George Washington Keefer and Elizabeth Adeline Crispin
Husband George Washington Keefer 1
Born: 1 Oct 1850 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 1 Christened: Died: 17 Jan 1930 - West Monterey, Clarion Co, PA 1 Buried: - Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Dutch Hill, Perry Twp, Clarion Co, PA
Father: Jacob G. Keefer (1815-1882) 2 Mother: Harriet Gordon (1822-1917) 3
Marriage: 2 Mar 1875 1
Wife Elizabeth Adeline Crispin 1
Born: 20 Feb 1855 - Toby Twp, Clarion Co, PA 1 Christened: Died: 31 Jan 1941 - Clarion, Clarion Co, PA 1 Buried: - Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Dutch Hill, Perry Twp, Clarion Co, PA
Father: John A. Crispin ( - ) 1 Mother: Mary Lucretia Dunkle ( - ) 1
Children
1 F Clara Wave Keefer 4
Born: 28 Jun 1876 - Perry Twp, Armstrong Co, PA 4 Christened: Died: 19 Nov 1941 4 Buried: - Sand Fork Cemetery, Sand Fork, WVSpouse: Frank L. Decker ( -1920) 4 Marr: 8 Feb 1897 4Spouse: Jacob S. Taylor ( -1938) 4
2 F Inez Lucretia Keefer 5
Born: 13 Jul 1878 - Perry Twp, Clarion Co, PA 5 Christened: Died: 21 Nov 1946 - Oil City, Venango Co, PA 5 Buried:Spouse: John W. Anderson (1864-1953) 5
3 M Joseph Raymond Keefer 6
Born: 10 Jan 1881 - Perry Twp, Armstrong Co, PA 6 Christened: Died: 8 Jun 1947 - West Monterey, Clarion Co, PA 6 Buried: - Mount Hope Cemetery, Conneration, PASpouse: Wavie Elder (1881-1947) 6 Marr: 1 Jan 1902 6
4 M Alvie Sember Keefer 7
Born: 22 Nov 1883 7 Christened: Died: 6 Nov 1918 - West Monterey, Clarion Co, PA 7 Buried: - Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Dutch Hill, Perry Twp, Clarion Co, PASpouse: Maude M. Bowser ( -1966) 7
5 F Mamie Virginia Keefer 8
Born: 20 Mar 1887 - Perry Twp, Armstrong Co, PA 8 Christened: Died: 19 Apr 1944 8 Buried: - Mount Hope Cemetery, Conneration, PASpouse: James Curtis Conner ( -1923) 8 Marr: 23 Jan 1908 8Spouse: Lawson L. Jordan (1864-1937) 8
6 F Harriet Vere Keefer 9
Born: 3 Nov 1889 - Perry Twp, Clarion Co, PA 9 Christened: Died: 15 Sep 1962 - North Warren, Warren Co, PA Buried: - Mount Hope Cemetery, Conneration, PASpouse: Lowell Robert Shafer (1888-1926) 9Spouse: Clyde King (1878-1944) 10 Marr: 13 Jan 1935 9
7 M George Crispin Keefer 11
Born: 6 Sep 1893 - Perry Twp, Clarion Co, PA 11 Christened: Died: 17 Jun 1977 - ? Dade City, FL 12 Buried: - Concord Cemetery, Parker, PASpouse: Vera M. Terwilliger ( -1977) 11 Marr: 18 Jan 1915 11
8 M Paul Bryan Keefer 11
Born: 31 Jul 1896 - Perry Twp, Clarion Co, PA 11 Christened: Died: 24 Nov 1918 11 Buried: - Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Dutch Hill, Perry Twp, Clarion Co, PASpouse: Anna Elizabeth White (1897- ) 11 Marr: 5 Oct 1918 11
9 F Leda Romaine Keefer 11
Born: 3 Sep 1899 - Perry Twp, Clarion Co, PA 11 Christened: Died: 24 Oct 1996 - ? Oil City, Venango Co, PA Buried:Spouse: Samuel Clifford Elder (1889-1967) 11 Marr: 24 Jun 1933 11
General Notes: Husband - George Washington Keefer
Since George's cousin, George W. Keefer, was born the same week as George, he became known as "Country George" and the cousin, who lived in West Monterey, was known as "River George".
When he was a young man he worked on the Allegheny River as a raftsman. He moved with his parents to Clarion County, PA, thence to Armstrong County. In 1865, the parents purchased a farm in Perry Twp, Clarion County, where they settled permanently. On July 7, 1876, George's parents sold their farm to him, and made their home with him until death claimed them.
George and Elizabeth Keefer engaged in farming on his homestead farm and he also hunted Ginseng roots among the hills, which sold for a good price on the market, as it was used in making medicine. He collected taxes in North and South Perry Townships for sixteen years to help support his family. He raised colts on the farm, and later sold large matched work teams to farmers.
His favorite pastime was playing the violin, which he did almost every evening. Later, his daughter chorded on the organ to accompany him. Having at one time played for dances, many square dance tunes, such as, "The Fisher's Hornpipe" "Turkey in the Straw", "Pop goes the Weasel" and "The Irish Wash Woman" were played, also some southern songs and hymns.
In 1920, George sold the farm to his son, George C., and bought a restaurant in West Monterey, PA, from William Jordon. The building was so close the railroad tracks you could almost shake hands with the conductor and engineer. The restaurant was noisy, consumed long hours, and made small profits. Ice had to be cut in the winter months from the Allegheny River when it was frozen very thick, and stored in the ice house. Then the ice was packed all around with sawdust, which insulated it and kept it from melting. During the summer months this ice was taken by the large cakes -- as it was cut from the river -- and used to keep and or make ice cream, also to keep food cold to prevent spoilage. George finally sold the restaurant to Lillian McGregor, who owned the hotel in West Monterey. He then bought a house at the southern end of town, but across the railroad tracks from the Pennsylvania Railroad Station. The station had an operator and a clerk. Two passenger trains per day went north, and two went south. Considerable freight and express was handled at the station.
George and Elizabeth enjoyed the activity at the station from their large front window. George took mail bags from the station to the post office for a while, and also operated the ferry boat across the Allegheny River. Often the bell summoned him at odd hours, so he was kept busy. The ferry was pulled across the river by a cable.
George and Elizabeth were members of the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Dutch Hill. After a short illness of bronchitis and kidney disease, he died at his home in West Monterey, PA. His wife died at the home of her daughter, Leda (Keefer) Elder, in Clarion, PA, of a heart attack. They were buried in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Dutch Hill, Perry Twp, Clarion County, PA. (This write-up by Leda Elder).
1 Estella B. Keefer, The Keefer Family: Jacob & Catharina 1791 - 1976 (Franklin, PA: Privately Published, 1976), Pg 36.
2 Estella B. Keefer, The Keefer Family: Jacob & Catharina 1791 - 1976 (Franklin, PA: Privately Published, 1976), Pg 14.
3 Virginia Gordon Russell, Gordons of Western Pennsylvania (Cochranton, PA: Specialty Printers, 1981), Pg 14.
4 Estella B. Keefer, The Keefer Family: Jacob & Catharina 1791 - 1976 (Franklin, PA: Privately Published, 1976), Pg 37.
5 Estella B. Keefer, The Keefer Family: Jacob & Catharina 1791 - 1976 (Franklin, PA: Privately Published, 1976), Pg 38.
6 Estella B. Keefer, The Keefer Family: Jacob & Catharina 1791 - 1976 (Franklin, PA: Privately Published, 1976), Pg 39.
7 Estella B. Keefer, The Keefer Family: Jacob & Catharina 1791 - 1976 (Franklin, PA: Privately Published, 1976), Pg 41.
8 Estella B. Keefer, The Keefer Family: Jacob & Catharina 1791 - 1976 (Franklin, PA: Privately Published, 1976), Pg 44.
9 Estella B. Keefer, The Keefer Family: Jacob & Catharina 1791 - 1976 (Franklin, PA: Privately Published, 1976), Pg 45.
10 Estella B. Keefer, The Keefer Family: Jacob & Catharina 1791 - 1976 (Franklin, PA: Privately Published, 1976), Pg 24.
11 Estella B. Keefer, The Keefer Family: Jacob & Catharina 1791 - 1976 (Franklin, PA: Privately Published, 1976), Pg 47.
12
Estella B. Keefer, The Keefer Family: Jacob & Catharina 1791 - 1976 (Franklin, PA: Privately Published, 1976), Pg 96.
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