Keller Family History Update

John G. and Elisabeth Keller are my great great grandparents. (see family history link) They are the parents of my great grandmother Mary Keller. Mary Keller married my great grandfather William Gallagher. They are the parents of my grandfather William Gallagher. William Gallagher married Anna Marie McCaffery and together they had five children, William, John, Eugene, Mary (my mother) and Ann Marie.


As of June 13, 2006 I know that John Keller was born in 1837 in Baden Germany. He came to this country in 1858 and lived with his mother Susannah Keller and two brothers Frederick Keller and Gotlieb Keller according to the 1860 Census in Philadelphia. In 1860, John was known as Jacob Gotlieb and was listed as being 23 years old. Gotlieb was listed as being 21 years old and Frederick was listed as being 16 years old. Their mother Susannah was listed as being 59 years old. (please note census records are recorded the year before and because many immigrants did not speak proper English some information taken at the census may be incorrect)

The next census taken in Philadelphia was for the year 1870. Susannah Keller was listed as being 66 years old and the only child listed at home was her youngest son Frederick Keller listed as being 24 years old and worked in a Rolling Mill. (again take note of the age differences between 1860-1870 records) In 1870, John (Jacob) Keller was listed as being 32 years old and worked in a Rolling Mill. He was married to Elisabeth and her age was listed as being 21 years old. What is a new piece of information about this census record is Elisabeth’s place of birth is listed as Austria. Until now, I did not know where Elisabeth was born. It is also interesting that her “maiden” name may have also been Keller. John and Elisabeth did not have any children in 1870. It also should be noted that during the Civil War, John was in the 15th New York and fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. I could not find Gotlieb in the 1870 census records.

Unfortunately for us, the 1890 census records burn in a fire. Therefore, the next available census records I could research were for the year 1900.

In 1900 Elisabeth was a widow with three children living at home, Mary, (our direct descendant) Annie and John. What is a valuable piece of new information is the youngest child of John and Elisabeth Keller known as Geo (George) who was born in 1889 one year before John Keller, (his father) died in a fiery steel mill accident was found in 1900 as a student at Girard College. (more to follow about Girard College) Frederick Keller was listed as being married to a woman named Mary and they had several children listed. Some of these children shared first names which made me take a second and third look at the census records in case my eyes were playing tricks on me. I can only conclude that these children were known by their middle names. Children listed were Mary M. born January 1, 1882 followed by John F. born January 10, 1883. Mary E. was born December 23, 1884. William was born November 14, 1886 followed by Harry who was born December 12, 1888. John was born April 1, 1892 (no middle initial) and the youngest child Margaret was born February 10, 1894.

Gotlieb was also in the 1900 census records. He was married to a woman named Anna and children listed were a set of triplets born in May 1876. One triplet was named Anna L; another was listed as Alberdina but the third daughter (triplet) I could barely make out her name. It looked like Cansia. Johanna was born in July 1879 followed by Maria in July 1887 then Charles (only son) born in March 1889. Susannah the mother of John, Frederick and Gotlieb was not listed and is presumed deceased.

In the 1910 census records I could not find Gotlieb Keller. John Keller had died in 1890 and his wife Elisabeth had died in 1904. Frederick was listed as still living with his wife Mary. Children still at home in 1910 were William, Harry, John and Margaret. George Keller was also listed but he was now a boarder not a student at Girard College.

In the 1920 census records, Frederick and Mary are not listed and are presumed deceased. I was able to find three of their children. John F. now known as Frederick Jr. is listed married to Bessie and they do not have children. Harry was listed as being married to Margaret and they had three children listed. Wellington was 7 years old followed by Gordon who was 4 years old. The third child listed was 22 month old Mary Jane. William was married to Jeanne and they had two children, William age 3 years old and Lucy age 2 years old. I could not find George Keller in the 1920 records.

The 1930 census is not yet out for review.