Chester County/McKeesport McKeevers

At current, one 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. I have yet to find either of these in the Pennsylvania Censuses for 1810, 1820 or 1830. Next instinct is to try Maryland and Delaware enumeration sheets for the same, but these are not available at Pattee Library at the Penn State University. On the other hand, Cousin Tom Fry has informed me of having found no references in the Maryland and Delaware records of any Samuel McKeever.

The other leading theory is based upon the full name of Samuel's son, John Andrew Duncan McKeever, seen in Samuel's 1879 obituary in Chester Co. It is thought that this might refer to 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.

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

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. They had issue:

  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.

Short descendant chart for Samuel McKeever

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:

Franklin M. Jackson, b. 28 Nov 1882, d. 28 Nov 1882

They resided in Wooddale, New Castle County, Delaware in 1890, per letters from A.E. Jackson to cousin G.A. Chandler, 1890.

 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. On 30 November 1865, he married Elizabeth A. Williamson, daughter of Robert and Mary A. Williamson (born 27 Sep 1844). He was a private in Co. H, 97th Pennsylvania Infantry from 1861-1863.
They had issue:

i. Eva (b. 5 Aug 1866, d. 28 Aug 1866)
ii. Harvey W (b. 30 Nov 1867 in Pennsbury Township, Chester Co.)

iii. Amy E. (b. 27 Mar 1870 in Delaware)
iv. Anna (b. 6 Aug 1871 in Chester Co.)
v. Laura (b. 19 Aug 1872, d. 9 Nov 1872)
vi. John Andrew Duncan (b. 23 Dec 1873 in Pennsbury, Chester Co., d. 7 Oct 1881 in Wilmington, Del)
vii. Carrie (b. 8 Apr 1875, d. 26 Jun 1875)
viii. Viola (b. 14 Dec 1876, d. 5 Sep 1877)
ix. Pamelia J. (b. 30 Nov 1878 in Lower Oxford Township, Chester Co.)
x. Chester D. (b. 29 Nov 1883, d. 22 Jul 1884)

Marriage Notice 12-5-1865

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.

 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:

i. Ida Estella (b. 29 Apr 1867) m. 12 Apr 1888 Samuel A. Nieweg, b. 26 Oct 1863.

ii. Franklin Elmer (b. 26 Dec 1868)
iii. Mary Elizabeth (b. 17 Jun 1871)
iv. Luella (b. 27 Jul 1873)
v. Eva May (b. 2 Sep 1875)
vi. Colgan H. (b. 30 Aug 1882, d. 29 Jan 1887), buried New London Friends' Burying Ground

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 in 13 February, 1913. They had issue:

I. Caleb Way (b 18 Mar 1878
II. Bertha Souder (b 2 Jun 1880)
III. Edward Samuel (b. 16 Mar 1882, d. 5 Nov 1893)
IV. Harold Irvin (b. Jul 1896)
V. Everett Wiley (b. 7 Dec 1888, d. 8 Dec 1889)
VI. Herman Alvin (b 19 Jul 1899, d 6 Feb 1901)

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.

His wife was living when he died.

Rev. Caleb Way McKeever 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 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. They had issue:

I. Lawson Edward, Jr., b. 19 Oct 1905, d. 17 Sep 1965. m. Singe Johnson on 25 Aug 1935
II. Anna Josephine, b. 3 Apr 1911, d. 4 Nov 1935. m. Albert Harold Heinrich. Had one child:

Harold Irvin McKeever 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. They had issue:

I. Harold Irvin, Jr, born 25 Sept 1922 +
II. Larelda Marjory, 4 Feb 1924-24 Feb 1988, m. George Finney. +
III. Louise Laird, born 19 Feb, 1927; m. Walter Thomas Fry +

Census Sources:

Samuel:
1840 London Grove Township, Chester, Co, 265, -- 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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Last modified: 6 February 2000.