Jennie (Little) Keyes & Harry Keyes, circa 1898

Judy Larsen came through again.  Thanks

Francis Keyes & Betsey Scribner Marriage Record

This marriage record was provided to me by Judy Larsen.

My Family Photographs

I’m beginning to run out of storage space on this web site so I started another one at http://spaces.msn.com/members/ronkeyes  I’ll be posting my family pictures on that web site.  That will give me more space on this site for Geneology.  There is also a permanent link on Family Connections

Samuel Florence’s Ordination Dates

LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, Andrew Jenson, Vol. 3, p.79

Florence, Samuel Stephen, second Bishop of the Porterville Ward, Morgan county, Utah, was born May 8, 1870, at Porterville, Morgan county, Utah, the son of Henry Florence and Sarah Jane Taylor. He was baptized by his father when eight years old; ordained a Deacon May 8, 1881, [p.80] by Edward W. Phillips; ordained a Teacher in 1891 by Bishop Samuel Carter; ordained an Elder in 1894 by Wm. G. Brough; ordained a Seventy March 3, 1897, by Seymour B. Young; ordained a High Priest in February, 1901, by Hyrum M. Smith, and ordained a Bishop March 8, 1907, by Francis M. Lyman and appointed to preside over the Porterville Ward. In his youth Bishop Florence acted as a counselor in a Deacon’s quorum, presided over the Ward Y. M. M. I. A., filled a mission to the Eastern and Northern States in 1897-99, and filled many positions of honor and responsibility at different times. In 1894 (Dec. 19th) he married Minnie Giles (daughter of John Henry Giles and Ann Kingman), who was born August 1, 1872, at Littleton, Morgan county, Utah. This marriage has been blessed with ten children, seven boys and three girls.  I believe Samuel Stephen Florence was Sarah Elsie Smethursts Uncle.  The pictures are top left:  Henry Florence, 11 Apr 1840-10 Jan 1925, bottom left:  Sarah Jane (Taylor) Florence, 16 Nov 1844-17 Dec 1908, Samuel’s Father and Mother.  Top right:  Samuel Florence, 2 May 1802-24 May 1867, bottom right:  Susan (Waller) Florence, 10 Jan 1800-21 May 1856, Samuel’s Grandfather and Grandmother.

Headstone Photgraphs provided to me by Judy Larsen

The following photographs of headstones were provided to me by Judy Larsen who’s Grandmother was Harry Keyes’ half-sister.  Judy’s grandmother was the last child of Alma Keyes and Maria Eveline Tracy Keyes, making her a half sister to Harry.  Harry was very good to Judy’s grandmother and her family after the premature death of her grandfather.  Harry used to shovel coal out the door of the train engine as it moved slowly up the hill toward Weber Canyon.  They lived close to the track and Judy’s father would stand near the track and hand Harry a bucket of peaches, or cherries or whatever they had in the garden.

I really appreciate the information and pictures that Judy provided.  I will be putting it all on this site, so everyone is able to see it.  Thank You Judy.

 

Letter Received From New London, Ohio Library

Copies of information

I know some of the letters I’m posting are unreadable.  I can’t figure out how or if I can put them on the web site as a pdf file, which would allow you to enlarge them with adobe reader.  Until that time if you want a copy of what I have posted just send me an e-mail and I’ll attach a pdf copy of it with my response.  My e-mail address is:   rkkeyes@hotmail.com

File Information at the New London, Ohio Library

This information was on file at the New London, Ohio Library.

Letter on File at the New London, Ohio Library

This letter was sent to me by the New London, Ohio Library.

Copy of Letter From New London, Ohio Library

I recently wrote to the New London, Ohio City Library and asked them to photo copy any information they had on the Francis Keyes’ family when they lived in that area.  Some of the copies they sent me were of such poor quality that I’m having to re-type them to enable you to read them.  I tried to keep all the typing mistakes in the letters, hopefully I didn’t put in any of my own.  I don’t know the person that wrote this letter.

February 8, 1980

Nancy M. Brown

1469 North 650 West

Orem, Utah 84057

Dear Nancy,

Your letter came yesterday and I do thank you for the Keyes and Searl material you sent yesterday.

Right now I am jambed up with work. My husband is cleaning house and painting and I have some rush Income Tax work for my brother who is going into the hospital Feb. 28th for surgery.

I want to get some of it zeroxed for you – that is Francis Keyes material – got some out last night – but do not know when I will be able to get to town to have zeroxed – thus I am sending you some thing which I think you can start work on immediately and will send whatever else I can latter.

Along in 1962 Mrs. Ethel E. Hudson, 228 Poplar Avenue, Hayward, California wrote to Mrs. LeRoy A. Harris who lives here in Huron County and they did a lot of corresponding about Francis Keyes. Later Stella gave me her address and I wrote to her. However she is deceased. About 8 years ago I sent a distant Porter Cousin all the research we had did through the years on our Thomas Porter the father of Betsey Porter Scribner Keyes. I typed up some exerpts from those letter and material from Mrs. Harris which she had gotten from Mrs. Hudson. I still have them in the files – [SCMEKMERS] – but have about 1 foot of files to go through to sort out all the tidbits, She is also a descendant through Wm. Henry Harrison, who was her 2nd gr. grandfather. Her 1st great grandfather, Alma Keyes – wife Marie E. Tracy. Somewhere I have her line on down to her.

Frances Keyes born about 1776. Sold property in Fitchville, 1832, went to Kirkland, Ohio (Kirkland is east of Cleveland, Ohio and where the Morman Temple was built in the early days here in Ohio) – This is still open today. They were in Clay Co., Mo. 1834-36, in Navoo, Ill. 1839 after living in Caldwell Co., No 1837-38, then to Adams Co., Illinois 1841-44, on to Pisjah, Harrison Co., Iowa 1845, back to Holt Co., and on to Ogden, Weber Co. Utah 1852.

She further writes, "History of the Donner Party, says Sarah Keyes was 90, in 1849, and Frances Keyes had he been living would have been 70, his wife in 1832 was Betsey, and so the time element is again wrong as Margaret (Keyes) Reed had 4 children in 1846, and there wasn’t time for him to lose his wife Betsey and remarry Sarah, and anyway she would have been to old to have a daughter young enough to be his, as she would have been in her 80’s in 1832, but if Frances went to Springfield, Sarah could have been his mother, a ligical reason for him to leave the Mormans and go to Springfield. I have all the information on Francis Keyes that the Archives in Salt Lake has to offer, and that he was born and married in Mass. His first wife was Temperance was not a Morman, but Betsey his 2nd. Wife was: Temperance died before the Morman church was organized. I have lots of relatives that I have tried to find in Mass."

My suggestion to you would be to try and see if you can find out who has Mrs. Hudson’s records she has collected on the family. From the foregoining she must have quite a bit.

I also have some amterial out of the History of Donner Party, 1890 on page 20 – just my notes. "90 people left in the Donner party Springfield, Illinois April 1846. Among them were James Frazier Reed, his wife Margaret W. (Keyes) and children Virginia Reed, Martha F (Pat) Reed, Thomas K. Reed, James F. Reed Jr. And Mrs. Sarah Keyes, mother of Margaret Keyes Reed. The Reeds were from Springfield, Illinois." …..Pg. 22 " Before reaching Salt Lake, near present site of Manhatten, Kansas Mrs. Sarah Keyes mother of Mrs. J. F. Reed who had reached her 4 score years and ten died. 13 May 1846 buried" …..Page 181-182 "Mr. & Mrs. Reed Settled with their family in San Jose, Calif Mrs. Margaret (Keyes) Reed died Nov. 25, 1861, James F. Reed, died July 24, 1874. Thomas K. Reed settled in San Jose, married 16 Merch 1874 Sarah Adams. James F. Reed, Jr. Settled in San Jose. Virginia Reed settled in San Jose, married 26 Jan. 1850, J. M. Murphy had 9 children, Martha Reed settled in San Jose, married 25 Dec. 1856, Frank Lewis 8 children,

James F. Reed and Margaret Keyes, married 1830 in Springfield, Ill. Francis Keyes born 1775 in Mass. Wife Temperance, had son Wm. Henry Harrison Keyes, born 20 Nov. 1812, Vermilion, Ohio. (It was then part of Huron County – today Erie County – Paula) died 9 May 1895 Ogden, Utah. Married 12 April 1834 Eliza Ann Herrick. 1815-1895 had son.

Alma Keyes, born 10 Aug. 1839, Hanover Co. Ill. Died 8 Sept. 1918, Echo, Utah. Married 27 April 1861, Marie Evelyn Tracy (1847 – 1894) 13 Children: William, Willard, Henry, Joel, Joseph, Rosetta, George, Elsie, Alfred, Eliza, Charles, Alta, Ethel.

End of Mrs. Hudson’s material.

********

Now somewhere in the back of my mind I think Francis Keyes died in Springfield, Illinois. At one time I had someone who was going to Springfield look for stone for Francis but they never found one. Now I cannot tell you where I got that information, but when go through files later will try and get the exact quote of information and who from – I believe it probably was from Mrs. Hudson.

********

Ohio Archlogical and historical Society Books, New London Library. Page 35 November 1858 Vol. __(didn’t copy – it is a big set of books) covers Erie Co. – that is Nov. 1858 above noted reference. "Francis Keyes came in it is said in 1809 from Marcellus, N.Y. First school in Township was taught before the War in winter of 1811-12

********

From History of Huron and Erie Counties, by W. W. Williams 1879 First election held in Vermillion Township, April 6, 1818. At this meeting Francis Keyes was elected Trustee, Fence Viewer and also a supervisor along with others for the same offices.

He also paid 60¢ tax in Vermillion township in 1818.

********

Same book as above – Frances Keyes came to New London, Ohio in the Autumn of 1818. When his wife died Deacon Sampson officiated at the funeral service for Mrs. Francis Keyes. Now the Mormons were not formed at this time and Deacon Sampson was an officer in the local Baptist Church which was formed in New London in 1818.

Ref. History of Huron and Erie Co. By W. W. Williams – Under New London Twp. Page 366 – 366

"1818 – Francis Keyes and family – wife and four children, from Vermillion (though formerly from the State of Massachusetts) came in the month of November, and settled on lot number six in the fourth section. His, was the fourth log cabin in that portion of the township, now in the village (that is the village of New London – Paula) – the first having been built by John Cory; the second by Ezekiel Sampson; the third by Joseph Merrifield. Mr. Keyes put out his orchard in 1820, which was the second one put out in the village. The names of his children were: Ursula, the eldest daughter, who married James O. Merrifield in 1828; Mary, married Lewis Merrifield in 1828 and the two boys, Perry and Harrison (as their sisters had married brothers) concluded to, and did marry sisters, by the name of Sherrick. (This in error – name Herrick – Paula). Mrs. Keyes brought with her from the old Bay State, that common destroyer – consumption, of which she died in May, 1819. Her death is noticed as the first white adult of the township. Her children and her grandchildren still continue to die of consumption, showing in this instance, a remarkable tendency that consumption is hereditary.

Mr. Keyes, in July of the same year, married Mrs. Elizabeth Scribner. He sold his improvements in 1821 to James O. Merrifield, and Peter Kinsley (Peter Kinsley also married into the Merrifield family – Paula), and moved to the east part of Fitchville, Township.. Whence, in 1834, as history relates, he and his wife and his two boys and their wives, were swept along by the mighty and popular wave, the Mormon emigration, to the far west, where they and hundreds of others hoped to find the land of promise, wherein saints of the Most High could enjoy freedom to worship God, and not be persecuted as they had been in Huron County."

History of Huron and Erie Co. – Page 370.

MORMONS

The first meeting house or temple of worship erected and dedicated was in the year 1829 or 30. It was an immense log structure located on the south side of the highway, between H. Townsend and J. Hookers. Among its early members were Elder Rigdon, Elder Benj. S. Brackenbury and wives, Dan Higgins, Thos Hendrys, Francis Keyes and family, the Reeds, the Stevens and many others, their membership reaching nearly one hundred. For several years they had many converts, baptising by immersion as many as eight and ten on many Sabbaths in succession. Their meetings were largely attended and the worship as sincere as any profossed followers of Christ in town. -(that is New London Village – Paula) Like the early disciples their property was mostly in common. There was no polygamy! But persecution and a desire to inherit the promised land induced them to emigrate west in 1834. Many remained behind.

********

Frances Keyes purchased land in Fitchville in 1826 which consisted of 61 acres of land in Section 2, of Fitchville Twp. (Huron County Recorder Office, Norwalk, Ohio Voume 5, page 136). This land was I would judge just was about ½ mile or less west of where the Mormon meeting house above was built. Francis Keyes and Betsey Keye-as written (she signed with a mark-X) sold this land to Walter Foote and the deed was signed on Juy 3, 1832 and witnessed by Isaac Please, J.P. and Hurrian Keyes.

Francis received $700. From Walter Foote for this land.

A note just in passing. This Walter Foote was of Fitchville when he purchased this land of Francis Keyes and he was my great grandfather He and his wife are buried in a small cemetery on H. (Hosea) Townsend place mentioned in the Mormon article.

Now the first land which Francis Keyes purchased was found in Huron County Recorders Office, Norwalk, Ohio volume 1, page 372. Listed under Erie County. In the Land Records.

"Guy Richards, Town of New London, State of Conn. Sold to Francis Keyes, of the Town of Vermillion, County Huron, State of Ohio Lot #12, on the Beach in Section 4 of Vermillion Township in consideration of $185,25. This deed was signed May 29, 1813."

Now in some of Mnrs. Hudson’s material she said she had a copy of this deed and that Francis Keyes was living in New London, Conn when she purchased the land. This land is in error. The land in the present day Huron and Erie counties comprised of some 500,000 acres of land which belonged to the State of Conn. And it was set aside by the legislature of Conn. In May 1792 and divided among people for their losses during the Revelutionary war when the British burned so many houses and businesses in Conn. This was divided among the people and they paid taxes on this land to the State of Conn. Some of this land was sold for taxes, other people sold their land to others, or it was passed to their descendants and then either the descendants came out and settled here or they sold it. Many came themselves. Part of the farm where we live has been in my Mothers family since 1798. Right next door the land came to my mothers people which was part of the original grant. I have checked this deed out myself and Francis Keyes was of the town of Vermillion when he purchased the land.

In 1819 Betsy and Francis Keyes deeded to Barna Meeker in town of Vermillion, Section 4, Lot #12 in consideration of $1230. The land he had purchased from Guy Richards in 1813.. This deed was signed Sept. 10, 1819 by Francis Keyes and Btsy-as written- Keyes and witnessed by Ursula Keys and Isaac P. Case

Now Isaac P. Case was the Justice of Peace in New London at that time so it is possible that Francis was in New London looking things over when he sold this land to Barna Meeker or else Isaac P. Case was down at Vermillion. Vermillion lies 20 miles to the north on New London – directly north.

Now there were other Keyes in Erie Co in the early days. I copied I thought all the early Keyes down as to Grantee and Grantor deeds. I do not have when Wm. Keyes purchased land in Erie County but he sold land in 1820 in Erie Co., found in Vol. 4, page 47. Of land records. Then in 1835 Jered Keyes purchased land in Erie Co., Vol. 9, page 394, and this same land Arilla & Jared B. Keyes sold in 1836. Vol. 11, page 259. Then in 1837, Jared Keyes purchased 27 acres of land in Sec. 1 of Norwalk, twp. (This is now Huron Co.) And he sold this same land in 1838 the deed was signed by Arilla and Jard B. Keyes (man and wife) This recorded in Vol. 14, Page 449. I have never looked these deeds up but the above is taken from the Land Records Index, located in Huron County Recorders Office in Norwalk, Court House, Norwalk, Ohio.

In 1834 a John Kies purchased 89 Acres of land in Fairfield twp. And a Saul Kies bought 50 acres of land in Fitchville twp. This land Minerva and Saul Kies sold in 1845. –Whhops John and Betsey Kies sold 89 acres of land in Fairfield in same year they purchased it. Possible they went in Morman migration also. Have never happened to run into their names in any Fitchville History.

Now Mrs. LeRoy Harris sent me some information from Mrs. Hudson and also some from Merlin D. Wolcott, 423 Third St., Elyria, Ohio dated 19 July 1962. He moved to Canton, Ohio in 1967 – no address for him there. (Might try to locate him)

He decends from Jared B. Keyes, born 1815, E. Bloomfield, Ontario Co. New York died 20 July 1891, in Sandusky, Erie Co., Ohio He was a Mariner and the son of Julius Keyes and Mary Munson. He married 24 of December 1833 in Danbury Twp * Huron Co. Ohio Arvilla (Knapp) Wolcott, widow of William Wolcott born 10 Sept. 1810 Windsor Co., Vermont and died 1 June 1893 in Sandusky, Ohio.

Now he states that Jared Keyes was related to Francis Keyes, and that Newell Keyes of Danbury Twp., was there in 1820, also the Herricks where here in 1812 and also Knapps.

*Danbury Twp. Was originally part of Huron County, but today it is in Ottawa. It is a peninsula which extends out into Lake Erie above Sandusky Bay on the north west corner of Erie County. According to History of Huron and Erie Co., Page 507. Epaphroditus W. Bull of Danbury, Conn in 1803 bought of the original proprietors of he "half million acres" that part of the peninsula situated east of Measow Brook, and including the island in the bay of Sandusky, which was for many years known as Bull’s Island…. Mr. Bull arranged for Mr. Benajah Wolcott, a native of Danbury, Conn. But at the time residing in New York City, to come to the westernwilds and start a colony on his new purchase. Mr. Wolcott and his family, left Conn. In a sleigh on Feb. 13, 1809…..they were the first settlers in Danbury

********

Mr. M.D. Wolcott has a twin sister who lives on a farm on Huron-Avery road. Huron Twp., Erie Co., Ohio in 1964. She married was Mrs. Charles H. Washburn. (Ref: Mrs. Stella Harris letter)

********

Now I have a 1974 telephone directory of Sandusky, Ohio and vicinity and it gives this Charles H. Washburn, 2403 Huron-Avery Rf., Huron, Ohio 44839. You might write to her and see if you can get Merlin D. Wolcott’s address. Would seem like a good place to begin.

As to locating Mrs. Hudson, if you have no other way I think you could write to the Alemeda County Probate Court, Oakland, California 94612 give them her address and see if they have an estate record which would list her next of kin and their addresses. I think it was about 1968-9 that I wrote to her and I know she was in terrible physical shape at that time with her heart ailment. Maybe you know of someone else you can contact to find out about her. Maybe you could find out who has her records and where they went.

Now as to Elizabeth Scribner. Just this past fall in Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve prior to 1850 I found that it listed Mrs. Francis Keyes as Betsey Scribner and gave her last residence as Cincinnati, Ohio. A friend of mine checked the 1850 Census Cincinnate and found this.

1840 Ohio Census Index

John Henry Kies, Cincinnatti p.195

Richard Keyes,           "        p. 145

Thomas Keyes            "       p.  140

Elizabeth Keye             "       p. 257

John F. Keys               "       p. 283                                  

Ohio Census Index

1850 Census of Ohio.

* Betsy Keyes, Ward 7, Hamilton County, page 374

Elizebeth Keys, Ward 8 Hamilton County, page 634

+ John F. Keys, Ward 7, Hamilton County, page 439.

Cincinnatti, Hamilton Co., Ohio Ward 7. Aug. 22, 1850 Page 374

#787-1088 Lewis Mason 24 Huckster, born in Ohio

                   Julia Keyes   30                             Ohio

                   Laura             6                             Missouri

                  *Betsy Keyes 63                            born in Conn.

Now this is the right age for Betsy Porter Scribner. She was bapt. In 1787 her parents being married in 1786. And she was baptized in West Hatland Congretional Church in Hartland, Conn. If Lewis Mason’s wife Julia was 30 years old she would have been born in 1820 the year after Betsy married Francis Keyes. Then they went with the Mormans and apparently it would seem that their daughter Julia married Lewis Mason and they had a daughter Laura born in Missouri – at least it all fits. Mrs. Hudson says (bottom of page 1) at least she intimates that Francis Keyes was dead by then or else she did not know. At least he was not with the Donner Party in 1852. I don’t think I had any date that I can remember on Francis Keyes death in Springfield, Ill. But it would appear that after he died that she came back and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, ½ perhaps with a daughter, Dalia Mason.

+ 1850 Census Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio Ward 7, Sept. 3, 1850 page 439.

#1167-1699

John F. Keys         65          agent born in New Jersey

Elizabeth               50                                New York

Virginia                  20                                Ohio

Samuel Thompson 30          Attorney        b. Ohio

Eveline                  22                                 b. Ohio

Emily H. Ruth        22                                 b. Maryland

Ann Dunavan        26                                 b. Ireland

1850 Census, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio Ward 8, Aug 5, 1850 page 634

Elizabeth Keys, age 57 born in Virginia living with Benjamin and Aura Dawson household.

My Elizabeth or Betsy Keyes is not listed in the 1860 Census Index of Cincinnati so she evidently died between 1850 and 1860.

I have not pursued this any further at the present. Have a letter out to Microgen in Salt Lake City for information on my Thomas Porter and if that pays off will not bother with Betsey Keyes but if I cannot do anything will try and write to Cincinnati for additional material.

Well Nancy I have told you every thing I can think of and have available without going through my foot thick files on Porter and Keyes. Oh yes. I also have a Munson line – they came to New London very early 1817 or earlier.

Nancy one thing on your chart of Francis Keyes and wife Temperance. You have Temperance buried 1819 in Barrett Cemetery, New London, Huron County. This is wrong. According to Fireland’s pioneer June 1879 Temperance was buried just west of the house, near the Clarksfield Highway. There is nothing to mark the spot. In other words she was buried on the land that she and Francis owned in New London Village and she was buried in the orchard set out by Francis Keyes.

In someother material I have ran into old newspapers it says that she was buried in John Kings orchard. Now this without a doubt was the same orchard originally set out by Francis Keyes. As John King came about 1836 to New London and owned most of the land on the east side of North Main Street – in the early days called Clarksfield road as it ran to the village of Clarksfield about 10 miles away. To the north. This King land encompasses the land owned by Francis Keyes plus other land. Around it.

Well Nancy I have got to quite and get back to bed. Getting so sleepy I cannot seewhat I am writing.

If you can come up with any other information on Francis and Betsey I surely would appreciate it. Hopefully someday my be able to wind up my Porter line.

As ever,

 

Mrs Kenneth E. Griffin, R. D. #2, Box 41, New London, Ohio 44851

CORRECTION ON ABOVE: Firelands Pioneer, Mr. Keyes, wife and four children came from Vermillion, O. (Formerly of Mass.) Came in Nov. 1818 settled on Lot #6, Sec. 4 and erected the fourth log cabin just off the southwest corner of John King’s orchard. In May, Mrs Keyes died of consumption and was buried just west of the house near Clarksfield highway, and was the first adult death.

In 1860 Census of Cincinnati was this listed.

L. V. Mason, Ward 15, Hamilton County, page 400.

L. V. Mason, Ravenna, Portage Co., Ohio page 281

Larry Templeton who sent me these Census records from Cincinnati. Says he does not think 1860 census is complete. If you ever go to Salt Lake again and if the film is available