My Genealogy Hound

J. F. Keller, postmaster of Brashear, and member of the firm of Neff & Keller, general merchants, was born in Adams County, Ill., in 1859, and in 1866 was brought to Adair County by his parents, who located at Paulville, where the father, W. B., engaged in general merchandising for two or three years, also occupying the position of postmaster during that time, after which he became interested in grist-milling there until 1872, when he moved to Brashear, and, in partnership with W. E. Hill, rebuilt a saw and grist-mill, which they operated until the spring of 1882. He then embarked in the hardware business, which he still continues. In 1881 J. F. Keller and J. T. Neff started in the mercantile business, under the firm name of Neff, Keller & Co. Mr. Keller withdrew from the firm for a few months in the year 1885, after which the same members reorganized the co-partnership, and have since conducted the business under the firm name of Neff & Keller. John Keller, the paternal grandfather of J. F., was born in Miami County, Ohio, and died there about 1835. The paternal grandmother, Rachel (Jameson) Kellar, died in Indiana in 1846. Her grandfather served in the Revolutionary War, and built the third cabin in Cincinnati. The father of our subject, whose name has been previously given, was born in Miami County, Ohio, in 1832, resided in Warren County, Ohio, from the age of twelve until 1856, and then located in Adams County, Ill., for about six years, after spending a short time in Minnesota; then, in 1866, he came to Adair County, Mo. His mother, Mary M. (Keenan) Keller, is a native of Warren County, Ohio, and her son, J. F., is one of a family of five children, four of whom are still living. The father, W. B., has two brothers, Samuel and Jacob, who were in the Mexican War. Samuel was also the captain of Company H, Forty-seventh Indiana Infantry during the Rebellion.