OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS - Seneca Co., Ohio

Source:
History of Seneca County : from the close of the Revolutionary War to July, 1880 :
embracing many personal sketches of pioneers, anecdotes,
and faithful descriptions of events pertaining to the organization of the county and its progress
Published: Springfield, Ohio: Transcript Print. Co.,
1880

JOHN KELLER, The father of Levi, Lewis and Joel Keller (the sons are all still living) was an early settler and a man of wonderful industry and perseverance. He took a very active part in all public affairs and became intimately acquainted with the business of the public offices. He filled the office of county commissioner several years, and after he got his mill on the river in running order, there was scarcely a farmer in Seneca county but was acquired with Uncle Johnny Keller. He was very talkative when he had time, and always ready to give information when required. With his knowledge of farming he combined much mechanical skill, and he was in his place on the farm or in the mill. His practical good sense, his friendly nature and honesty of purpose made Uncle Keller a very popular person.
He was born September 17, 1785, in York county, Pennsylvania, near Little York. He was married to Elizabeth Mitsell, in 1804, and soon after moved to Fairfield county, Ohio. At the land sales in Delaware he bought the land the old Keller mill was on, in 1821, and moved on to it in 1828. In 1824, he let out a job of clearing four acres. In the fall of that year he came up with the team and a lot of apple trees, with which he planted an orchard on the four acres. When he came back the following spring, his apple trees were all gone. Somebody had stolen them. This was probably the first orchard planted in the county.
Mrs. Keller died in September, 1857. John Keller died October 9, 1859.
SOURCE: History of Seneca Co., Ohio - Published by Transcript Printing Co., Springfield, Ohio - 1880 - Page 505

G. B. KEPPEL was born May 8th, 1845, in Hopewell township, Seneca County, Ohio. He graduated at Heidelberg college in 1869; was admitted to the bar in 1871, and is now the prosecuting attorney of the county.*
SHARON's NOTE: Gilford B. Keppel, wife Emma and son Walter K. can be found in the 1900 census of Seneca County, Ohio in Clinton Twp within the City of Tiffin. - Film Series T623 - Roll 1320 - Page 117. - ALSO found in 1860 Census Seneca County, Ohio - Hopewell Twp. - Film Series M653 - Roll 1034 - Page 198 with his father Henry, mother, Elizabeth, siblings - Hiram, William, Rebecca, John & Charles.
SOURCE: History of Seneca Co., Ohio - Published by Transcript Printing Co., Springfield, Ohio - 1880 - Page 383

H. C. KEPPEL was born in Hopewell township, March 20th, 1847. He is a graduate of Heidelberg college, and was admitted to practice law in 1872, and is now of the law firm of H. C. & G. B. Keppel; was married at Indianapolis to-day, June 29th, 1880
SOURCE:.*
SHARON WICK'S NOTES:
1860 Census - Seneca County - Hopewell Twp. - Film Series M653 Roll 1034 Page 198 - Dwelling 744 Family 734 -
Henry Keppel age 38 - Farmer; Elizabeth age 32; Guilford age 15 - Farmer; Hiram age 13; William age 9; Rebecca age 7; John age 5; Charles age 1/12.
1880 Census - Seneca County - 2nd Wd. Tiffin - Film Series T9 Roll 1065 Page 197 - Sandusky Street - Dwelling 204 Family 208 -
Henry Keppel age 59 - Teamster; Johana age 53 - Wife; Hiram age 32 - son - Lawyer; John age 28 - son - Drug Clerk; Rebecca age 22 - daughter; Charles age 21 - son - Printer; James age 14 - son.
SOURCE: History of Seneca Co., Ohio - Published by Transcript Printing Co., Springfield, Ohio - 1880 - Page 384

ANTON KOENIGSAMEN was born June 26th, 1796, in Dreyson, in the Palatinate of Bavaria. On the 26th of Jan., 1816, he was married to Margaret Rauth, of Boerstadt, in the Palatinate also. She was born July 28th, 1796. They settled in this town of Boerstadt, where he followed the trade of a cabinet maker, until he moved with his family, then embracing six children, to America. He landed in New York in the fore part of Oct., 1832, after a short voyage of thirty-two days, and soon after located in Hamburg, Berks county, Pennsylvania, working at his trade.
     My old friend Martin Kingseed was noticed under the head of Fostoria, in chapter XXXVII. He was the oldest son of the family, and was born Nov. 19th, 1817. The other five were Catharine, Peter, Christian, Magdalena and Margaret. From Berks county Mr. Koenigsamen, in April, 1833, moved to Pine Grove, in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where he located on a farm and undertook farming. The mountains and the stony fields were not congenial to him, and in 1834 he sold out and came to Ohio by wagons.
     After a journey of six weeks he reached Tiffin, on the 18th of June 1834. Here he stayed a few weeks, and bought ninety-four acres of land six miles south of Tiffin, on the Sandusky river, in section fourteen.
     Here he opened up a farm, the land being all in the woods. He had but few neighbors. William Hitt joined on the east of him, Richard Connor on the south. Across the river lived Alex. Bowland and William McCormack.
     Starting here in the woods he experienced all the hardships of foreigners who had not practical knowledge of clearing land, for this was a peculiarly American science. Farmer in Europe are not compelled to remove the forest in order to make a farm. The first year is generally the hardest, because while you are not able to raise anything, you are compelled to buy all you need need, and live out of pocket. So with Mr. Koenigsamen, but the next year he had cleared ten acres and began to raise provisions. Mr. Koenigsamen speaks very feelingly of the kindness of his old neighbors in assisting him with everything needful until he got a better start in the world. The readiness and willingness with which neighbors would come to a raising or logging has frequently been mentioned. So here. Help was never refused. Now the opening grew larger, and grain was being raised in abundance. Everything prospered, and the family were happy until, on the 19th of May, 1842, Mrs. Koenigsamen died, a few days after giving birth to her tenth child. The babe died six weeks thereafter.
     Five years later, in 1847, Mr. Koenigsamen was again married, to Catharine Bauer, of this township, with whom he had three children, Joseph, Emelia and Catharine.
     On the 26th day of October, 1862, his second wife also died. The elder daughters then took charge of the household, and the youngest, Emelia, is now the matron of the homestead.
     For several years past his oldest son, Martin, has been in the habit of arranging surprise parties at the old homestead upon the anniversary of the old gentleman's birthday, when all the children would meet there, with their wives, husbands and children, and have a good time all around. They had another big time there again this year, when they celebrated his eighty-fourth birthday, showing him all honor and filial affection possible, and gladdening the evening of his life with renewed assurances of their love and devotion.
     Mr. Koenigsamen is still in the enjoyment of good health, and rather robust for his age. He enjoys his old pipe and a good joke as much as ever, and promises fair to so continue for many years yet to come. His son Anthony lives with him, and has charge of the farm.
SOURCE: History of Seneca Co., Ohio - Published by Transcript Printing Co., Springfield, Ohio - 1880 - Page 604

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