Keller Update

Well, its official. My husband and fellow genealogist, found the missing link to my grandfather's paternal family roots. He discovered that John Gotlieb Keller was born in Manyershein Dekedorn, Baden Germany. He also discovered John's wife's maiden name. You will never believe who she was but if you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Her birth thus legal name was Marie Elisabeth Voigt and she was born in Gross Brede, Hanover Preussen (Prussia).

Now, I am working on finding just who was her Voigt parents. If you remember, there is a Karl and Dorete Voigt buried in Bethanien Lutheran Cemetery. The Voigt grave is right next to the grave of John G and Elisabeth Keller. I wonder if Karl and Dorete are her parents? If they are then her brother was Henry (Henrich) Charles Voigt who died and was buried out at Little Big Horn.

This is the second Voigt connection to our family. The first Voigt connection was discovered last month when I made contact with a Ritter Cousin in Arlington, VA. He provided me with the first Voigt/Ritter family connection (complete with photographs) when Henry Voigt married Mary Voigt in the 1870's.

However, the Keller/Voigt connection is more significant because this is our direct line meaning "grandparents".

So in summary, John Gotlieb Keller was born July 8th, 1837 in Germany. He came to Philadelphia in 1852. His mother's name was Susannah Keller and he had two brothers Jacob and Frederick. John was two years younger then Jacob and five years older then Frederick. While in Germany, John Gotlieb was known in custom German fashion by his middle name. But when he immigrated to America, he was known by his first name John. John G Keller was a Private under Captain Otto Christi in Company B, 15th Regiment Of New York City Volunteers in the Civil War. He enrolled in the 15th on May 5th, 1861 and served three years. He was discharged in Fredericksburg on May 18th, 1864.

According to his Military Discharge Papers, he was five feet and six and three quarter inches tall with a fair complexion, brown hair and brown eyes. Before he entered the military, his occupation was a Dryer.

On January 16th, 1869, he married Marie Elisabeth Voigt in the Bethany Lutheran Church located at Pechin and Martin Streets in the Manayunk Section of Philadelphia, PA. He lived at 128 Walnut (now known as Mallory Street), Philadelphia, PA 19127.

At this time, I want to make the following correction to the Family History "A Journey Into The Past".

When I wrote our Family's History, I submitted some incorrect names of children whom I thought were the children of John and Elisabeth when in fact they were the children of his brother Jacob who lived next door at 126 Walnut Lane and who was also married to a woman named Elisabeth and who both named their children similar if not the same exact names of children born to our grandparents John and Elisabeth. Please note that both brothers had children by the name of John, Louisa and Mary. Confusing to say the least.

Here are the list of children born to John and Elisabeth Keller; Amelia born 1871, Elisabeth born 1873, Louisa born 1875, John Gotlieb born 1882, Mary (our great grandmother) born 1885 and Annie born 1889. You can find a copy of our Family Tree on Ancestry.Com. I just updated it this afternoon.

I also want to note that the second eldest child Elisabeth, did marry a man by the name of Christopher Beatty. In the 1900 Census Records, Elisabeth and Christopher lived with Elisabeth Keller (her mother) and they had listed a son of their own also named Christopher who was born in 1898.

John Gotlieb Keller died on October 28th, 1897. His wife Elisabeth died on February 4th, 1905.