ESTHER

Lillian L. Keller

4029 Towanda Trail

Knoxville, Tennessee 37919

Tuesday July 29, 1969

Dear David,

Your letter of the 25^th came yesterday and I was interested in hearing about your artistic ability.  As far as I know none of the Keller’s were artists, but James Wiley Wallace, my mother’s brother, was quite an artist.  He painted with Mr. Lloyd Branson and perhaps the best known oil painting was a well size picture of the “Battle of King’s Mountain”.  It hung in the old Imperial Hotel until the hotel burned years ago and the Farragut Hotel was built on the same site, Gay Street at Clinch.  This corner is where our great-grandfather, (two greats for you) John H. Crozier, lived about 1792.  His daughter, Mary Ann, was Mrs. Francis F. Keller.  Uncle Jimmy Wallace, the artist, graduated from the University of Tennessee in1876.  He died in 1921 and we had his funeral at our house at 817 North 5^th Avenue.  My two nieces have big oil paintings in gold leaf frames.  Martha’s is a picture of “Louisville, Tennessee 1864”.  Speaking of Louisville, I spent most of the day down there last Friday.  I visited Miss Jennie Harper and her two sisters, who live in an old house, built in 1870.  They showed me an antique marble-topped table, which your Grandmother Keller (Aunt Sallie) gave them when she and Uncle Barton moved away.  One of the Harper sisters, Mrs. McCammon, who lives in Maryville, was named Cleo Esther for your fathers little sister Esther, who died when she was only three or four years old.  They thought maybe her grave was there in the cemetery, but Brother thinks Esther was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, here in Knoxville, close to where Uncle Barton and Aunt Sallie lived.  The Harpers thought Uncle Barton left East Tennessee about 1905.  That would make your father about 17 years old when they left.  The Harpers thought they might have a picture of Esther, which they would try to find.

If we find anything real interesting while Carl and Ann are here I will write you.  I found that Carl’s grandfather (Uncle Tom) lived near Louisville, across from Old Holston College, where a lot of our ancestors went to school.

If you are interested in gardening, I wish you could see my Imperial Lilies and the Surprise Pink Lilies, that are now blooming.  I have over a hundred stalks coming up.  Good wishes.

Sincerely, Lillian

4029 Towanda Trail

Knoxville, Tennessee 37919

Sunday May 23, 1971

Dear Cousin Louise,

Here’s hoping you are feeling better these nice days.  We haven’t had any hot weather in fact today I turned on the furnace for a while.  Only once have we been able to eat on the porch.

David Keller is writing to Maryland, Nashville, Knoxville and all around for information about our grandfather David who married Mary Fairfax Moore.  Yesterday I sent him two letters written by Mary Fairfax just a week before they were married.  She said she was leaving “the bleak shore of maidenhood to embark on the sea of matrimony”.  The letters were written from “Landsdown” which must have been some place close to Maryville.  I don’t know why she, her mother and her sister would be living in Tennessee instead of Virginia.  Evidently Grandfather lived at “Lansdown” after they were married.  David wants me to go to our courthouse and look up some deeds of property sold here in Knoxville about 1813.  David painted an 8” X 10” picture of 1788 David and asked me to send it to Elizabeth Lasseter.  She was delighted with it and wrote a nice letter to David about it.  She hasn’t been very cooperative about helping with the family tree but David thinks now he has won her over, and that she will help.  Elizabeth isn’t well and she says that she is almost blind.  She has been a trifle peeved because Carl Ratliff put her mother, Cousin Lelia on the wrong limb.  He has her as Grandfather Keller’s sister instead of his niece.  Both Carl Ratliff’s mother Ethel Keller and his father are in a nursing home near Washington.

Sallie Hill who was home editor or the Progressive Farmer visited me during the Dogwood Festival.  I have never seen Knoxville as pretty as it was during the Festival.  Sallie Hill lives in Dallas, Texas now.  I hadn’t seen her for about ten years so we had a lot of catching up to do.

I can’t realize that Jack and Laurie are grown up.  John surely has accomplished a lot in his work.  I just hope he doesn’t go too hard and wear himself out.  He is good to write to me at Christmas time.

A week or two ago we had our final meeting of the Pen Women until we start again in October.  I was Feature Chairman and we had twenty entries in our Feature Contest, the most we have ever had.  I have almost stopped doing any writing.   I did have a review of Jane Merchants new book in our national magazine “The Pen Woman.”  I hope you know some of Jane’s poems.  She hasn’t been out of bed for forty years, is essentially deaf and rarely speaks.  When I go to see her I have to write everything on her “magic slate”.  Abingdon Press has published ten books of poetry for her.  She has had over 2,000 poems published in current magazines.

Martha’s eighteen year old daughter is in school at Florida Presbyterian College in Birmingham this fall.  I would like for both of them to be Chi Omegas but with the quota system they may not get a bid.  Somehow sorrorities don’t seem so important now since there are so many college activities in this present mixed-up  campus life.  Marty is transferring to U.T. and has a job at U.T. Hospital this summer.  She is interested in physical therapy.

I hope to keep our house instead of going into an apartment but no telling what the future holds for me.  Practically all our neighbors on Towanda Trail have sold their homes and are living in apartments or have moved in Shannondale, the Presbyterian home for retired people.  I have a good Negro woman who comes twice a week and a yard man who I have to go after and take him home.  Lizzie Mae has worked for us over thirty years and she likes to have company and will do anything I ask her to do.  She is the daughter-in-law of our good Gladys who worked for us for thirty-five years before she died.  I am fortunate because I have been well and my three nieces and their families are all close by.

Give my best wishes to all your family.  Take care of yourself and don’t try to so all you used to do!

Lovingly, Lillian K.

November 18, 1961

Dear Mrs. Keller,

I greatly appreciate you sending me the data furnished you by the Media Research Bureau, which I have made a copy of and placed in my files for future reference, and returning to you attached hereto your copy.  You might want to refer to it for some reason, or some of your relatives might want it later on.

You mentioned about a coat of arms with three acorns on it.  I have one among my 63 authentic Keller coats of arms, meeting that description.  Recently I purchased an adapter for one of my cameras, which I hope, will enable me to take pictures of the pictures I have.  If it works out I will shortly send you the picture and if it is the one you have in mind I will give you the history and other details.

Yes, you are correct the Keller’s do live to a ripe old age.  I had one who lived to three months of 100 and most all lived into their 80’s and 90’s.  Apparently your branch and mine join in Switzerland, but I recently came into some information which might show the connection closer, that is your Casper and my Gorg, Jurg or George (my immigrant) as brothers.  I have what I believe is the complete lineage and history of Casper’s descendants which I will copy for you soon as I have time,  I am leaving today for four weeks on the road collecting data on the Keller’s.

I certainly hate to hear of your eyes being bad and your general health condition.  Just keep trying and no doubt you will find a doctor who can correct your trouble that has been my experience on ailments I have had in the past.  Today I am thankful to the Good Lord I am in perfect health, so far as I know and enjoying life very much at age 62.

I will now close and you will hear from me again within the next two months with data on your branch of the Keller’s.  I have over thirty three thousand names in my files which cover the earth.

Cordially yours,

H.L. Keller

Lillian L. Keller

4029 Towanda Trail

Knoxville, Tennessee 37919

September 2, 1972

Dear David,

How goes it with you these days?  About two weeks ago Carl and Ann brought Mark’s wife and her year old daughter to see me.  Mark is working for the Southern Railway and is living here in Knoxville.  My present “project” is having a marker made for our great-great grandfather’s grave on “Big Meadows Farm” where Mother was born.  He brought our old grandfather’s clock from Ulster in Northern Ireland back in 1791.  In the deed when the farm was sold it said that the grave of John H. McNeill (1745-1833) could never be moved.  The man, who owns the part of the farm where the grave is, wants me to get a marker put up because the old tomb stone is about gone after 139 years.  I have the old deeds and even the land grant of the farm before Tennessee was a state.  According to the Court House Records he owned over 2,000 acres in land and lived in a house next door to Blount mansion, which he sold in 1800.

Here’s hoping you had a good summer.   Lillian

December 29, 1973

Dear David,

Yesterday afternoon when I came home about four-thirty I found your airmail special delivery letter with a notice saying they had tried to deliver it earlier.  I did appreciate it but I am sorry I acted the way I did and wrote to you and Carl about not writing me about “Lest We Forget.”  I guess by the time you have received the Christmas card, which was returned because I sent it to Florida Street, instead of Georgia Street.

Clara K’s daughter and her husband came last night from Winston, Salem for New Year’s.  We plan to all get together for supper tomorrow night down at Martha Marley’s.  She lives about ten miles down Kingston Pike from us in Suburban Hills.  With Clara K’s two grandchildren we will have a four generation celebration.

It seems to me that Carl is more interested right now in working on the Ratliff and Donelson families that he is on the Keller family.  I think Ann, (Carl’s wife) wants him to work on her Donelson connection.  I am not going to worry too much about Carl and Ann.  I think Carl feels he has done enough on the Keller family tree and isn’t interested in doing any more.  From Cousin Louise Keller’s Christmas letter, Frances is working on her father’s branch – Cousin Owen Keller.

Have a good New Year.

Sincerely,

Lillian

February 1, 1962

Dear Mrs. Keller,  (Louise Keller)

Just a few lines to answer your last letter.  It is perfectly alright for you to give my name to those interested in the Keller history.  I am glad to answer any questions, the only thing that I hate is the fact that I am still working for the railroad and only have a limited time to devote to this work which I enjoy so much.  That is why I am slow in answering your letters.

As fast as I can I am putting the data I have collected during the past twenty years, while I was General Chairman of the ORT, plus being a member of the Board of Directors.  This took me all over the USA and Canada.  What I did during this 20 year period was go into every court house where I had an hour or more and searched for data with the Keller name.  Most court houses had nothing but others gave me some wonderful information.  During that time I had no time while at home to work on our genealogy.  Now I have to get this information put in its proper place and I have so much until it is quite a job.

I have data on three Casper’s, during the same period of time in the same area which is Maryland, Southern Pennsylvania, and on the border of Northern Virginia.  I am trying to get them put in their proper places, as to their descendants and think I have the necessary information just as soon as I get the above mentioned data properly filed.  I can then make comparisons.  I am the one who wants to be positive and also have the proof before I put the information out.

Years ago I had some wonderful letters from a fine old lady, Mrs. Ella Tompkins Newsum, of Tuscumbia, Alabama.  She also gave me the Helen Keller family genealogy for the last three generations and some family pictures that would have been nice to place in my history when it is published.  One of her nieces got after her, (I believe it was Mrs. Booth) for sending me the family group pictures.  She wanted them back so I returned them.

Some of Helen’s branch told me very plainly they were not related to my branch or any other branch in America, so refused to send me any data.  Family relation is something no one can be sure of until they have gone into the matter in detail which I am sure they had not.  I was not trying to stir up relationship, what I want to do is print a complete history of the Keller’s, covering all branches from the time the name started.  We all did link up at one time and descend from one ancestor.  Even though these people did not know it.  I do not have to try to connect myself with anyone.  I am not a poor man even if I do work for the railroad.  I am not unknown because the A.N. Marquis Company of Chicago, for the last 20 years have seen fit to show me in their International Who’ Who in Commerce and Industry and well as in other titles here in the States.  Until recently I was a Board of Directors Member on a railroad, etc., but that’s what one faces in this work.

Just as soon as I make certain of these Casper Keller’s, I will inform you.  The two of them served in the Revolutionary War and I am pretty sure the one you and Helen descend from was one of those.

As to the Keller coat of arms, I can send you up to 63, but whether you are a lineal descendant from them I cannot say right now.  I hope to be able to furnish you this information in the not too distant future.

I am using the stamped envelope that you sent me about a year ago which was not used.  Please don’t go to the trouble to send me stamped envelopes.  I am glad to answer all correspondence and I might be calling on you for additional information so we will be even.  I greatly appreciate the letter you sent me from the Countess in Italy.  I did not know any of the Keller’s went into that land from Switzerland, but since they join that would be easy to do.  I notice the spelling is changed, which is true in other countries, for instance in France it is Keler and in Ireland O’Keller, England is Kellar and one or two branches in this country use Kellar on account the English clerks in the court houses when registering deeds, etc, did not understand or know how to spell the name properly so they spelled it the way it sounded to them in English.

Again, many thanks and you will be hearing from me as soon as I can with the proper information.

Cordially yours,

H.L. Keller

P.S.  This Keller you gave my name and address to descending from and Abraham Keller, I noticed yesterday I have collected some very important information on some Abraham Keller’s in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, which will help me put them in their proper places.  I had data on them as to what they were and did, but unable to connect them with the immigrant they descended from, but now I can.  If I can place the one Mr. Keller descends from, then I can take him on back to the immigrant or maybe further.   Harry -

August 17, 1942

Dear Mr. Keller,  (Harry Keller)

I hope you don’t think that I have forgotten you and that I don’t appreciate the information you gave me about the Keller’s.  I haven’t been well and we decided to sell our little farm and move back to town.  We spent a lot of time trying to find what we wanted and finally had to rent a place for a few months.  We have finally gotten settled though, and are now at 158 Woodland Avenue.

I wrote to Miss Lasseter, but she didn’t answer my letter.  Then I had Mrs. Jones to write to Mary Moore, a cousin, and Mary Moore wrote to Miss Lasseter, as she often does, but Miss Lasseter wrote Mary Moore that she didn’t know anything about the family back of her grandfather.  I asked Mrs. Jones why Miss Lasseter didn’t look in the Bible, and Mrs. Jones said Miss Lasseter probably didn’t want to take the trouble.  That was very queer.  So I am afraid we are up against it there.

Mrs. Jones told me that Reverend Henry E. Spears, 211 South Broad Street, Elizabeth New Jersey (an Episcopal Clergyman) and a cousin of Owen’s through the Cooke’s, knew a good deal about the Spears family, and I will write him and see if he can tell me anything about Elizabeth Keller.

Mrs. Jones was at our house one day last week, with another cousin, Mrs. Maud Hunter.  Maud said that Mrs. J. M. Baley, who was Sue Spears, had a portrait of an Elizabeth Keller.  Mrs. Baley said she hadn’t any idea who this Elizabeth was, and that she was sure she was not Maud’s Keller family as she spelt her name Kellar.  Maud said she was glad that she wasn’t kin to her as the portrait was certainly ugly.  She said she would give me Mrs. Baley’s address, but that Mrs. Baley didn’t know anything about this Elizabeth Keller, but had gotten the portrait along with some other Spear’s portraits.  This Elizabeth certainly must have been the wife of Jacob Spears.  I’ll let you know what else I can fine out.

I was much interested in the John Keller you wrote about.  When I get the chance I will write to Mrs. Lainson, and send her a copy of your letter in regard to the Keller’s.

Speaking of Casper Keller’s war record, I know only that Owen’s father told me that Caspar was in the Revolution.  I hope you will some luck there.

I would like very much to have a copy of the Keller coat of arms.  If you would tell me which one to write for, as you say there are several branches of the Keller family, and I would appreciate it very much if you would give me the coloring as I can do that, as I have made several coat of arms.

I will make a point of going to the library here and looking at Chaulkley’s records of Augusta County.  The trouble with them is that in the marriage records only the name of the man is given.  I spent considerable time there in trying to find the marriage dates of some Kerr’s and Robertson’s.

I find that you have given me much more information than I have given you.  Usually when I write for any information, I find that I am the one who usually gives what I have without receiving myself.

My son, John Esten Keller, has accepted a position to teach at Staunton Military
Academy this year.  So many of his ancestors helped found Staunton.  The Kerr’s, the Robertson’s, the McCreary’s and the Beverly’s.  I told him to look at the library there, as I understand Beverly Manor was converted into the library.

With kind regards, I am sincerely yours,

Mrs. Owen B. Keller

Lindell Boulevard at Grand Avenue

Saint Louis

 September 1, 1942

Mrs. Louise Welsh Keller

158 Woodland Avenue

Lexington, Kentucky

Dear Mrs. Keller,

Your letter of August 17, forwarded to me by my wife out here on the road.  I am just now finding time to acknowledge receipt of it.

I am sorry to hear of your illness and be sure and take good care of yourself, because I have learned that is what counts.

Well it is too bad Mrs. Keller, that we have to have some relatives that are of the disposition they are, but you know that goes for the best of regulated families, so they say.  I guess ours is no exception, but we will get all this information one of these days, regardless of the opposition.  I am this kind of a fellow, the harder the going is the harder I fight.  It might be the cause of us uncovering considerable more information when we would if they should give us what they have, which I personally doubt is very much.  From what Mrs. Newsum, in Tuscumbia Alabama wrote me when she wanted the pictures returned, I am thinking that it was Miss Lasseter who caused her to ask for the pictures back. I feel she is trying to block my efforts and why, I cannot guess.  I am not trying to make any money out of it and will turn what I have over to someone who will guarantee to print it.  All I want is to see a good complete history printed some day on the Keller family.  Since no one else to my knowledge, had started to do so, I did and am bearing all the expense of gathering this information, not asking anyone for a single penny.  Since I am willing to undertake such a task, I cannot but feel hurt when anyone with our name will not at least show me some courtesy.  I am proud of my name and my family lineage and I am going to continue on though, regardless.

I think I will get through here in St. Louis, Friday and will then go home as far as I know now, and will try and find some time to work at my hobby and will make another search to see if I can’t work out something on your Elizabeth Keller.  Since she was the king of looker you say she was, we know beyond any doubt, that she got those looks from someone else other that a Spears or a Keller.  Let’s hope too that Reverend Henry E. Spears, will be able to help us with some information regarding Elizabeth Keller.

Now about the spelling of Kellar and Keller, tell your cousins not to be so sure about that, because some of our early ancestors in Virginia and Pennsylvania spelled their names Kellar because the English clerks working in the court house and elsewhere would write it down as Kellar and as a result their children would see this and take up that spelling.  I have some close cousins who spell their name Kellar and I know they are dead wrong.  There is one branch of our family in West Virginia, (which are rather large in number), who spell their names Kellar.

When I get home, I will send you a picture of a nice looking coat of arms that I trace my lineage directly to and which personally am sure Mr. Keller does to through Helen’s line.  I will give you the coloring and you can draw an enlargement or do whatever you like about it.  (Excuse my mistakes.  This portable is too small for my big hands.)

Just as soon as I can I am going to Staunton Virginia and do a little more searching and if I can find time I will call on your son.  I would like very much for him to call on Cousin Jennie Clem, who lives on Lewis Street.  I think the number is 261, but anyone in Staunton can tell him where Monroe Clem; that’s her husband’s name, lives.  He is in mighty bad health and from what I hear might be losing his mind, but Cousin Jennie is a wonderful person and I know he will like her.  They are among the best families living there.

As ever most cordially yours,

H.L. Keller

Mary Fairfax Moore

Lansdowne, Blount County

December 16, 1811

(To Alexander Spotswood Moore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Having but a moments time will drop my dear Brother a line and have many urgent reasons to assign for not doing so ere this, the principal is, I have for some weeks post been preparing for a sacrifice at the altar of Hymen.  On New Year ’s Day I expect to leave the bleak shore of maidenhood and embark on that of matrimony.  This is I suppose something new and unexpected to you if you did not receive a letter from Mr. Keller, sometime since writing.

Uncle Lapsley is now with us.  It is probable he will continue in Blount the first day of January.  I hope what I intend doing will meet the approbation of my Dear Brother.  I know it will when I assure him a contrary course would not have promoted my happiness further.  On this subject you shall hear by a future mail.  By last mail, Eliza received your letter; we were pleased to hear of your welfare and happiness.  Eliza will write shortly.  Mama has been for some days indisposed with a pain in her face, which is now better.  Uncle Billy has not returned from Virginia, expect him every day.  Capt. McD….was here about 2 months ago, has been since ordered to Fort Hampton, Mississippi Territory where he will spend the winter.  Me know not when to look for him at Lansdowne.  A short time after your departure a letter was received for you.  Friendship and politicks were the contents, deemed it unnecessary to send on to Phila.  Have not heard from (Sister) Mildred lately.  Write frequently, we are always gratified to hear from you whom time nor distance nor engagements shall ever make me love less or forget family..  Love to you and receive from me love,

Sincere,  M.F.M + + + +

(Mary Fairfax Moore)

Lansdowne

December 23, 1811

(This letter was written to David Keller, whom Mary Fairfax Moore married on January 1, 1812.  Mary and David were Helen Keller’s grandparents.)

Under the impression, I shall by writing gratify my much loved and Dear Friend.  I with pleasure dedicate a few of my leisure moments in that way.  Since your departure I have occasionally felt somewhat solitary.  The absence of somebody, comparatively empties Lansdown to me.  In retrospection I frequently employ hours, nay days, pleasantly, but with infinite and exalted pleasure do I look forward to the approaching period that is to unite us, and the pain of separation is entirely dispelled.

Our dear Uncle——-has lately been with us.  A circumstance by which I am gratified as he is one I have always highly esteemed, and towards whom I feel a great degree of partiality.  I have a wish should it correspond with yours and your arrangements be not to the contrary, that he should perform that ceremony, that is closely to unite our destinies in this life.  By my particular solicitation he has partly consented to stay until the first of January.  It is somewhat uncertain but on your arrival at Maryville you can learn of his departure or continuance in Blount.

Yesterday I wrote my dear Brother a lengthy letter the contents of which will create some surprise if he has not received your letter.  I had feared your ride from hence would be an unpleasant one but the day proved more favorable than I had calculated on, and I was gratified in supposing you partook of its serenity.  By the return of the bearer I expect a letter, disappointment would be distressing.

Mama and Sister desire their respects to you and receive assurances of sincere affection from yours.

M. F. Moore

December 26 ,1973

Dear David,

Reference is made to your letter of December 17^th.  I thank you very much for the information and the maps.

I have been working on the Kemp family.  Ludwig Kemp married Barbara Norris.  He owned “Resurvey on Meadow”.  Their children were Henry, Christian, Elizabeth and Mary.  Henry married Madeline Ritter, July 19^th 1979.  Christian Kemp married Gertrude (?).  He owned  “Dispatch” and Kemp Delight on the West side of Ballenger Creek.  There was a grist mill, saw mill and a race.  Christian Kemp left this mill property to his son Daniel Kemp.  His other children were David, Lewis, Susan and Esther.

Frederick Hemp, a miller, married Julia Keller, April 30^th, 1813.  His son Abraham Hemp was born at Lewis Hill, near Jefferson Maryland.  I am working in the Jefferson area and it was originally called the “Trap” and later “Newtown”.

Martin Cassell was a patriot.  He attended a Safety Meeting in Frederick, Maryland on January 24, 1775.  John Cellar or Seller left the Flying Camp on December 1, 1776 because his time had expired.  After December 1^st 1776, John Celler was a free agent.  I still think that Caspar’s full name was John Casper Keller.

Daniel Shyrock, a miller, married Mary Cassell on November 26^th, 1787.  They lived in the Valley of Turkey.

Major Orndorff was a military man form Washington County.  It was true that Hess built Orndorff’s mill and later, Hess built his own mill.

Some boys were only 15 or 16  years of age and were able to join the Army.  The Army took them claiming they were 18 years old.

We had a heavy snow  storm here two days before Christmas.  All the roads were tied up.  I have been busy.  Perhaps later this Spring, I may find the time  to check into Hess and Orndorff’s more thoroughly.

Some of the church records here are hard to locate.  I talked to Reverend Miller of Brunswick Maryland.  He said records for the reformed church near Keedsyville cannot be located.

All Artz Library has is the Maryland Archives volume containing the Muster Rolls for soldiers.  I have searched this volume.  There was the Flying Camp, Frederick County Militia, Independent Companies, German Battalions and Continental Troops.  I made a real search, but that don’t mean anything.  These Independent Companies, Muster Rolls are hard to locate.  Frederick County, Washington County and Maryland Militiamen can be located.  Many people signed the Fidelity Oath and others did not.  I thank you and wish you the best for the New Year.

Sincerely yours,

Ralph F. Martz