BIO:  John S. Keech, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/
_______________________________________________ 

History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
_______________________________________________ 

Part II, Biographical Sketches, York Township, Pg 204

JOHN S. KEECH, second of eight children of David and Magdeline (Patton) Keech, was born March 
23, 1824, in Lower Oxford Township, Chester Co., Penn.  When seven years of age he removed with 
his parents to Lancaster County.  He received a common school education.  When he was nineteen 
years of age he came to York Township where he has always resided (except when in charge of the 
county almshouse).  He taught school ten terms in York County and one term in Lancaster county.  
April, 1869, he was appointed steward of the county almshouse and hospital; he remained until 
1874, then was appointed again in 1876 and filled the position until 1881, with credit to 
himself and entire satisfaction of the people of the county.  Was elected county auditor in 
1854, and has been justice of the peace for York Township for twenty-two years, filling that 
office at the present time.  April 4, 1847, he married Mary Ann Weitkamp, daughter of Charles 
and Louisa (Bierman) Weitkamp, of Westphalia, Germany.  Ten children were born to this union:  
Charles F., William H., Albert J., Edith M. (deceased), J. Edward, Jerome H., Arthur S., James 
J., D. Hays and Harry E.  Our subject’s grandfather, Nathaniel Keech, died in 1841, aged 
seventy years.  His maternal grandfather, James Patton, saw hard service as a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war.  Mrs. Keech’s father, Carl Weitkamp, died in his seventy-first year.  Her 
mother, Lousia Bierman Weitkamp, is still living with Mrs. Keech, at the advanced age of 
eighty-three years.