Chester County/McKeesport McKeevers

At current, the leading theory is based upon family lore: that the full name of Samuel's son, John Andrew Duncan McKeever is named after Samuel's father or grandfather, Andrew Duncan MacIver/McIver/McKeever who emigrated in 1774/5. This works to some extent, as there is a William McKeever born in Chester County about 1785, but there is no proven link to Samuel. At best, William could be an uncle.
There also appears an Alexander linked to an Isaac McKeever, but, again, no connections have been made.

A Robert McKeever appears in 1820 in London Grove, a David McKeever in West Marlborough, and an Alexander appears in New Garden

Another theory rests on one Michael McKeever who emigrated in 1802 through Philadephia, there are records of one Michael McKeever being in West Chester in 1805,1806 and 1807. These are fur and Indian traders licenses recorded. This Michael crossed the Atlantic in 1802 with one William McKeever. No record seems to exist for these two in any Census records for either Pa, Del or Md for that time period.

I don't know if I'll ever know, but when, or if, I do, this page'll be sure to have it.

The First Generation: Samuel and Elizabeth (Lockard) McKeever

Samuel McKeever was born in Chester Co., Pa, near the border with Cecil County, Maryland on May 9, 1814. He was an Augermaker by trade. He married Elizabeth Lockard, b. 2 Apr 1814, d. 5 Apr 1879 in Kennett Square, daughter of Robert and Amy Potts (Eaton) Lockard, on March 8, 1838. He lived in London Grove (1840), East Nottingham (1850), and Lower Oxford (1860) townships, Chester Co, PA. He died on June 21, 1879 in Kennett Square. Their children:

  1. Pamelia Ann (b. 2 Jan 1839, d. 26 Dec 1841)
  2. Amy Emma (b. 16 Jun 1840)
  3. John Andrew Duncan (b. 13 Feb 1843), apprentice, 1860, Augermaker, 1870
  4. Pamelia Jane (b. 1 Mar 1846)
  5. Elmer (b. 1 Mar 1846, d. 10 Apr 1850)
  6. Edward Irvin (b. 1 Jul 1850), Minister
  7. Franklin Garrett (b. 2 Dec 1852), Minister
  8. Samuel Chandler (b. 27 Jul 1855). (Unmarried 1890)

Letters from the five married siblings to their cousin, G.A. Chandler in 1890 confirm above dates. Samuel's 1879 Obituary and associated clippings spell the name four different ways for the same event: McKeever, McKeiver, MacKeever, MacKeiver. Elizabeth's funeral was on 9 Apr 1879 at Samuel's home in Kennett Square, Pa. See copy of Obit from the Oxford Press, 25 Jun 1879.

Oxford Press Obit also makes reference to service to defend the country against the rebellion in fighting at Conowingo. I have yet to confirm this with a service record.

Short descendant chart for Samuel McKeever

Household in 1840 had 7 members: 1 male 15-19, 2 male 20-29, 1 male 40-49, 1 female under 5, 1 female 10-14, and one female 20-29. Samuel and Elizabeth take 1 each 20-29, being age 26. Their daughter, Pamelia Ann, takes the under 5 female. This leaves two boys and a girl, plus an older man, probably siblings and father of either Samuel or Elizabeth.

This may be a stretch, as Elizabeth's father would have been 54, and it doesn't match her known unmarried siblings in 1840. If it is Samuel's father, the earliest he could have been born was 1790, (24 at Samuel's birth) and the latest reasonably would be 1795 (19 at Samuel's birth), though the age range places the older man between 1790 and 1800. London Grove makes sense, because Elizabeth's father is known to be there in 1850; and it is thought that they were married in London Grove. While not conclusive, many of the suppositions are true.

The Second Generation: Samuel & Elizabeth's Children
Amy Emma McKeever was born in West Nottingham, Chester County, Pa, on 16 June 1840. In 1860, she was a school teacher. On 5 Jan 1881, she married Thomas Seal Jackson (b. ~1840) in Woodstown, New Jersey, by the Rev. Edward I. McKeever, her Brother. She died on 10 Mar 1917.

Their child:

They resided in Wooddale, New Castle County, Delaware in 1890, per letters from A.E. Jackson to cousin G.A. Chandler, 1890.
It is not yet known where she was living in 1870 or 1880. She appears with her father in 1850 and 1860.

John Andrew Duncan McKeever was born in West Nottingham Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania in 13 Feb 1843. Like his father, he was an Augermaker by trade. At New London, on 30 November 1865, he married Elizabeth A. Williamson, daughter of Robert and Mary A. Williamson (born 27 Sep 1844). The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Robert P. Dubois.

He was a private in Co. H, 97th Pennsylvania Infantry from 1861-1863.
Their children:

Marriage Notice 12-5-1865 from the Village Record

They lived at 207 Maryland Ave in Wilmington, Del in 1890. Full list of children and birth/death dates from letter from J.A.D. McKeever to his cousin, G.A. Chandler, 26 May 1890. No death dates indicate alive as of 1890 letter.

1880 he resided in Lower Oxford; in 1870 in Pennsbury, in 1860 & 1850, listed with his father.

Pamelia Jane McKeever was born in West Nottingham, Chester County, Pa, on 1 Mar 1846. On 28 December 1865 she married on Morris Williamson (b. 25 Dec 1832, d. 5 Jan 1916). Pamelia died on 12 Jan 1938.

Their Children:

They had a farm in Malvern P.O., Chester Co, Pa, in 1890.
No death dates means still living in 1890 per Letters from P.J. Williamson to her cousin, G.A. Chandler, 1890.

Rev. Edward Irvin McKeever was born in Oxford, Pennsylvania on July 1, 1850. He was a baptist minister, having attended Crozier Theological Seminary. On November 30, 1876 he married Josephine Hobson Way (1856-1930). He died in Brownsville, Fayette Co, PA on 13 February, 1913. Their children:

They resided in Woodstown, NJ, in 1880, Oil City, Pa, in 1890, Wayne, Pa. (Radnor Township, Delaware Co) in 1900.

Rev. Franklin Garrett McKeever was born in Oxford, Pa. on 2 Dec 1852. He attended Brown University, both undergraduate and masters, and received an honorary Doctor of Divinity . On 3 Feb 1885, he married Clara Frances Butts, b. 26 Dec 1862. He died on 1 Dec 1922. A photo appears in his obituary from the Providence, R.I., Journal, 2 Dec 1922.

He attended the Rochester Theological Seminary. He was pastor at Medina, New York, at First Baptist in New London, Connecticut for many years, and the Jefferson Street Baptist Church in Providence, Rhode Island, and later at the Second Church in Newport, Rhode Island. He travelled abroad to England and Scotland in 1897 and 1903.

He was the book reviewer for the New York Examiner for many years.

It is not known when his wife died, but she was alive at his death, according to his Providence Journal Obituary of 2 Dec 1922.

The Third Generation: Samuel & Elizabeth's Grandchildren
Harvey W. McKeever (John A.D.)(Samuel) was born 30 Nov 1867 in Pennsbury Township, Chester Co.
Their child,

His wife is unknown, but it is known that he was the father of the 1892 vintage Harvey, and his father was living in Wilmington at that time.

Ida Estella Williamson (Pamelia J.)(Samuel) was born 29 April 1867. She married 12 Apr 1888 Samuel A. Nieweg, b. 26 Oct 1863. Their child:

Rev. Caleb Way McKeever (Edward I.)(Samuel) was born 18 Mar 1878 in Kennett Square, Pa. m. 21 Sep 1902 Winifred Wellman (21 Jun 1878-Sep 1977) at Pavilion, NY, by his father, Edward Irvin McKeever. He was also a baptist minister. Caleb died 4 Feb 1945 in Pavilion, NY.

Their Child:

    i. Julia, m. a Cline

Julia living at Father's death per obit.

Bertha Souder McKeever (Edward I.)(Samuel) was born 2 June 1880 at Woodstown, NJ. She married Lawson Edward Houck (b. 3 Jan 1881, d. 2 Nov 1939) on 25 Dec 1903 at Duquesne, Pa, ceremony performed by her father, Edward Irvin. Bertha died 14 Apr 1966 at the Castle Shannon Baptist Home. Their children:
Harold Irvin McKeever (Edward I.)(Samuel) was born in Greenwich, NJ on 24 July 1896. He married Larelda May Young, (22 May 1894-30 Mar 1972), in Pittsburgh on 30 Sep 1919. He was Manager of Purchases for the Union Switch & Signal division of Westinghouse Air Brake Co. After retirement, he taught music at Bergstrom's. He died in McKeesport, Pa on 2 February, 1972. Their children:

He was known to have published music with his brother, the Rev. Caleb Way McKeever, as early as 1919.

The Fourth Generation: Samuel & Elizabeth's Great-grandchildren

Anna Josephine Houck (Bertha S.)(Edward I.)(Samuel) was born on 3 April 1911. She married Albert Harold Heinrich. They had one child:

Anna died from complications of childbirth. She died on 4 Nov 1935.

Harold Irvin McKeever, Jr, (Harold)(Edward I.)(Samuel) was born in McKeesport on 25 September 1922. On 1 July 1943 he married Lois Jean Nelson (1924-1982). Their Children:

I. James Irvin
II. Robert Glenn +
III. Gary Wayne
IV. Nancy Lou +
V. Richard Martin
V. Ronald Harold
VII. John Edward. +

Larelda Marjory McKeever, (Harold)(Edward I.)(Samuel) was born in McKeesport on 4 Feb 1924. She married, 6 Oct 1945, George Edward Finney, Jr., son of George Edward and Mary Ellen (Fullerton) Finney of McKeesport.

Their children:

Marge died on 24 Feb 1988. The rest are still living.

Louise Laird McKeever, (Harold)(Edward I.)(Samuel) was born in McKeesport, Pa. She married Walter Thomas Fry.

Their children:

They are still living.
Census Sources:

Samuel:
1840 London Grove Township, Chester, Co, Roll 454, p265, -- Not Indexed!
1850 East Nottingham Township, Chester Co, 029 -- Indexed as McKever
1860 Lower Oxford Township, Chester Co, 430 -- Indexed as McKeeven

John Andrew Duncan:
1870 Pennsbury Township, Chester Co, Roll 1324, page 485, line 21-24
1880 M216 Soundex - Lower Oxford, Chester Co, v 22, e.d. 60 Sheet 15, line 7
Civil War Muster Rolls, Pennsylvania, listed as McKeever, J.A.D., Co H, 97th Pa.

Edward Irvin:
1900 Radnor Township, Delaware Co, Vol 81, E.D. 178, Sheet 4, Line 48

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©1994-2000, Robert G. McKeever, II robmckii@aol.com
Last modified: 9 February 2000.
CCHS #10524