My Genealogy Hound

HON. MONROE KEITH, one of the substantial business men of the town of Granby and a leading member of the farming community, was born on the farm where he now resides, March 28, 1835. His father, Avery Keith, who was a native of Belchertown, this county, born November 5, 1802, came to Granby in 1832. He was a tiller of the soil and bought the family homestead, which includes thirty-one and one-half acres, for the sum of twelve hundred and fifty dollars. He cleared and improved the land, working laboriously for many years. He relinquished the management to his son, Monroe, a few years prior to his decease, which occurred December 27, 1863. His wife, whose maiden name was Lydia Hathaway, was born in Eastern Connecticut in 1803, and died on the home farm, December 26, 1873. They were the parents of three children, as follows: Marietta, born July 25, 1825, who married A. T. Sabin, and died March 26, 1885, in Ross, Mich.; Margaret, who died in infancy; and Monroe, the subject of this notice.

In common with the farmers’ children of his day, Monroe Keith acquired a good public-school education. To this was added a valuable experience in farming, gained in assisting his father. On the death of the latter he took the entire control of the property, which he has carried on since with remarkable success. His rule is never to be satisfied with less than the best possible results. His land is in a high state of cultivation. In addition to general farming Mr. Keith has been considerably interested in the lumber business, which he has found quite profitable. A citizen in whom his fellow-townsmen have confidence, he has served with credit to himself and with honor to his constituents in various offices, having been Assessor from 1870 until 1875, Selectman for nine years, during eight of which he was chairman of the board, and in 1876 a Representative to the State legislature. He is a decided Democrat in his political views and quite prominent in party movements. He is at present one of the Directors of the Granby Co-operative Creamery Association, for which he supervises the sales of butter.

On November 29, 1859, Mr. Keith was united in marriage with Caroline A. Nash, a native of Hampden County, born December 22, 1838, being a daughter of Asahel and Samantha (Robinson) Nash, both of whom died in Ludlow, Hampden County. Mr. and Mrs. Keith have a daughter, Alice Bertha, who was born May 10, 1871, and died August 21, 1894. She married J, Leroy Simonds, who now makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Keith, and assists in the labors of the farm.