Edmund H. Keifer

As printed in 1881

EDMUND H. KEIFER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Springfield. This gentleman comes of German origin, his great-grandfather, George Keifer, being a native of Germany, who settled in Maryland, where was born, in Washington County, Oct. 27, 1769, George Keifer, the grandfather of Edmund H., who was married to Margaret Hivner, a native of the same county, born July 24, 1772; this marriage occurred March 24, 1799, and the following children were the fruits of the union: Mary, Sarah, John, Catherine and George. The father of Edmund H. was John Keifer, who was born in Washington Co., Md., May 17, 1802, and who came with his parents, in 1812, to Clark Co., Ohio, settling in Bethel Township, his father purchasing a large tract of land, on which was born the noted Indian chief Tecumseh. On this farm was a cabin and a small clearing, and here John Keifer grew to manhood, his parents residing on this property until death. He mas married May 6, 1824, to Miss Elizabeth Donnels, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah Donnels, who were pioneers of Bethel Township, where Mrs. Sarah Keifer was born, March 19, 1804. Shortly after marriage, John Keifer bought out Donnels’ heirs, and moved on to that farm, now. known as the “ Holcomb Limekiln Farm,” and there remained until his father's death, when he sold it, and returned to the old homestead, which he purchased, and where he and his wife resided until death, he dying June 9, 1865, and his wife, June 29 of the same year. He was a Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F., and a Democrat all his life; was a General of militia, and a man of prominence in all the affairs of the county, and took an active interest in everything that he believed a benefit to the country at large. The subject of this sketch was born in Springfield Township, Feb. 19, 1838, and educated in the common schools of the county, following the vocation of a farmer all his life. He was married Jan. 11, 1859, to Miss Bethenia Miller, daughter of R. S. and Elizabeth (Shellebarger) Miller, of Mad River Township, where Mrs. Keifer was born, Jan. 1, 1842, of which union the following children are the issue: Anna M. (the wife of John T. Stewart), Lizzie D. and George S. Mrs. Keifer's father is a native of Pickaway Co., Ohio, and her mother of Clark County, the latter being deceased, and both belonged to the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Keifer was the fifth in a family of six children, the three youngest of whom are living, viz: John D. (residing in Missouri), Mary J. (the wife of R. S. Cross, of Topeka, Kan. and himself. In the fall of 1865, he purchased his present farm of 225 acres, and, in the autumn of 1870, he erected a large, handsome residence, and has otherwise greatly improved the farm. Politically, he is an unswerving Democrat, and is considered one of the leading farmers of his township, being a man who is respected for his honesty and integrity of character, as well as many other traits that go to make a good neighbor and a worthy citizen.

As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.