My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM C. KEEP. Comparatively speaking, few homes in this broad land retain for generations family faces and kindred. In a few years and the “boys and girls” have left the home of their nativity and wandered into other and distant lands to make for themselves a home and fortune. It must be so, to verify the old saying that “Westward the star of Empire takes its way.” Among the vast number that has swelled the tide of westward emigration is the subject of this sketch, William C. Keep. He is the son of Joel Keep, a native of Massachusetts, and was born in 1809. His paternal grandfather was Samuel Keep, also a native of Massachusetts; his maternal grandfather was John Handrick, a native of Massachusetts, and his maternal grandmother was Dortha (Gibbs) Handrick, a native of Vermont. From Connecticut, Joel Keep moved to Ann Arbor, Mich., thence to Pennsylvania, where he remained until death, which occurred in 1881, at New Milford, Susquehanna county. His occupation was farming, but for some time he was engaged in the lumber business. He possessed excellent business qualities and his honesty and generosity won the respect of all who knew him. In politics he was a republican. In 1855, he married Miss Lucy Ann Handrick, a native of New Milford, Penn. Mrs. Keep was born in 1822, and has born her husband three children, two sons and one daughter, all of whom are living, viz. — William C., Edwin A. and Mary F. (Keep) Very, all living in Dawson county, Nebr., having come West in April, 1890, and occupied in farming. For many years Mrs. Keep has been an active member and supporter of the Presbyterian church.

William C. Keep was born in Pennsylvania in 1856. In 1879 he immigrated to Nebraska, locating in Elm Creek; soon after he took a homestead and timber claim in section 24, township 10, range 19, Dawson county, which he still owns. These form only a part of his possessions.

He is a republican in politics, and at present a much esteemed member of the town council. In 1886 he was married, at Elm Creek, to Miss Elizabeth G. Wells, the ceremony being performed by Rev. J. G. Hurlbert. Mrs. E. G. ( Wells ) Keep was born in Harrisville, Ohio, in 1868. In 1881 her home was changed to Green Dale, Nebr., where she resided until her marriage.