BIO: John C. Keiser, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2011.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

                               CHAPTER LX.

                       WEST PENNSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP.

580  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

  JOHN C. KEISER, merchant, Plainfield, was born September 29, 1833, in 
Perry County, Penn., son of Jacob and Catharine (Ritter) Keiser, 
natives of that county, who 

581  WEST PENNSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP.

located in West Pennsborough Tp., Cumberland Co., Penn., in early 
times, but afterward moved to Perry County, and there resided until 
their death.  Our subject, the youngest in a family of four sons and 
three daughters, at ten years of age entered the store of his brother-
in-laws, D. & J. Kochendofer, at Loysville, Perry County, and there 
remained until he was twenty years old.  He spent four years in the 
West, engaged in mercantile pursuits in Rock Island, Ill., and 
Davenport, Iowa.  He came to Cumberland County and established a 
general store at Greason, in 1859, which he has carried on ever since, 
locating at different times at West Hill, Good Hope, Mount Rock, 
Heberlig and Plainfield.  He settled down permanently at his present 
stand in Plainfield in the spring of 1885, and here keeps a full stock 
of dry goods, groceries and general merchandise.  He has built himself 
a fine residence and store building, and has, besides, a farm of eighty 
acres in Benton County, Mill.  By strict attention to business Mr. 
Keiser has built up a large trade with the surrounding community.  He 
married Miss Sarah Elizabeth Humer, of Carlisle, Penn., in 1860, and 
they have had five children:  David K., Mrs. Cora C. Smith, Mary E. 
(deceased), Anna R. and Grace R.  Mr. Keiser is a Republican in 
politics.  He held the appointment as postmaster at Plainfield from 
1875 to 1877; Mount Rock from 1878 to 1880; Heberlig in 1881.  Mr. 
Keiser is one of the active enterprising business men, and is respected 
by all who know him.