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Below is a family biography included in History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott, published by Iola Register, 1901.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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ADAM KELLER, who follows farming in Everett township, Woodson County, was born in Wyandotte County, Ohio, September 26, 1845. His father, Adam Keller, Sr., was a native of Berks County, Pennsylvania and married Elizabeth Stahl, who was also born in the Keystone state, whence they removed to Ohio in 1834. The father had visited Wyandot County the year previous and purchased one hundred and ninety acres of land in the green forest, making the journey to and from Pennsylvania on foot. The following year he brought his family to his new home, arriving at his destination with a cash capital of fifty cents. In 1848 his wife died, leaving to his care their eight small children. He was afterward married twice, and was the father of twenty children. Five of the children of the first marriage are still living, and nine of the other marriage. Mr. Keller died on his farm in Wyandot County, Ohio, in 1883, when seventy-two years of age, and his widow is still living on the old homestead there.

Adam Keller of this review was the seventh child of the first marriage. He remained with his father until he had attained his majority and then went to Iowa to visit his brother. He spent several years in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois, working by the month as a farm hand, and then returned to Ohio, where he was employed for two years by his father. There on the 18th of September, 1872, he was married to Miss Mary Parish, a native of Hancock County, Ohio, and a daughter of Archibald and Elizabeth (Gordon) Parish, both of whom were natives of the Buckeye state. The father is still living at the age of seventy-five years but the mother died on the 5th of June, 1883, at the age of fifty-two. They were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom yet survive, Mrs. Keller being the third in order of birth.

The wedding journey of Mr. and Mrs. Keller consisted of their trip to Woodson County, arriving in Neosho Falls on the 21st of September 1872 Our subject purchased eighty acres of land in the southern part of Everett township, and there remained for two years after which he went to Allen County, renting and operating a farm in the river bottoms for a year. On the expiration of that period he purchased eighty acres on Cherry creek in the southern portion of Everett township, seven miles northeast of Yates Center, where he now owns and operates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. His home occupies a beautiful location surrounded by a grove of forest trees, while a fine orchard yields its fruits in season and the fields bring forth rich harvests of golden grain. There is a large red barn and white house and other substantial outbuildings, and Mr Keller is successfully engaged in general farming and stock- raising.

Mr. and Mrs. Keller have never had any children of their own, but have reared adopted son, Harry Keller, who came to them when six years of age, and is now a youth of fourteen. Their friends and acquaintances in the community are many, for their genuine worth attracts to them the sincere regard of those who care for the qualities which in every land and clime command respect. Mr. Keller votes with the Republican party, but the honors and emoluments of office have never had a strong attraction for him to induce him to sacrifice his business interests to seek office, and in his and in his farm work he has found a good financial return.

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This family biography is one of 204 biographies included in History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott, published by Iola Register, 1901, Iola, Kansas.  For the complete description, click here: Woodson County, Kansas History and Genealogy

View additional Woodson County, Kansas family biographies here: Woodson County, Kansas

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