My Genealogy Hound

MILTON T. KEYSER, the well known clerk of the Farmers’ Hotel, at Main and Barbadoes streets, Norristown, is a native of Skippack township, where he was born July 26, 1869. He remained on the home farm until 1886, when he engaged in work on his own account. He commenced by working for Daniel Detwiler on his farm near what is known as Linfield; Montgomery county. He continued with Mr. Detwiler a short time and then went to Parkerford, in Chester county, to learn the baking trade, with John Rochester, but before completing his apprenticeship went to Pottstown and worked for more than a year for Eli Reigner, in a bakershop, where he finished his trade. Returning to Skippack, he worked ten months for John Alderfer on a farm. He then became employed as a butcher with Philip Davis, of Skippack, and remained with him for three years and ten months, and was then home with his father for a year. This was in 1892, and at the end of that year he went to Roxboro, where he took charge of the bar for Emanuel Brendlinger, a hotel proprietor, and has been in the hotel business ever since, including nine years at the Farmers’ Hotel in Norristown, the last three with his brother, John T. Keyser, the present owner of the establishment.

Mr. Keyser has been for fourteen years a member of Ironbridge Lodge, No. 104, Knights of the Golden Eagle. He is a member also of Curtis Lodge, No. 239, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Norristown; and of Beaver Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, No. 62, of Norristown; and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Politically he is a Republican.

Isaac C. Keyser (father) was born in Skippack township, October 21, 1837, and died September 8, 1902. He married Elizabeth Tyson, born in the same township, November 22, 1839. They were married September 26, 1863. Their children were: Benjamin T., born August 4, 1865; John T., born January 14, 1867; Milton T., born July 26, 1869; Isaac T., born April 22, 1873; Ambrose T., born April 4, 1876, and died January 30, 1304; Franklin T., born in October, 1878; and Elizabeth T., born February 10, 1881.

John H. Keyser (grandfather) married Elizabeth Cassel. Their children are: Mary married Charles Baringer, they having twins who died in infancy; Sarah married Abraham Culp, their children being Isaiah and Elizabeth; Magdelana married another Abraham Culp, but no relation of her sister’s husband, their children being Amanda, Mary, Sally and John; Eliza (deceased) married Frank Leidy, and had two children, Jacob and Anna; Catharine died unmarried; Isaac C. was the father of Milton T. Keyser.

Mrs. Isaac C. Keyser was the daughter of Benjamin and Mary K. (Markley) Tyson. Mr. Tyson was born in Skippack, as was his wife. They were of an old Skippack family, having lived there for generations. The Tysons came originally from Germany. They were farmers and owned a homestead. Mrs. Mary K. Tyson died in February, 1904, aged eighty years, two months and fourteen days. Mr. Tyson and his father (who was Benjamin Tyson) were members of the Reformed church, and Mrs. Mary Tyson was a Lutheran. He served one term as county commissioner. Isaac C. Keyser was a Mennonite in religious faith, and his wife a member of Trinity Reformed church at Collegeville.

Benjamin and Mary K. Tyson’s children were: Cornelius, who married Emma Rechner and had one child, May; Benjamin, who married Miss Wolford, their children being Harvey and Benjamin; Markley, who married Elizabeth Burget, their children being May, Benjamin, Mary, Susie, Nevin and Alvin; Mary, who married Joseph Ruff, their children being Amanda, Ella and Ambrose; Mary K., mother of Mrs. Isaac C. Keyser (Elizabeth Tyson); Deborah, who married William Y. Garges, their children being Minerva, Tyson and Mary; and Philip Tyson (deceased).

Benjamin T. (brother of the subject of this sketch) married Amanda Bean, and she dying December 21, 1890, he married (second wife) Miss Kate Dreibelbis, they having no children; John T., married Sarah Burgett, their children being Howard, John, Helen, Benjamin and Verda.

Milton T. Keyser married May 3, 1898, Miss Barbara Feather, daughter of William and Lucy A. (Brey) Feather. Mrs. Keyser was born December 27, 1876, in Topton, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. William Feather was born at Swamp, March 29, 1836, and was all his life a brick-maker. He was a Lutheran in religion and a Democrat in politics, but never sought office. He married, in July, 1863, Miss Lucy A. Brey. Their children are: Clinton, who died in. infancy; Andora (deceased); Sarah, who married Howard Fisher, their children being Hattie, Samuel, John, William Lord and an infant; Milton, who married Miss Null, and they have two children, Gertie and Wayne, one being deceased; Annie, deceased; William, who married Cenia Miller, their children being Russell and Willy; Albert, who married Sallie ----,and has one child, Lillie; Barbara, who married Milton T. Keyser; John, deceased; Jacob, unmarried and resides with his parents in Allentown; Lizzie, who married Clement Hillegass and has one child, Sorden; Mary, unmarried, residing with her parents; Adam, who died in infancy; Frank, who resides with his parents; Josiah, who died in infancy; Tillie and Millie, residing with their parents. Mrs. Feather, nee Miss Brey, had the following brothers and sisters: Emma, Angeline, Edward, Mary, Hannah (deceased), Isaac, Henry (deceased), Albert (deceased), Tillie, Ella and John.

Isaac T. Keyser is unmarried. Ambrose T. Keyser married Miss Rachel McKoons of Norristown, there being no children; Franklin T. Keyser married Miss Mabel L. Trainor, of Philadelphia; and Elizabeth T. Keyser married George A. Brooks, of Philadelphia, June 26, 1901.