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Below is a family biography included in History of Shawnee County, Kansas and Representative Citizens by James L. King, published by Richmond & Arnold, 1905.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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ARCHIBALD McKEEVER.
Archibald McKeever, who now lives in honorable retirement at his comfortable home at No. 1107 Western avenue, Topeka, is one of the pioneers of Kansas, one whose life has been identified with the most eventful years of the State’s existence. Mr. McKeever was born April 6, 1830, in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Clark and Jane (Wallace) McKeever.

The McKeever family is of Scotch-Irish extraction and both of the parents of our subject were born in Ireland. The mother died in 1858 but the father, who was born in 1798, survived until within nine years of completing a century, his death taking place in this State in 1889. Of their eight children, Archibald was the fourth, five reached maturity and two survive,—our subject and a sister, who lives in Jackson County, Kansas.

Until he was 10 years old, Mr. McKeever attended the district schools about three months in the year, his companion farmer boys enjoying about the same privileges, but an active mind and close association with men of intelligence and participation in stirring events have made him not only a man of great information but one of discriminating judgment as well. From Pennsylvania he went to Central Ohio and in 1857 he came to Jackson, Kansas, settling on what was known as the Delaware Trust Land, where he secured 480 acres for which he paid $3.50 per acre. In those early days in the Territory primitive conditions still existed and the pioneer settlers accommodated themselves to them. After he had secured his claim, he built his own picturesque log hut, paying $1 each for the logs, and this humble dwelling served as his home for some years. He remained here only until 1876, led to move to Jefferson County in order that his stock could be sure of having water, that great and crying necessity wanting in some of the fairest sections of this State. He did not attempt extensive farming but found the raising of stock and cattle extremely profitable even in those days.

Mr. McKeever was one of the very first settlers in Jackson County and his reminiscences of pioneer life teem with interest. At that time the principal trading place where supplies could be obtained was Leavenworth, about 40 miles away, to which he and his pioneer neighbors went two or three times a year, laying in supplies which had to last until the trip could be made again. Mr. McKeever was popular with his neighbors and was twice elected assessor of Jackson County and served two terms as county commissioner. In the year following the great drought in Kansas, a notable period in the history of the “Sunflower” State, he accomplished the assessing of Jackson County in 27 days, assessing clear to the Kaw River. As there was an excellent mill at Valley Falls, Mr. McKeever relates that he frequently went there to trade. For 15 years he rode the saddle, looking up and buying steers, and some of his stories of the adventures of those days stir the blood of a younger generation. His old homestead in Jackson County is now occupied by Ex-Sheriff Cook.

Formerly Mr. McKeever was a Republican and he was elected county commissioner on that ticket and he lacked but one vote of being selected as a nominee for county treasurer. His political affiliations at present are with the Populist party. From Jackson County he removed to Jefferson County, where he owns 1,000 acres of fine land all in one body, which is operated as a stock farm by his son George. It is accounted one of the best farms in this part of the State. It produces from 60 to 80 bushels of corn to the acre and other produce accordingly.

In 1903 Mr. McKeever left the farm and moved into Topeka, where he has since invested in considerable property, including a handsome home in a choice locality and his time is pleasantly occupied in looking after these investments.

At St. Joseph, Missouri, Mr. McKeever was married, in 1861, to Elvira Means, who is a daughter of James Means, who was a pioneer in Buchanan County, Missouri. Her great-grandfather, Robert Means, purchased about 1,600 acres of Missouri land and Mr. McKeever has the deeds of two of these quarter-sections which lie in Southwestern Missouri, near Springfield. This land is as yet unimproved and probably will be of great value as it is largely mineral. A family of eight sons and one daughter were born to Mr. and Mrs. McKeever, the daughter and the oldest and youngest sons now being deceased. Those who survive are: James, who is in the furniture business at Topeka; Edwin D., who is one of the city’s prominent attorneys; William, who is a professor in the State Agricultural College at Manhattan, Kansas; George who, as noted, operates the farm in Jefferson County; Horace Greeley, junior member of the law firm of Cromwell & McKeever, of Enid, Oklahoma; and Harry Sunshine, who is in the real estate business at Topeka. It has been one of Mr. McKeever’s aims to so educate his children that they could take advantage of all the opportunities that modern life presented to them and he has great reason to feel gratified over the result. They have all developed into representative men, worthy successors of the pioneering stock from which they originated and possessing many of the sterling traits of their father and grandfather.

Hon. Edwin D. McKeever, the second surviving son of Archibald and Elvira (Means) McKeever, and assistant United States district attorney at Topeka, was born in Jackson County, Kansas, May 6, 1866. His education was a liberal one, including four years at Washburn College, Topeka, and then he entered upon the study of the law in the office of Johnson, Martin & Keeler, and was admitted to the bar in July, 1889. He has been in active practice ever since, taking part in much of the important litigation of the various courts, including the Supreme Court. On January 1, 1902, he was made assistant United States district attorney, in which position he has added to his professional laurels.

Mr. McKeever has been a very active and influential member of the Republican party for many years, entering upon the field of politics coincident with that of the law. He was first elected to the Legislature in 1896 and served in this body for three terms, and during 1899 he served as chairman of the judiciary committee. In 1901 he was speaker pro tem of the House, and his whole career as a statesman but served to advance him in the confidence of his party and in the esteem of his fellow-citizens. His continuation in office is but proof of this and his fitness is a fact beyond question.

In 1893 Edwin D. McKeever was united in marriage with Luetta Mohler, an accomplished young lady who was born in Indiana. They have one son, Archibald, his grandfather’s namesake, who was born in 1896. Mr. McKeever has been a resident of Topeka since 1884, coming here some years prior to his father’s arrival. He owns one of the fine homes for which this city has gained reputation, a beautiful modern residence situated at No. 1214 West 10th avenue.

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This family biography is one of 206 biographies included in History of Shawnee County, Kansas and Representative Citizens by James L. King, published by Richmond & Arnold, 1905.  For the complete description, click here: Shawnee County, Kansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Shawnee County, Kansas family biographies here: Shawnee County, Kansas

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