John Keely was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania February 19, 1810, and was the son of Daniel and Mary Keely. The family moved to Indiana county, and his father died February 7, 1851, at the age of seventy-four, and mother March 25,1846, at the age of sixty-three.

In 1833 John Keely came to this county and purchased the farm in Kiskiminetas township, which he now owns. He carried on a tannery until 1864, but has since that time devoted himself entirely to agricultural pursuits.

Upon March 4, 1841, he married Miss Nancy Watson, daughter of Robert and Sarah Watson, early settlers of the township, She was born October 29, 1821, and died August 18, 1881, leaving five children, the survivors of ten of whom she was the mother. The following are the names of these children, together with dates of birth and deaths: Mary E., born July 4, 1843; William W., December 15, 1845; Sarah J., March 27, 1848; and infant, 1850, who died the same year; Nancy M., August 23, 1852; James H., July 11, 1855; Alice Anna Amanda, May 8, 1857; Flora E., January 25, 1859; John N., January 22, 1861, and Mary M., July 9, 1862. Deaths occurred as follows John N., September 8, 1861; Nancy M., March 23, 1862; James H., April 2, 1862; Mary E., May 13, 1862.

Source: Page(s) 617, History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania by Robert Walker Smith, Esq. Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883.
Transcribed April 2000 by Carl Waltenbaugh for the Armstrong County Smith Project.
Contributed by Carl Waltenbaugh for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)

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