Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Keir, James 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 29, 2008, 12:00 am

Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

James Keir, deceased, was for many years a resident of northern Illinois. His 
birth occurred in Scotland in 1830 and in 1851 he became a resident of 
Illinois. He was the eldest in a family of seven children who grew to years of 
maturity, the others being Phemia of Peotone, Illinois; Grace, who is living 
in Manhattan, Illinois; May and Margaret, both deceased: Kate, also of 
Manhattan; and Alexander, deceased. Mr. Keir spent the days of his boyhood and 
youth in his native country and on attaining his majority sailed for the new 
world, attracted by its broader business opportunities. A year later his 
parents, Alexander and Catherine (McNeal) Keir, also came to the United 
States. He worked in New York for about a year and then made his way to 
Chicago, where he was employed for about two years at the stonecutters trade. 
He was an excellent business man of keen discernment and unfaltering energy 
and by earnest, persistent effort he accumulated a handsome competence. As his 
financial resources increased he invested more and more largely in farm lands 
until he had extensive holdings in Will county, including two hundred acres in 
Joliet township, two hundred acres in Jackson township and five hundred and 
thirty acres in Manhattan township. As a companion and helpmate for life's 
journey Mr. Keir chose his cousin. Miss Helen Keir, who was born in Scotland 
in 1837 and who departed this life in June, 1876. They were married in 
Scotland in 1861, Mr. Keir making three or four trips over to his native land 
and on one of these he brought his bride to the new world. She was a member of 
the Central Presbyterian church of Joliet and a most estimable lady, possessed 
of many good traits of heart and mind. Mr. Keir, too, was a man of high 
character, worthy of the trust and confidence of his fellowmen and in his 
business career he gained an unassailable reputation. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Keir 
were born six children, the eldest of whom is Agnes, the wife of Charles 
Richards, a resident farmer of Joliet township. Alexander, the second of the 
family, was a resident of Will county until 1906, when he removed to 
Crookston, Minnesota, and purchased land there. Catherine is the wife of 
Robert Morrison, a prominent business man of Joliet, who is president of the 
Joliet Bridge & Iron Works Company. Helen, to whom we are indebted for the 
material furnished of her father and his family, was born in Joliet township 
in 1868 and acquired her education in the district schools. She has always 
remained upon the home farm and is now acting as housekeeper for her brother 
David. James, living at Wonder, Nevada, is interested in gold mines there. 
David remains upon the home farm with his sister Helen. George, the youngest 
of the family, died in infancy. The Keir family has long been well known in 
the county and its members are highly esteemed by reason of their possession 
of those sterling traits of character which in every land and clime command 
respect and good will. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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