BIOGRAPHY - JOHN KEEFE
The agricultural interests of Ford county are well represented by John Keefe, who owns and operates a well improved property, comprising one hundred and sixty acres, situated on section 2, Pella township. It is also the place of his birth, his natal day being July 31, and the year 1879. His parents were John and Katherine Keefe, the former a native of Ireland, while the latter was born in Troy, New York. The father settled in Illinois in an early day, first locating in La Salle county, where for three or four years he was employed at work on the canal. He then took up his abode in Livingston county, this state, where he made his home for a few years, and in 1869 removed to Ford county, locating on the farm which is now owned by our subject. He here made his home until his demise, which occurred in 1906, while his wife passed away about a year previous, in 1905. Their family numbered eight children, of whom seven are now living, namely: Mary L., a resident of Piper City, Illinois; William, who makes his home in Iowa; Joseph, Frank and Helen, all of Piper City; John, whose name introduces this record; and Katherine, also of Piper City.
John Keefe was reared to agricultural pursuits, remaining with his father until he attained his majority, while during the period of his boyhood and youth he attended the district schools during the winter months, and later attended Bourbonnais College, at Bourbonnais, Illinois. Upon embarking in business for himself he chose as his occupation the work to which he had been reared and operated rented land for six years. He then bought the homestead property, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres on section 2, Pella township, which is still his home. He has here a well improved tract of land, whereon he raises the various cereals best adapted to soil and climate, each year gathering good crops as a reward for the care and labor he has bestowed upon the fields.
Mr. Keefe was married in June, 1905, the lady of his choice being Miss Ernestine Wallrichs, who was born in Livingston county, a daughter of William A. and Sophia (Dannaman) Wallrichs, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Keefe has been blessed with one child, Raymond Wayne, born February 25, 1907.
Mr. Keefe gives his political support to the republican party and for two years served as constable, discharging the duties of the office with the same promptness and fidelity that he brings to bear in his private business affairs. He is a communicant of the Catholic church at Piper City. Having spent his entire life in Ford county, he is well known and the success which he is now enjoying is well merited for it has come to him only through honest, persistent effort and honorable business methods.
Extracted 19 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 1, pages 433-434.
