Randolph County, West Virginia Biography of WILLIAM HAY KEIM This file was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 550 Randolph WILLIAM HAY KEIM. Under modern conditions one of the most important county offices to which individuals may be elected by their fellow-citizens is that of sheriff. The proper discharge of the duties of this post call for personal courage, executive capacity, faithfulness and ability for the handling of detail work, as well as integrity and an appre- ciation of the responsibilities involved. In none of these attributes has William Hay Keim, sheriff of Randolph County, failed. Since taking office in 1921 he has con- ducted its affairs in an energetic, efficient and conscientious way, fully vindicating the faith reposed in him by the voters of the county. Sheriff Keim was born at Elk Lick, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1869, and is a son of Silas dark and Annie (Arnold) Keim. His father was born on a farm in the same community, being a son of Jonas and Sarah (Livengood) Keim, and a member of a family of Swiss origin. Silas dark Keim was a farmer in early life, but later turned his attention to banking and merchandising, and also acted as a minister in the Dunkard Church. He died in 1881, at the age of forty-six years. His wife, Annie (Arnold) Keim, was born in Mineral County, West Virginia, the daughter of Rev. Joseph Arnold, a Dunkard preacher, who was born in West Virginia, of English descent. Mrs. Keim died in 1912, at the age of seventy-five years. They were the parents of seven sons and two daughters. One of the sons of Silas C. and Annie Keim was the late Hon. Noah G. Keim, of Elkins, who was born at Elk Lick, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and was primarily educated there in the public schools. Later he attended Ashland College, at Ashland, Ohio, and Juanita College in Pennsylvania, and after leaving the latter took up the work of a teacher in the public schools. He came to Elkins, West Virginia, as a tutor for the sons of the late United States Senator Stephen B. Elkins, and later engaged in mercantile business with his brother, William H., with whom he subse- quently embarked in the insurance business. He became a leader in the republican party, served with credit as state senator, and was known as a man of high principles and marked ability. In his death his community lost one of its able and public-spirited men. William Hay Keim attended the public schools of his native place and a Dunkard school at Bridgewater, Vir- ginia, and for two years in young manhood was employed by the Pittsburgh Street Car Company. Later he was identified with steel industrial companies at Elwood, Indiana, and Joliet, Illinois, and in 1897 located at Elkins, West Virginia, where he and his brother, Noah G., above noted, embarked in a mercantile business. This they con- tinued for three years, following which they turned their attention to general insurance, under the firm name of Keim & Keim, and the business is still being conducted by William H. Keim and his brother's son, Howard H. Keim. This enterprise has grown to important proportions and is one of the leading concerns of its kind in Randolph County. In 1920 Mr. Keim became the republican nominee for sheriff, a position to which he was elected by a majority of 415 votes, being the first republican sheriff elected in Randolph County since the Civil war. In the same election James M. Cox, the democratic candidate for President, carried Ran- dolph County by 618 votes. He has an excellent record in office and has proved his capability as a public official. Sheriff Keim is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and his religious faith is that of the Baptist Church. In 1894 Sheriff Keim was united in marriage with Miss Eva Rees, of Elk Lick, Pennsylvania, and to them there have been born three sons and six daughters.