Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 930 - 932

JOHN WESLEY KEITH, an intelligent and energetic farmer and stock-raiser, and a substantial and reliable citizen of Delano Township, having his home on section 20, was born Nov. 30, 1826, in Genesee County, N. Y., and is the son of Luke and Hannah (Wolcott) Keith, who were descendants of old established families of Massachusetts. His ancestors upon the father's side were of Scotch origin, while on that of the mother they were English yeomen, who came to the old Bay State in early Colonial times among the hardy band of Puritans who settled on the stern and rock-bound coast of New England, and were among the prominent historical characters of that portion of our history. 

            The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation, and reared his son to agricultural pursuits, while affording him the facilities for acquiring the elements of an education in the district school. When John Keith was about seven years of age he moved with his parents to the wilds of the State of Michigan, which was just settling up at that time, and located in Kalamazoo County, where he was reared to manhood. Of course the schools or teachers of that region were not as good as they are at the present day. The buildings were of rough hewn logs, and, says the poet: "Small the windows were, and the window-panes were of paper, oiled to admit the light, while wind and rain were excluded." In consequence of these disadvantages the knowledge that he acquired in youth was but limited, but by a diligent course of study through life he has become well informed upon all general subjects. He labored in assisting his father in clearing up the place and in carrying on his farm until he was about eighteen years of age, when he returned to New York and commenced an apprenticeship at the tailor's trade, in which he served three years. The succeeding seven years were filled by him in the employment of his trade as a journeyman, most of the time in Galesburg and Kalamazoo, Mich. In 1854, concluding to abandon his trade and adopt the business of farming, he purchased eighty acres of land, where he was engaged in that noblest and oldest employment, that of tilling the soil, until 1874, when he sold out and removed to Kansas. On his arrival in this State he purchased an interest in 160 acres of land in Butler County, which he finaHy sold, and purchased the place where he is now living. The year 1874 will be long remembered as the chief grasshopper year, and our subject's prospects were most seriously endangered thereby. The sum total of his crops for that summer was one bushel of onions and a couple of pumpkins. He reports that the hoppers swarmed even into the house, and devoured every green thing that grew out of doors except the onions, and literally covered even those. Notwithstanding his misfortunes at that time, and the discouragement attending upon it, he was not entirely dismayed, but with commendable energy and pluck stuck to the place, and now has an excellent farm of 160 acres under high cultivation and well improved, as a reward for his labors.

            The residence which our subject has erected, and of which we give a view, is a handsome and pleasant one, and contains all the modern conveniences for the ease and comfort of the family. His substantial granary and out-buildings, and the sleek and well-tended stock, all indicate the intelligent, successful and prosperous farmer, who thoroughly understands the vocation which he has chosen. He is entirely a self-made man, having started in life with nothing but his own energy and laudable ambition, but by the assistance of his devoted wife, has succeeded in placing himself among the comfortable and well-to-do people of this part of the country.

             During the late Civil War, when the rebel hordes hung on the skirts of our troops, and the General Government issued a call for more troops to suppress the Rebellion, Mr. Keith enlisted, Aug. 26, 1864, in Company A, 13th Michigan Infantry, under command of Col. Eaton. He participated in much of the Atlanta campaign, and was with Gen. Sherman in his march through Georgia and the Carolinas to the sea, and was an active participant in most of the engagements that occurred during that famous movement, among the principal of which were those at Savannah, Ga., fought from Dec. 12 to 20, 1864; Catawba, S. C., Feb. 28, 1865; Averasboro, N. C., March 16, 1865, and Bentonville, N. C., March 9 of the same year. He did valiant service in defense of our country's flag, and on the conclusion of hostilities was mustered out of service and honorably discharged at Detroit, Mich., June 21, 1865. In his political views, like a large proportion of those who shouldered a musket, he votes with the Republican party, but cast his first ballot for Zachary Taylor for President, in 1848, and has never missed voting at a Presidential election since that time. While in Michigan he filled the offices of Township Clerk and Highway Commissioner, and since coming to this State he has been Justice of the Peace for one term, and School Director nearly ever since he located here.

             John Wesley Keith and Miss Harriet A. Blakeslee were united in marriage April 22, 1851. The bride was a daughter of Asahel and Elizabeth (Carey) Blakeslee, natives of Vermont and New York State respectively, and was born in Jerusalem, Yates Co., N. Y., Nov. 29, 1830. Her parents moved to Michigan in 1837, where she became acquainted with her future husband and where they were married. Her father was one of the pioneers of the Wolverine State, and labored manfully in clearing up his property of 160 acres of land, upon which to make a home.

             The family of Mr. and Mrs. Keith has been increased by the advent of five children, of whom the following is a record: Edith was born Nov. 21, 1852, in Kalamazoo, Mich., and was a teacher in school and in music until 1875, when she married G. W. Kellum, and now resides in Anthony, Kan., with her husband and two children. Ellis A., who was born Feb. 19, 1858, is a farmer and stock-raiser in Kingman County, this State, and is unmarried; James H., who was born Aug. 15, 1860, has 240 acres of land in Kingman County, but resides at home with his parents; Hannah Libby, who was born Sept. 24, 1862, is a graduate of Baldwin University, situated near Lawrence, in this State, and has followed school teaching as a profession for the last six years; E. W. Grant, the youngest child, was born Jan. 3, 1868, and is living at home.

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