and north into BrookeCounty,
WV. From "History & Indian Wars of Western VA", DeHass.Back in Old Virginia, Martin Keller married Margaret (Mary) Rich.Tradition
says that five of their seven sons were born in Page County. Names ofthe seve
sons of Martin are proven, but there are conflicting birth dates given.Page
County was formed in 1531 from Shenandoah and Rockingham Counties. Thosepassin
down the family history used the later names, suggesting that there hadbeen
visiting back and forth to the old home and kinfolk there. This wouldnot have
have been unusual for well-to-do settlers.Mrs. Steider says the immigrant ancestor died in Shenandoah County. Shequote
a cousin of hers: a Mrs. Elsie Clark Cress on this. Mrs. Cress also toldher
that Martin's sons (some of them), were born as follows: Adam, born 28April
1757; George, born 6 March 1759; John, born 1750; and Thomas, born 1770.Martin Keller did indeed have sons with those names, but Census data showthey
were younger. Records as exact as that usually come from a Bible orgrave
marker Further search is ongoing. There was a rather large group ofKellers i
Lancaster, Pa, including another Martin with wife Margaret. Some of themmoved
West. Those in Washington County, PA and in Brooke CO. (W) VA have notbeen
identified as in either family. That the Tyler County, WV Kellars/Kellersgo back t
Martin is established.In 1774 when Martin arrived, this land was in West Augusta, VA. In 1776Ohio
County, VA. was one of three counties formed from this district. OhioCounty
included all land drained by streams flowing west into the Ohio River.This i
included part of now southwestern PA. It was for VA. to protect; fortsand
blockhouses were built for those near.In 1777, the Kellers and many other families left their homes here andfled to
Redstone Fort (Brownsville PA.) for a time The story Mrs. Steider toldthat cam
down to her is that Martin Keller and family went to a brother of hiswife, Mar
Rich, in PA and stayed about seven years. The Rich family lived east ofthe
Monongahela River in what would become Fayette County, Pa. In 1777 itwas
considered VA. It was around 1784 when the Kellers returned to their OhioValle
home in now Marshall County. WV. Martin's 5 sons were marrying andgoing to
homes of their own.The 1810 Ohio County, VA. Census lists the following Kellers: Martin,Martin,
John, David and Adam. The first four were on adjoining land with Adamfour door
away. (James Ewing, J. Greer and Samuel Stricker were between them.)Martin
Keller's Will from Ohio County, (W) VA, lists as devisees his wife,Margaret
(Rich) Keller and the following children: Jacob and David, who inheritedland;
George, John. Adam and Martin who inherited money; and daughters,Catherine and
Elizabeth, who inherited "horse creatures." Executors were: Jacob Kellerand
James Ewing. Witnesses were: John Hover, Jesse Bonham and John Rodiffer.Children of Martin Keller (not in order of birth)
1. John Although Mrs. Steider says "born 1750", the John livingnext to
Martin shows as born 1765-1784. She says he married Elizabeth - - anddied i
1815. Others say he went to Indiana and from there to Illinois. Johnhad the
largest family of children in 1810, so may have been the oldest child.2. Martin, Jr. Born 1765-1784. He married and after 1810 took hisfamily
to Ohio.3. George: Not listed as head of a household in 1810. NOTE:Census for
his father Martin in 1810 shows the old man and his wife with what seemsa
younger man born 1765-1784, with a wife, 1784-1794, and a baby son. Couldthis
be George? George, like his brother Martin, went to Ohio.4. Catherine
5. Thomas: Died in 1791. Killed by Indians in Ohio under GeneralSt.
Clair.6. Elizabeth
7. David: Census shows he was a younger son born 1784-1794.In 1820
David sold his share of the land to Jacob and moved to BartholomewCounty, IN.
Jacob remained here. David died in 1844 in Bartholomew County. TheCounty
Clerk there said settlement did not name his children. He marriedJuliana
Conkle from Marshall County, WV. No record of this marriage. FromJuliana's
father's Will, her name was listed as "Juliana, wife of David Keller."8. Jacob This is the gentleman whose stories of his familyhave
been preserved. Jacob, with his brother David, inherited his father'sland. Whe
David moved to IN, Jacob in 1820, purchased his share. He lived in now
Marshall County. WV. This is the line of Mrs. Steider.Her Keller Ancestry is as follows:
a. Alma Tool Steider
b. Lutie Keller, born 29 March 1879 IL, and Pearl D. Tool born 18 March1875.
c. Jacob Martin Keller, born 31 Jan 1837, OH or VA and Mary ElizabethTanton,
born 1845 in IL.
d. Martin Luther Keller, born 9 May 1809 near Wheeling, VA and MaryElizabeth
Garvin (These two left Wheeling & lived in Guernsey County, OH) e.Jacob Marti
Keller: born c 1775-78 at Fort Redstone, PA (if he was born there, itwas
during the year of the "bloody sevens", 1777-78, and Catherine Ewing,born 1780
daughter of James and Elizabeth Wilson Ewing. (James Ewing from Irelandto
Maryland, where he married Elizabeth, then to Wheeling Creek, VA.) f.Martin
Keller and Mary or Margaret Rich. (Martin's Will names here as Margaret.)They
came to Wheeling from the Shenandoah Valley with Capt. John N. Bonnett.9. Adam: Tyler County, VA. He would have been born in 1771 as hewas aged
83 when he died in 1853. (He was probably born in now Marshall County,WV, then
still West Augusta District). He married Permelia Lovett -- about 1795.She was
called "Milla" and was born 1780 in MD. By 1810 they had sevenchildren. Adam
inherited money in his father's Will of 1812.In 1810, Ohio County , VA. census records record most of Martin's sons,
including Adam, in their own households. Adam owned 144 acres in MarshallCount
(then Ohio County), from 1813 to 1836. In 1813. Adam Keller bought 144acres
on Wheeling Creek from Lawrence and Barbara Stricker, al. Part of theStricker
Land Grant. In 1836, Adam and Permelia Keller sold this property to JohnBukey.
This is the last mention found of Adam Keller in Ohio and MarshallCounties. In
1834, Adam Keller, Sr., Thomas Keller and Adam Keller, Jr., werewitnesses on
the Will of George Carroll.It seems safe to assume when Adam Keller sold his Marshall County home in1836,
he was planning a move to Tyler County, for in 1840, he is listed on that
census. His son Martin was living beside him. His oldest son, Adam, Jr.must
have been married and have chosen to remain in Marshall County. His sonDavid
married later in 1840. The census shows two more sons and a daughterwere born
from 1810-1820. These sons also married in Tyler County. The 1850 Tyler
County, (W) VA census shows Adams age 79 and Milla, age 73, had with themthree
young men, surely grandsons. Tyler County death records show Adam Kellerdied
in 1853 at the age of 83, leaving a widow, PermeliaChildren of Adam Keller of Tyler County. WV:
a. Adam. Jr. Since he did not come to Tyler County with theothers, he
likely lived in Marshall County. It
seems he had a wife Sarah and a son Henry M. Keller, born 1818 whomarried
Elizabeth Veneman from New Jersey.NOTE: This is not the Henry Keller born 1818 who is buried in Lone Tree
Cemetery, Tyler County, WV.b: Daughter 1794-1800
c. Martin Born 1800. The 1840 census showed him with six boys;his
wife had died. He married 2nd in 1842 to Sarah Ann Morris (Tyler County,WV Marr.
Ok. 1.) The 1850 Tyler County Census #909 shows this:
Martin Keller 50 born VA
Sarah Ann 25
Rice 18
Martin 16
Mary 8
Lydia 2
Rice and Martin were by the first wife.d. Thomas Born 1803. He married about 1836 Mary ----- from PA.In
1840 Census they had two baby boys, one of whom must have died young.1850 Census #853
Thomas Keller 47 born VA
Mary 32 (Mary was reported to be mulata - part colored)David 10
Mary 9
Elizabeth 7
John 5
Jacob 3
Thomas 11860 Census #331
Thomas Keller 57 born VA
Mary 43
David 20
Mary 19
Elizabeth 16
John 15
Jacob 13
Thomas 11
Joseph 9e. Daughter Born c 1805.
f. Daughter Born c 1807/08
g.David orn 1810. Married 1840 Mary Ann Haddox.1850 Census #852 David Keller 39 born VA
Mary Ann 29
Vermilia 8
William 7
Israel 5
Adam 31860 Census #334 David Keller 48 born VA
--no wife-
Pamelia 18
William 17
Israel 15
Adam H. 13
Mary N. born
Martin W. 5
Martha E. 3
NOTE: Martin Keller of David and Mary Ann died 1868, aged 13 years. Tyler
County, WV Death Records.h. William: Born 1815. Died by 1860. He married 2 July 1840 toRachel
born 1822. Children were: Laura, born 1843; Esther, born 1845; ZacharyTaylor,
born 1849; Theodorek born 1851, married Elizabeth Richardson & haddaughter
named Iva Belle, born 1875; Joseph D. born 1855, d. 1855; and Sarah E.born
1855, d. 1855.William Keller was a carpenter. In 1860 William was deceased andRachel. a
widow, aged 37 is listed in #525 with her children! Laura, 17; Esther,15,
Taylor, 11, and Theodore, 9, in the household of James Stealey.i. Daughter Born c 1817.
j. John Born 1819-20. He married 1848 to Sarah Gorrell. She was born1828,
daughter of John Gorrell and Elizabeth Archer. The young couple lived fora
while with her parents and show up there in the 1850 census; he aged31, she
22, and a baby daughter Elizabeth, aged 1 year.1860 Census #570
John Keller 44 born VA
Sarah 38
Angeline 11 (called Elizabeth in 1850)
William M. 9
Virginia 5
John B. 2The next generation of Kellers were slow to leave home. By 1860 only onehad
married.James, born 1828 (assumed son of Martin, who after his father'sremarriage, wen
to live with his Uncle William and to learn his trade, carpentering).James
married 1853 to Harriet S. Higgins, aged 22 years. (Tyler County, WVMarriages) The
did not remain in Tyler County.A Michael Keller, born 1839 (aged 21, born VA) was living in 1860 in the
household (#150) of Henry R. Williamson, aged 26, born VA, and his wifeHarriet
aged 23, born in New York.A Henry H. Keller is on the 1860 Tyler County, WV census, #715. He wasborn 2
September 1818. Later records show that Henry came from PleasantsCounty, WV.
Pleasants County was formed in 1851 from Tyler, Ritchie and Woodcounties.
Henry must have lived in the part taken either from Wood or Ritchie. Woodwas
formed in 1798 and Ritchie in 1843 , so both had census taken for 1850;Henry
should show in one of them. Henry H. (or N.) Keller appears on the 1860census
aged 44, with wife Sarah, aged 44, and children: John, 18, Rebecca C.,16,
Rachel P., born 1846/7, Bennet D., born 1848, James E., born 1850,Hannah, born
1851, Helen C. , born 1853 and Sarah A., born 1856. Rachel P. Kellermarried at
Centerville, Tyler County in 1866 to Thomas D. Anderson, born 1839, awidower,
son of Robert and Mary Anderson. This marriage recorded in Tyler MarriageBook
II. It lists Rachel as being "born in Pleasants County in 1846/47." TheLone
Tree Cemetery in Tyler County has two Keller graves. Henry N. Kellar born28
September 1818 and died 22 September 1882; also, Sarah Keller, born 11November
1816 and died 9 February 1886. Those researching the Keller family havenot
placed him.NOTE: There seems no place for him in the family of Adam, unless he was ason o
that oldest son who remained in Marshall County. However, a differentHenry
Keller, born 1818 and living in Marshall County, seems ~ a likelier sonif ther
was a Henry in that family.This writer has made no search in Wood County WV, but a quick look at theWPA
Abstracts for Wood County finds a Keller family living there:Francis Keller, Will 10, 1821 Devisees: Sons, Isaac and Elias DaughtersPatsy,
Barbary, Hannah, Elizabeth, Sally Rigs, Nancy Pugh and Rebecca PughThe aforementioned Iva Belle Keller, born 3 June 1875 of Theodorick ofWilliam
of Adam, married Okey Broadwater born 5 April 1869. They had a daughternamed
Blanche.