Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

KEEHN,
DANIEL B.

p. 999

Surnames: KEEHN, BECHTEL, BIEDEMAN, BOYER, CHRISTIAN, DAUTRICH, DE
TURK, FISHER, GOODHART, HOFFMASTER, KLINE, NEWKIRK, REIFF, RUTH,
SHAFFNER, SIDEL

Daniel B. Keehn, an old and respected resident of Mt. Penn, has
passed his entire life in that section of Berks county. He was born
March 1, 1841, in Lower Alsace township, son of Charles and Maria
(Biedman) Keehn, and received his education in the public schools,
though his advantages were limited, for he commenced work at his
trade when only eleven years old. In his boyhood he was reared to
agricultural pursuits, but when he began to learn his trade he
entered the St. Lawrence Woolen Mills, where he acquired first a
knowledge of weaving and later of spinning. He was employed there
for ten years, and later was engaged as a spinner at the Stony
Creek Mills, where he remained eight years. For several years he
was in the carding-room of the hat factory in Reading, and he was
also similarly employed at other points. Since 1897, however, he
has not worked at his trade. In that year he became helper to the
sexton of the Aulenbach cemetery, and for the past four years he
has been employed at Carsonia park. He has been justly esteemed for
his sterling qualities as an industrious and thrifty man, and he
has an honorable standing among his fellow citizens. Mr. Keehn is a
member of St. Andrew’s Reformed Church, and in political sentiment
he is a Democrat. On Oct. 23, 1862, he was drafted for service in
the Union army, and served nine months as a private in Company I,
179thPennsylvania Militia, being mustered out at Harrisburg July
27, 1863.

On May 28, 1864, Mr. Keehn married Louisa N.
Goodhart, who died in September, 1907, aged sixty-four years, seven
months, twenty-seven days. The direct cause of her death was
pleurisy, though she had been ailing for two years, and was
confined to her bed for some time. Like her husband she was an
esteemed member of St. Andrew’s Reformed Church. To Mr. and Mrs.
Keehn were born five children, namely: Evan Devilla is mentioned
below; Charles William m. Annie Fisher, and died when twenty-eight
years old; Martin Elmer, a molder of Reading, m. Sallie Sidel;
Daniel Edwin, a conductor on a trolley line in Reading, m. Irene
Reiff; Nora Octavia is living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Keehn also had
an adopted daughter, Mabel G., who survives.

Evan Devilla Keehn, son of Daniel B., was born
April 17, 1865. He learned the molder’s trade and worked at it
sixteen years. In April, 1896, he bought a milk route in Reading,
which he is now operating. In 1885 he married Hannah E. Dautrich,
daughter of Franklin and Susan (Hoffmaster) Dautrich, and
granddaughter of Samuel Dautrich. They have three children,
Clarence I., Edna L., and Helen I., and they reside in their own
home at No. 513 South Fourth street, Reading.

Frederick Goodhart, grandfather of Mrs. Louisa
N. (Goodhart) Keehn, was a substantial farmer in Exeter township,
owning the original homestead. He married Mary Gertrude Shaffner,
and they had a large family, namely: Frederick, Jacob, John,
Daniel, Benjamin, Martin, William, Mary (who died unmarried),
Hattie (wife of Jacob De Turk), and Catharine (who married John
Bechtel). The parents were members of the reformed Church.

William Goodhart, son of Frederick, was Mrs.
Keehn’s father. He purchased the parental homestead, which
comprised 172 acres, and which his father had improved with a large
stone house and barn, William erecting two houses on the property.
He followed farming most of his life, which covered the allotted
threescore and ten years, his birth having occurred in January,
1796, and his death Aug. 29, 1866. He married Elizabeth Newkirk,
and ten children were born to them, as follows: John N., deceased,
married Sophia Kline; Reuben died when sixteen years old; Mary Ann,
deceased, m. John Christian; Henrietta, unmarried, is of Reading;
Amelia Ellen died when twenty-two years old; Lovina died in
childhood; Catharine is the widow of Isaac Boyer, of St. Lawrence;
Louisa N. was Mrs. Keehn; Elizabeth is the widow of Josiah Ruth, of
Reading; and William F. m. Ellen Ruth.

KEEHN, PETER
B.

p. 732

Surnames: KEEHN, ALLENBAUGH, BIEDEMAN, BRAHM, DIFFENBAUGH, FAUST,
HAFER, HARTRANFT, HAWKINS, HELFRICH, JONES, KEMP, MARKS, ROMICH,
SCHEALER, SCHULL, SHUPE, WESNER

Peter B. Keehn, for fifty-two years a resident of Mt. Penn, but now
living retired at No. 314 Seventeenth and one-half street, Reading,
comes of an old family of this part of Berks county. He was born
Sept.29, 1838, in Exeter township, near Schwartzwald Church, from
which neighborhood his parents, Charles and Maria (Biedeman) Keehn,
moved into Lower Alsace township soon after his birth.

Jacob Keehn, grandfather of Peter B. Keehn, was
a resident of Exeter township and a farmer by occupation. He died
in middle life, but his wife, whose maiden name was Brahm, attained
a good old age.

Charles Keehn was born in Exeter township in the
year 1810, and died in 1868. Like his father he followed farming,
and he was a substantial citizen, a worthy member of the Reformed
Church, and a Democrat in political faith. He married Maria
Biedeman, a native of Amity township, this county, daughter of John
and Margaret (Hartranft) Biedeman, and nine children were born to
this union, namely: Matilda, widow of Henry Allenbaugh; Orlando, an
engineer, of Reading; Peter B.; Daniel B., a laboring man, of Mt.
Penn; John, a hatter, of Mt. Penn; Almaretta, deceased wife of
Peter Helfrich; Elizabeth, widow of Levi Marks, of Reading;
Charles, a conductor, of Reading; and Margaret, deceased.

Peter B. Keehn grew to manhood in Alsace
township, and there he received his education in the public
schools. While still a little boy he entered the Brumbach’s woolen
mills, at St. Lawrence, in which he worked up to the position of
weaver and spinner. He continued in that work until 1897, in May of
which year his right side became paralyzed and he was incapacitated
for active work from that time. Since that time he has lived
retired, making his home at the corner of Perkiomen avenue and
Twenty- third street, Mt. Penn, where he built in 1885, until
March, 1909, when he sold his home, and purchased his present
residence in Reading. During his active years Mr. Keehn was much
interested in local public affairs, and he gave excellent service
as school director in Lower Alsace, which office he held for six
years, and as borough inspector. He is a Democrat in political
affiliation.

On June 4, 1861, Mr. Keehn enlisted in Company
D, 3d Pa. V. C., being one of the first three-years men, and
entered the United States service at Camp McCall, D. C., July 28,
1861, serving until June, 1864. He took part in the following
important engagements: Mechanicsville, Gaines’ Mills, Charles City
Cross Roads, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, and
Fredericksburg. He was promoted to corporal. By virtue of his army
service Mr. Keehn is an honored member of the G. A. R., belonging
to McLean Post, No. 16, of Reading.

On Sept. 17, 1864, Mr. Keehn married at Reading,
Miss Martha Wesner, who was born March 6, 1845, daughter of James
and Maria (Kemp) Wesner. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
Keehn, viz.: Carrie Dora, wife of Franklin Hafer, of Madison
avenue, Reading; Katie Octavia, deceased; Harvey Peter, a weaver at
the woolen mill, who married Catharine Faust and resides at Mt.
Penn; and Jennie Estella, who is at home.

James Wesner, father of Mrs. Keehn, was a
charcoal burner by occupation. He died in Reading about 1877, at
the age of seventy-four years, and his wife died in 1885, reaching
the age of seventy-eight years. She was a member of the Catholic
Church. Mr. and Mrs. Wesner had a family of ten children, namely:
Matilda, deceased, was the wife of Samuel Hawkins; Henry, who died
in Illinois, married Fannie Diffenbaugh; Barbara Ann married James
Schull, and both are deceased; Harriet, deceased, was the wife of
George Jones; Lucinda, deceased, was the wife of Ezra Romich;
Nathaniel died in infancy; James lives in Varna, Ill.; Ephraim, who
married Clara Shupe, lives in Maquoketa, Iowa; Martha is the wife
of Peter B. Keehn; Adaline, deceased, was the wife of Samuel
Schealer, of Reading.

KEELER,
HENRY E.

p. 1512

Surnames: KEELER, HEIST, RAMBLES, ALBRIGHT, BOAS

Henry E. Keeler, of Reading, was born in Montgomery county, Pa.,
Nov. 24, 1859, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Heist) Keeler. During
his earlier years he was a student in the county schools and then
went to Trappe Seminary, which was conducted at that time by Prof.
Rambles. When he was ready to choose a trade, he decided upon that
of painting and paper hanging, but after working in that line for
several years, he abandoned it, and for a time was clerk in a shoe
store at Royersford.

Mr. Keeler’s connection with Reading began when
he established himself at No. 624 Laurel street, opening a
restaurant there which he conducted successfully for a period of
seven years. This property is still in his possession but since
July, 1904, he has rented it and devotes his own time to managing
the South Market Restaurant for George Albright. As a caterer Mr.
Keeler has few equals in Reading, is thoroughly up-to-date and
conducts a first class restaurant.

Mr. Keeler’s wife was Miss Ida Boas; she is a
daughter of Henry Boas, a resident of Reading. Their only child is
a daughter, Edith, a graduate from the Girls’ high school of
Reading, who is now making teaching her profession.

On political issues Mr. Keeler has always been a
faithful supporter of the Democratic party, and has been quite
active in it ranks, serving three terms as ward assessor. In the
spring of 1906 he was appointed school controller for the Second
ward, to fill an unexpired term, and is well qualified for such a
position, as educational questions have always received his close
attention and interest. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of
the Golden Eagle.

KEEN,
GEORGE IRA.

p. 670

Surnames: KEEN, LANDIS, KITZMILLER, LEH

George Ira Keen, M. D., one of Reading’s successful young
practitioners of medicine, was born at Reading, in 1870, son of
Samuel H. and Mary D. (Landis) Keen.

The Keen family has been known in Reading for
several generations and has held the respect of the community.
Samuel Keen, the grandfather, died in this city, and here Samuel H.
Keen, his son, was born and has resided here all his life. In young
manhood he was absent for a short time, operating an engine in
Georgia, but for the past forty years he has been with the Reading
Railway Company, one of that corporation’s most valued employes. He
married Mary D. Landis, a member of a large and honored family of
Lancaster county. They reside at No. 1213 Chestnut street, which
has been the family home for the past thirty-five years. Their
children are: George Ira, of this sketch; James 0., a machinist at
Reading; Newton Edgar, a printer, who resides in Philadelphia; and
Mrs. K William M. Kitzmiller, of Germantown. Philadelphia.

Dr. Keen was educated at Reading arid after
passing creditably through the high school, he attended Palmer’s
Business College, at Philadelphia, and then entered Hahnemann
Medical College at Philadelphia, in 1889, where he was graduated
with the class of 1892. He entered upon the practice of his
profession in his native city, and has met with excellent success.
He has established his office in his handsome, newly erected home
at No. 941 Franklin street.

Dr. Keen married Elizabeth May Leh, daughter of
Frank Leh, of Reading, and they had twin daughters, Helen and
Ethel, the latter of whom is deceased. Miss Helen is a student at
Reading. Politically Dr. Keen is a Republican. He is a member of
the State Medical Association and of the State Homeopathical
Association and is president of the Pathological Society of
Reading.

KEEN, MORRIS
R.

p 1215

Surnames: KEEN, REESER, YOUNG, BROSSMAN, FISHER, HARVEY, LAMBERT,
DAVIS, YOUNG, RICHARDS, LESHER

Morris R. Keen, who for some years has been carrying on contracting
and building operations in the city of Reading, was born Jan. 21,
1853, in Brownsville, Berks county, son of Charles and Henrietta
(Reeser) Keen.

Jacob Keen, grandfather of Morris R., was born
Feb. 7, 1781 and died Feb. 8, 1829. His wife, Sarah, born Nov. 4,
1780, survived him until Dec. 15, 1842. They were lifelong
residents of Reading and members of the Lutheran Church. Their
children were: Charles, William, Mrs. Sophia Eyrich, Eliza (m.
Anderson Harvey), and Susan (m. James Lambert).

Charles Keen, father of Morris R., was born Dec.
28,1816 in Reading, and died June 4, 1864, in Brownsville. He was a
tailor by trade, a profession which he followed in Reading,
Fritztown and Brownsville, and was a good citizen and highly
respected man. He married Henrietta Reeser, who died June 16, 1897,
aged eighty-one years, and to them there were born the following
children: Reuben m. Rebecca Davis, and had two children, Rev.
Edward (of Waynesboro) and Flora; Charles m. Nora Young, and had
five children, Claude, Mamie. Nellie, Paul and Earl; Morris R.;
Miss Rosie E. is in Philadelphia; Catherine m. Jacob Young,
deceased, and had five children. Mr. Keen was a Democrat in
politics, and was well versed in local matters, wielding some
influence in his district, although never an office seeker. The
family were connected with the Reformed Church.

Morris R. Keen was educated in the schools of
Brownsville and in 1864 came to Reading and attended the grammar
schools and Prof. D. B. Brunner’s Commercial College, after which
he taught school for two terms in Cumru township. He then learned
the carpenter’s trade, at which he worked for one year, after which
he entered Jones and Clauser’s hardware store, remaining two years.
In company with Reuben Keen he engaged in a general mercantile
business at Third and Washington streets, where he continued for
five years, after which he purchased a farm in Penn township, which
was his home for nine years. Mr. Keen then returned to Reading, and
in 1887 engaged in contracting with Adam Brossman, under the name
firm name of Brossman & Keen, but after one year each branched
out in business for himself. Mr. Keen is now associated with Mr. H.
G. Fisher, and they do a large business, having built many,
structures in the northwestern part of the city, including houses
on Pear, between Washington and Walnut streets, on Elm between
Schuylkill avenue and Front street, and two blocks of houses,
twenty-six in all, on Buttonwood street.

On Feb. 6. 1879, Mr. Keen married (first) Susan
A. Richards. On Dec. 6, 1902, he m. (second) Catherine Lesher, by
whom he has had two children: John L., who died aged about ten
months; and Josephine E. He is a member of Epler’s Reformed Church.
Mr. Keen was one of the organizers of the Schuylkill Fire Company,
of which he was the first treasurer and did much towards the
maintenance of this organization.

KEEPORT, AMOS EMERY

p.
1324

Surnames: KEEPORT, McILVAIN, MASSING, HICKEY, AARON, BETZ, LANDIS,
SCHAEFFER, REMPPIS

Amos Emery Keeport, one the representative business men of Reading,
Pa., in the line of jewelry and clock and watch manufacturing, sale
and repairing is Amos Emery Keeport, a valued and esteemed citizen.
Mr. Keeport was born at Littlestown, Adams Co., Pa., Sept. 6, 1853,
a son of Amos Lefever and Lavenia Emily (McIlvain) Keeport.

Daniel Keeport, the grandfather of Amos E., was
an iron master and at the time of his death was the principal owner
of the York Furnace. His son Amos, father of Amos E., was a civil
engineer, a chemist and mineralogist. He now lives retired at
Littlestown, where he is much honored. For many years he was a
teacher and became distinguished in the scientific world on account
of his valuable discoveries. He was the first to maintain that
platinum existed in its salts as well as its native form, and he
was awarded a bronze medal and diploma for this and was elected a
member of the Paris Academy of Science.

The mother of Amos, Emery, Lavenia Emily
(McIlvain) Keeport, was a daughter of Capt. William McIlvain, who
served in the 14th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, during the
war of 1812-14. Mr. Keeport’s maternal grandmother was a daughter
of Dr. Massing, who was physician to the royal family of Germany.
There were five children born to Amos L. Keeport and wife, as
follows: Gustavus, who died aged seven years; John, who died aged
four years; Clara Wilhemina, wife of Dr. John W. Hickey, a dental
surgeon at Littlestown, Adams county; Mark Aaron, a jeweler at
Reading, married Elizabeth Betz, daughter of Jacob Betz, of
Lancaster; and Amos Emery, of Reading.

Until he was twelve years old Mr. Keeport
attended the schools of his native city and then began to learn the
business of jeweler and watchmaker. When seventeen, he went to
Logansport, Indiana, where he took charge of a jewelry store and
operated it for a nine months and then returned to Littlestown in
order to assist his father. He later visited various portions of
the West, working at his trade, and then located for six years at
Lancaster, where he engaged in a watch and jewelry business.

In 1883 Mr. Keeport came to Reading, becoming an
employee of a local firm with which he worked for six years and
then opened up a store of his own at No. 833 Penn street. At the
end of two years he moved to No. 635 Penn street and afterwards to
No. 230 Penn street. He spent several years in the Elgin Watch
Factory and also had training in the Hamilton Watch Factory, the
former in Illinois, and the latter at Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

On May 10, 1876, Mr. Keeport was married to
Addie Clemmens Landis, daughter of Levi K. Landis, owner of a
machine shop in Lancaster for many years, where he was looked upon
as a mechanical genius. The Landis family is an old, numerous and
very influential and wealthy family of Lancaster county. Mr. and
Mrs. Keeport have had three children, viz.: Mabel, who died aged
twenty-one years; Clara Clemmens, wife of William G. Schaeffer,
superintendent of the bicycle and machine department of the W. F.
Remppis Company’s iron works; and Helen Landis, a student.

Mr. Keeport is a Royal Arch Mason; a member of
the P. O. S. of A.; the Jr. A. O. U. A. M.; the Knights of the
Golden Eagle; the Foresters; and is collector and district
superintendent of the Grand Fraternity and a representative of the
4th District and chairman of the Governing Council of the Grand
Fraternity as well as one of the directors.

In politics he is a Republican and he was
nominated for common council from the fifteenth ward, Reading, and
for select council from the fifteenth ward. Four years later he was
nominated and was triumphantly elected, owning to personal
popularity, to select council. Usually the fifteenth ward went 150
votes Democratic. Mr. Keeport’s term expired in 1908. He is a
member of Grace Lutheran Church.

In his business Mr. Keeport is looked upon as an
expert. He does all the work for the Schuylkill Division of the
Pennsylvania Railroad and keeps all their clocks in perfect order.

KEHR,
FREDERIC H.

p. 1546

Surnames: KEHR, HOOVER, KEATING, ALTHOUSE, HOTTENSTEIN, EPPLER,
HILL, LUTHENSEN, ADAMS, DUNKEL, RICKENBACH, ROTH

Among the highly esteemed citizens and practical farmers of Berks
county, may be mentioned Frederic H. Kehr, who is engaged in
cultivating the old Kehr homestead in Ontelaunee township. Mr. Kehr
was born Dec. 21, 1851, in OnteIaunee township, son of Samuel and
Mary H. (Hoover) Kehr.

Frederic Kehr, grandfather of Frederic H., was
born near Pottstown, Montgomery Co., Pa., and was there married to
Rebecca Keating, a native of England. They had these children: John
m. Rebecca Althouse, removed to Illinois, and there reared a
family; Frederic m. Catherine Hottenstein, by whom he had two
children, Frederick and Emma, and died in Muhlenberg township;
Samuel; Sallie m. Jacob Eppler and had three children– Samuel,
Frederic and Mary; Mary m. John Hill and had six children–Henry,
James, Samuel, Lizzie, Mary and Emma; and Ellen m. Reuben
Luthensen.

Samuel Kehr, father of Frederic H., was born
Sept. 18, 1817, near Reading, in Bern township, was educated in the
schools of Reading, and early in life engaged in milling. Later he
embarked in agricultural pursuits, carrying on operations on
Frederic H. Kehr’s present farm for many years. He was married to
Mary H. Hoover, daughter of John and Catherine (Hottenstein)
Hoover, and two children were born to this union: Frederic H.; and
Charles C., a prominent attorney of the Berks county Bar, who died
July 20, 1892. He married Laura Hoover, and they had three
children, one of whom has since died, Florence, Mary and Charles,
deceased.

Frederic H. Kehr was two years old when the
family came to his present farm, and here he has always made his
home. He has a finely cultivated piece of property and is known
throughout his community as an enterprising and ambitious farmer
and good citizen. Nov. 22, 1879, he was married to Sarah Adams
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Dunkel) Adams, and two children
have been born to this union: Edmund A., who married Eva
Rickenbach, daughter of Edward and Ellen (Roth) Rickenbach, and has
one child Emily; and Maggie, who is unmarried and at home.

Mr. Kehr is a Democrat in politics, and he has
held various township offices, never aspiring to high public
position. He and his family are members of the Reformed Church.

KEHS, IRWIN
B.

p. 1548

Surnames: KEHS/KASE/CASE, ADAM, BARTHOLOMEW, BORCKY, FICHTER,
KUHNS, RENNINGER, SCHOTT, SHIFFERT, SPRING, STAHLER, STENGEL,
ZIMMERMAN

Irwin B. Kehs, tinsmith of Bechtelsville, was born March 31, 1877,
in Hereford township, Berks county.

Tradition says that three Kehs (Kase or Case)
brothers emigrated to America, one settling in Somerset county
(Leander Case the millionaire being one of his descendants), one in
Northampton county, and the third in Berks county.

Matthias Kehs (Case or Kase) was born in Albany
township, Berks county, about 1776, and it is said that his father
also bore the name of Matthias. He passed many years in Washington
and Hereford townships engaged in farming, and he died at Clayton,
in Washington township, in October, 1861, and was laid to rest at
Bally. In 1802 he married Mary Kuhns, daughter of John Kuhns, of
Washington township, whither Mr. Kehs had a short time before
removed from Albany. The children of this marriage were: Maria, who
died unmarried; Elizabeth; Polly; Charles, whose son James is of
Reading; Margaret; Matthias; David, who died unmarried; and Henry.
Two daughters were married to John and Simon Adam, another wedded
Xavarius Stengel; and a fourth married John Zimmerman.

Matthias Kehs, son of Matthias, was born in
July, 1802, and he died in Hereford township in April, 1866, and
was buried at Bally. He was a carpenter, and also owned a small
tract of land. He came to Hereford from Lehigh Gap. In 1826 he
married at Bally, Rebecca Stahler, who was born in Longswamp
township, April 22, 1805, and died in Hereford township April 30,
1895, daughter of Jonathan Stahler, of New Jerusalem, in Rockland
township, and his wife, Margaretha Spring. The children born to
this marriage were: John, born April 13, 1828, died 1852; William,
born Aug. 23, 1829; Samuel, born April 5, 1831, died 1902; Peter,
born Sept. 11, 1832, died 1904; Daniel, born Feb. 13, 1834, died
1907; Henry, twin to Daniel, died 1898; George, born Sept. 16,
1835; Joseph, born July 10, 1837; Jonas, 1839; Solomon, born 1840,
died 1841; Jeremiah, born 1842; Mary, born 1843; Aaron, born 1845,
died 1850; and Nicholas, born 1847.

George S. Kehs, son of Matthias and Rebecca, was
born in Hereford township, Sept. 16, 1835. He was reared in the
county, and he acquired his education in the old time pay school.
He learned the shoemaker’s trade when he was twenty-one. For a
number of years he worked on the farm, and from 1860 to 1863, he
ran an engine in an ore mine. On Dec. 2, 1863, he enlisted in
Company K, 47th Pa. V. I., for the Civil war, and was discharged at
Charleston, S. C., Sept. 25, 1865. After the war he lived in Lehigh
county a short time, and then returned to Hereford township, where
he lived near Treichlersville, on his own farm, for thirty-six
years. In April, 1904, he and his family came to Bechtelsville,
where they have since made their home with their son, Irwin B. Mr.
Kehs is now living retired. On April 23, 1871, he married Mary
Borcky, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Kuhns) Borcky, and
grandfather of Philip and Kate (Renninger) Kuhns, of Washington
township. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kehs are members of the Most Blessed
Sacrament Roman Catholic Church, at Bally, and have reared their
family in the Catholic faith. They have had two children: Annie R.,
who married George R. Bartholomew, proprietor of the “Union House”
of Bechtelsville; and Irwin B.

Irwin B. Kehs was reared upon his father’s farm,
and until he was sixteen years old he attended the public schools.
He then learned the tinsmith’s trade from J. D. Shiffert, at
Chapel, and worked at this at different places about three years.
At the end of that time he engaged in business for himself (1898)
at Harlem, in Hereford, where he remained two years. In 1900 he
came to Bechtelsville, where he has since made his home. He has a
hardware and tinware store, carries a full line of goods including
stoves, and enjoys a fine local trade. He is very successful, and
his place of business is most conveniently located on the main
street near the “Union House.”

In his political views Mr. Kehs is a Democrat,
and he has been very active in his party’s interests. For two years
he was judge of election, one year inspector, and since 1905 has
been tax collector. He is in the strictest sense of the word a self
made man, and he deserves to the utmost the high estimation in
which he is held.

On Sept. 16, 1899, Mr. Kehs was married to Mary
Fichter, daughter of John and Matilda (Schott) Fichter, of
Washington township. They have had children: Helen, Annie, Viola,
Hulda and Martin, the last named dying in infancy. Mr. and Mrs.
Kehs are members of the Most Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic
Church at Bally.