XMISC - Northumberland Co., PA Hannah Keyes letter File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Kay Smith USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. Hannah GOODLANDER first married Levi Wise. He died, at 36, when she was expecting their third child. They were the parents of Emory, Harry and my great-grandfather, Charles Rease Wise. It appears she was living in Pennsylvania when Levi died. What year she arrived in Rockford, Illinois, is not certain. Hannah married Archibald Keyes, in November of 1879, when she was 56 years old. At this time she was living in Winnebago County, Illinois. Her son, Charles Wise, arrived in Rockford, 3 July 1870. He was on his way West, to visit his uncle, George Goodlander, who lived in Fort Scott, Kansas. On the way to Kansas, he stopped to visit his aunt...Jenny GOODLANDER Wilkens. Charles remained in Rockford, and in 1875 married Anna Glenny. Other Goodlander family members living in the Rockford area were Daniel Goodlander, and Martha GOODLANDER Andrews. This is a copy of a letter Hannah wrote about her life. HANNAH G. KEYES, Rockford, February 22, 1894 This day is my 71st birth day and I thought I would pen a few thoughts about my past life for my children, in case I might not be permitted to see another birth day. I was born in Milton Northumberland, Co Pa. Feb 22 1823, My Fathers and Mothers name was Christopher and Mary Goodlander. They where Christians therefore brought up their children under Religious influences and from my earliest recollections I was the subject of religious impressions. My parents took their children to all the means of grace held such as prayer meetings, Class meetings, ____terly and bump meetings, and when I was about nine years old They took me to bump meeting about ten mile from Milton, while thare the spirit of the Lord st___ with me and I was constrained to go to the altar as a seeker while thare ___tting, My heart was made to rejoice with the blessed assurance that my sins where pardoned through the blood of the Lamb. At that time it was not a custom for children as young as I was to Unite with the church so I attended all means of Grace but did not become a member of the church until I was in my 14th yior so I had become indiferent and did not care about joining the Church, untill Dec 29th 1836 Thare was a protracted meeting at Lewisburg had been in progress for a couple weeks and a great many of my associates had converted Thare was going to be a Watch night meeting thare so my Father said he was going and several others, and said if I wanted to go I could. So We started on foot to walk 4 miles to Lewisburg. Mr. John Evens, Susan Osmond, My Father and myself, and thare was about 2 inches of snow upon the ground, Well we went to meeting that night and the Lord was thare in converting power the next night was the watch night, and I was made..I was made to tremble under the load that oppresed my soul when I would see those that I was acquainted with comeing out on the Lords side and I could not stand on my feet any longer and I sat down My Father came to me and asked me if I would not go to the altar. I could hold out no longer I went, and was not long at the alter before the Lord made my heart rejoice And I can now say with the Pact I never shall forget the day when Jesus washed my sins away. The next Sabbath the 6th of Jan 1837 I gave my name to the church Charles Calfus was the precher in Charge and Prettymon was the Elder at that time. The church was the old log structure first on(one) The Old log Church was the first one in Milton, now they have the fourth, one was burned down, from that time I have tried to serve the Lord in weekness, and have made many crooked paths yet praise the Lord for the way in which he has led me, and the many times of refreshing I have receive at his hands, and now as I am entering on my 72 nd year I pray that I may tread the kings high way of holiness more perfectly than ever before. And be enabled to over come through the blood of the Lamb. Hannah died in Chicago (Cook) Illinois, 4 March 1906.