BIO: Peter KEICHLINE, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ PETER KEICHLINE, whose death occurred at his home in Pine Grove Mills, Centre county, on June 20, 1895, belonged to one of the early German families to settle in Pennsylvania, and a family that was conspicuous in the Revolutionary war. The Keichlines in America descended from John Peter Keichline, who emigrated from Heidelberg, Germany, as early as 1742, and settled in Bedminster township, then Bucks county, Penn. He had three sons Peter, Andrew and Charles - all of whom entered the Colonial army during the dark days of the Revolution. Peter lived at Easton as early as 1749, and was one of the four representatives of the county of Northampton at a meeting of Provincial deputies held at Philadelphia on July 15, 1774, to take measures for public safety, and when the Revolutionary war began raised a company of riflemen in Northampton and Bucks counties for Col. Miles' regiment, was in command at the battle of Long Island in 1776, and was taken prisoner. Lord Stirling wrote to Gen. Washington that the English Gen. Grant was killed by Keichline's riflemen. He was a patriot and warrior. Andrew Keichline was promoted to major on the battlefield of Monmouth, N.J. Charles, who entered the army later than his brother, took the oath of allegiance in June, 1788. Jacob Keichline, son of Andrew, was the landlord of what was known as "Keichline's Tavern" for thirty-six years. This tavern, which stood at the intersection of the Dunham and Easton roads, has been a noted tavern for 125 years past. The Centre building was erected about 1759. Col. George Pifer was the landlord from 1778 till his death in 1823, when he was succeeded by Jacob Keichline. This hotel sheltered many of the most distinguished men of the country - Gen. Anthony Wayne, Benjamin Franklin, Gov. Mifflin, Timothy Pickering, Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Judge Tilghman Bish, Stephen Girard, Joseph COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 169 Bonaparte (ex-Emperor or King of Spain), and many others. Peter Keichline (1), the grandfather of our subject, built the first flouring-mill on Bashkill creek in Northampton county. He had a son Peter (2), and he a son Peter (3), of whom we especially write. Peter Keichline (3) was born in Forks township, Northampton county, Penn., on September 11, 1814. He left home in boyhood and walked from Easton to Aaronsburg, Centre county, and there served an apprenticeship of three years at the blacksmith's trade. From Aaronsburg he moved to Pine Grove, and from Pine Grove to Rock Springs, where he engaged in farming, and where he reared his family of seven children. He had married, on August 15, 1838, Sarah Long, then of Aaronsburg, but who was a native of Buffalo Valley in Union county, Penn., a daughter of Peter and Sarah Long, who lived and died there. The children referred to were: Mary, Margaret, George, Sarah, John M.; Susan and Peter. Later, Mr. Keichline moved back to Pine Grove Mills, where, with the assistance of other members of the Reformed Church, he built a neat Church. He was a highly-esteemed citizen. In 1877 he wrote a letter to a friend in which he stated he had been a resident of Centre county forty-five years, first locating at Aaronsburg; that his ancestors were all Democrats and believers in the Lutheran and Reformed Church. JOHN M. KEICHLINE, whose life thus far has been passed in Centre county, his birth occurring at Boalsburg October 12, 1846, received his education in part at the schools of the locality in which his father lived, attending for a time the Normal School at Rebersburg, and then the Boalsburg Academy. Later he was engaged in teaching school, and then read law in the office of Bush & Yocum at Bellefonte. He was admitted to the Bar in 1876, and located in the practice at Bellefonte, where he has since followed his profession with that success his industry, studious habits and ability merited. For some fifteen years he most acceptably filled the office of tax collector for Bellefonte, and for three terms - the years 1884-'85-'86 - served as overseer of the poor. He has been a most trusted and careful public servant. In 1889 the press, in referring to his candidacy and official relations, remarked: "At the request of the citizens of the town, irrespective of party, Mr. John M. Keichline has consented to be a candidate for re- election to the position he has so acceptably filled for the past twelve years. No community has ever been favored with a more gentlemanly, careful and successful collector of taxes than Mr. Keichline has COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 170 proven himself to be, and our citizens without regard to political belief, religious opinion, color, class, creed or condition will be glad to have an opportunity of continuing him in the position he now holds. It is to the interest of the town, to the interest of every tax payer that they do so." On 11th of October, 1876, Mr. Keichline was married to Miss S. L. Wagner, of Central City, Boggs township, who was then 22 years of age, a daughter of John Wagner and Susan (Hahn), and their son John M. is a graduate of the Bellefonte High School; he was two years at the Pennsylvania State College, where he was initiated into the Sigma Chi Fraternity, and is now reading law in the office with his father; the daughter, Daisey, is attending the Bellefonte High School; the son Edward and other daughter, Annie, are going to school. In politics our subject is a Democrat. He is a member of Centre Lodge No. 153, I.O.O.F., a member of the Encampment No. 72, I.O.O.F., of Bellefonte, Penn., a member of K.G.E., Bellefonte Castle No. 357.