Western Pennsylvania Genealogy
Compiled by Douglas H. Lusher


Family Group Record



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Benjamin Franklin Keiser and Mary L. Pawling




Husband Benjamin Franklin Keiser 1




            AKA: Frank Keizer 2
           Born: 30 Jan 1846 - Union Co, PA 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 


         Father: Jacob Keiser (1807-1867) 1
         Mother: Elizabeth Elick (1805-1892) 1


       Marriage: 3 Feb 1881 4



Wife Mary L. Pawling 5




           Born: 19 Sep 1856 - Kelly Twp, Union Co, PA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 


         Father: John Pawling (1822/1823-      ) 6
         Mother: Barbara A. Gemberling (1831-1875) 7




Children
1 M James L. Keiser 4

            AKA: James Keizer 2
           Born: 21 Nov 1881 4
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 



2 M George O. Keiser 4

            AKA: George Keizer 2
           Born: 26 Jun 1886 4
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 



3 M John R. Keiser 4

            AKA: Ray Keizer 2
           Born: 9 May 1889 4
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 



4 F Bertha A. Keiser 4

            AKA: Bertha Keizer 2
           Born: 5 Jun 1896 4
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 




General Notes: Husband - Benjamin Franklin Keiser


He was born at the old family homestead in Union County, Pennsylvania, the site of which became the village of West Milton, and his early life was spent in the healthful activities of farm life, while the neighboring schools afforded him an education. In the spring of 1868 he went with his brother, Samuel, to West Buffalo township, Union County, and purchased a farm; but after remaining there six years he sold his interest to his brother and returned to West Milton. For one year he was out of business, and he then purchased a third of the old homestead, which originally comprised 105 acres. Two acres of this were sold to John Datesman. Since his first purchase of thirty-six acres, Mr. Keiser, in 1892, bought sixteen and sixty-eight one-hundredths of the John Datesman lot, which adjoined the homestead on the south. The town of West Milton was laid out January 8, 1872, by Harrison and Melancthon Keiser, and previous to 1874 they sold eight lots. In December, 1883, B. F. Keiser laid out an addition, surveyed by J. A. Gundy, and he disposed of twenty-nine lots. Beginning in 1875 Mr. Keiser was engaged in business in addition to the management of his farm, and he dealt extensively in coal, flour, feed, and similar commodities.
He and J. H. Krietzer, of Milton, were the first to circulate a petition for the erection of the iron bridge, 1,400 feet in length, between Milton and West Milton, which was secured after a fierce opposition, and was built in 1894 at a cost of $75,000. In 1888 Mr. Keiser helped to win another advantage for his town in the Philadelphia & Reading railroad extension, known as the Catawissa & Williamsport branch, the ground at West Milton being leased by him to the company at one dollar per year for ninety-nine years. His best work, however, and that with which future generations should connect his name most gratefully, is the establishment of better schools in his locality. From 1876 to 1890 he served as school director of Kelly township, and during that time new buildings for educational purposes were secured in the Moore and West Milton districts. The latter was opposed by the non-progressive element, but Mr. Keiser's personal influence won the day. In politics he was a Republican, and he was a leading member of the Lutheran Church. Fraternally he was a member of the Milton Lodge, F. & A. M. No. 256.

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Sources


1 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 924.

2 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 1021.

3 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 925.

4 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 926.

5 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 853, 926, 1021.

6 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 853, 869, 1020.

7 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 853, 869, 949, 1021.


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