BIO: Immanuel Meister KELKER, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 302.
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  KELKER, IMMANUEL MEISTER, deceased, was born May 21, 1822, in 
Harrisburg, Pa., son of Frederick and Catharine (Fager) Kelker.  He was 
educated in the schools of Harrisburg and spent one year in the 
preparatory department of Marshall College, after which he entered the 
dry goods store of John C. Bucher & Co., of Harrisburg, to learn the 
mercantile business.  In May, 1846, he embarked in the hardware 
business with his two brothers, Rudolph F. and Henry A. Kelker, under 
the firm name of Kelker & Bros., and remained actively engaged in the 
business until his death, March 30, 1880.  The business was done from 
May, 1846, to May, 1851, under the firm name of Kelker & Bros., and 
from May, 1851, to April, 1878, as Immanuel M. & Henry A. Kelker, under 
the firm name of Kelker & Bro.  At the latter date George B. and 
Frederick, sons of Immanuel Kelker, were associated in the business 
under the firm name of Kelker & Sons.
  Mr. Kelker was a confirmed member of the Reformed Salem church, of 
Harrisburg.  He entered the Sunday-school in early childhood and 
continued through life a very active and liberal supporter in the 
cause.  He taught for many years in the Sunday-school of the Salem 
church and assisted by personal labor and most liberal donations in the 
establishment of the Mission Sunday-school, from which sprang the 
Second Reformed church, of Harrisburg.  In his own church he served as 
deacon for many years, and from the time of the organization of the 
Second church, to which he subscribed liberally, his efforts were 
mainly for its welfare, having acted as superintendent of one 
department of the Sunday-school.  Mr. Kelker was a firm and consistent 
advocate of temperance reform.  He was a director of the Harrisburg 
National Bank for many years.  His marriage occurred September 21, 
1847, with Mary Ann Jefferson, daughter of George Beatty and Sarah 
Smith (Shrom) Beatty, of Harrisburg.  Their children are:  Catharine, 
born October 24, 1849; George B., born January 9, 1852, married October 
3, 1878, to Louisa, daughter of Daniel and Catharine Dicker; Frederick, 
born July 28, 1858, married May 11, 1882, to Annie Matilda, daughter of 
Thomas D. and Sarah (Zimmerman) Mahan, and has two children:  Sarah V. 
and Thomas M.