Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Keith, Charles W 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 1:17 pm

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County

CHARLES W. KEITH, foreman of the Joliet plant of Selz, Schwab & Co., is 
descended from Scotch ancestry, but his forefathers have been in America since 
1661. During that year, Rev. James, son of Robert Keith, came to the new world 
from the county of Caithness, in the northern part of Scotland. From him 
descend all of the Keiths of New England. He was educated in Marshall College, 
Aberdeen, and came to America immediatly after completing his college course. 
He was called to be the first minister at Duxbury, Mass. His son, Simeon, was 
born in Mendon, May 6, 1742, and was orphaned at an early age; learning the 
blacksmith's trade, he started out for himself when eighteen years of age. 
Upon the breaking out of the Revolutionary war he enlisted in a company of 
volunteers under Captain Wilkinson, of Sutton. He marched with the company to 
Roxbury, but there, through the exposure of camp life, caught a severe cold 
resulting in fever, from which he died January 3, 1776. Though he did not live 
to see the independence of our country, his name deserves to be perpetuated 
among those of other patriots who gave their lives for their native land. By 
his marriage to Rebecca Leland he had five children, of whom the second, 
Royal, was the grandfather of our subject. Royal Keith was born February 23, 
1769, and was seven years of age when his father died. The care of the family 
then fell upon the mother, who, in spite of the hardships' of war, the 
privations of poverty and the sorrows of widowhood, managed to keep the 
children together and reared them to become useful, honorable citizens. As 
soon as he was old enough to earn money Royal helped to support the family. He 
learned the shoemaker's trade with his uncle, Elijah Stanton. In 1788 he went 
to Boston, where he found employment in a shoe store occupying a room in 
Faneuil hall. Two years later he returned to the family home at Grafton, where 
he soon began to manufacture shoes on his own account, selling in Boston and 
Providence. He was one of the earliest manufacturers of custom shoes in 
America, having begun in business soon after the first tariff was passed for 
the protection of American industries. The first shoes he manufactured were 
rough hand-sewed articles, which were used by laboring men or shipped south 
for the Carolina negroes. After a time these shoes were supplanted by others 
more modern in style and shape. During the embargo of the war of 1812, 
transportation by water was impossible, and Mr. Keith sent a shipment of shoes 
overland from Grafton to Richmond, Va., which was a very difficult task in 
those days. He was a citizen highly esteemed for his worthy qualities. 
Possessing excellent business qualities he always succeeded in business 
enterprises. Often he was appealed to by his neighbors for advice in weighty 
matters. He was frequently chosen to serve in official capacities, and in 1836 
was the representative from Grafton in the general court of Massachusetts. He 
died November 13, 1857, after a long and successful life. By the marriage of 
Royal Keith to Deborah Adams, which was solemnized December 26,1797, ten 
children were born, of whom Royal A., the sixth, was born December 27, 1809. 
He was a farmer by occupation, although he also engaged in the meat business 
for some years. In religion he was a Congregationalist. He was a man of quiet, 
unassuming disposition, who, like his father, was respected wherever known. He 
attained an advanced age, and passed from earth August 29, 1882. By his 
marriage, September 2, 1840, to Lydia D. Fisher, eight children were born, 
Charles being the fifth. The last-named was born at Grafton, Mass., April 19, 
1849, and was educated in common schools. In youth he became familiar with the 
shoe business. About 1865 he went to Worcester, but a year later returned to 
Grafton, and for six years was with J. W. Slocum & Son. Next he went to Upton, 
where he was similarly employed for two years. For five years he was in the 
employ of C. A. Clafiin, of Hopkinton, Mass. Later he was with J. H. and G. M. 
Walker at Worcestsr until 1883, when he came to Joliet upon the recommendation 
of Mr. Clafiin, who was at the time assistant superintendent for Selz, Schwab 
& Co., in this city. For a part of the first year he was assistant to the 
foreman, after which he was appointed foreman, and has held this position 
since, notwithstanding the different administrations of affairs. After the 
first year he took the place of two foremen, having charge of from seventy to 
eighty men. In politics Mr. Keith is a believer in Republican principles, but 
in local affairs believes it is more a question of the right man than of 
political principles, hence he supports the men he considers best qualified to 
represent the people. January 28, 1880, he married Carrie A., daughter of 
Lovett B. Hayden, who was engaged in the boot and shoe business in Hopkinton, 
Mass. They are the parents of four children: Carrie Ethel, Royal Adams, Nina 
Hayden and Robert Elwin.

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900

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