Elbridge J. Keith (1833-1904)

KEITH, PEDDYCORD, CORY, MILLS, PARK

Posted By: CJeanealogy (email)
Date: 3/12/2022 at 17:34:05

Saturday July 30, 1904 Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette
MOURN DEATH OF EARLY SETTLER
Linn county mourns Elbridge J. Keith. Death has closed a career characterized by his activity, influence and honor. An early settler, Mr. Keith had been prominent in the upbuilding of the county. He was a men of strong personality and excellent qualities. His conception of citizenship was lofty and conscientious. He advocated and adhered to principles that he believed were for the common weal.
Mr. Keith died early Friday morning. The funeral was this afternoon at three o'clock from the residence on Mt. Vernon road and was largely attended. Rev. Boyd officiated. Interment at Oak Hill.
Elbridge J. Keith was born in Bristol county, Mass., December 7, 1833. His father, Otis Skinner, was also a native of Massachusetts, a farmer by occupation and a son of the noted colonist, Eleazer Keith. The latter was American born, but of staunch old Scottish ancestry, and transmitted to his descendants those qualities which have rendered at the people of that nationality so pre-eminently trustworthy and substantial as citizens.
Elbridge Keith resided under the parental roof until he became of age when he set out to seek his fortune. In company with his two brothers, Frank and Seymour Wright, he started to cross the Isthmus of Panama, and they landed at the Golden Gate February 16, 1854. The main object they had in view was to seek for gold among the mines of California. After entering the state, the[y] located on a branch of the south fork of the Middle Feather river. There they remained meeting with fair success, until June of the following year, when becoming a little homesick for the sight of old faces and landmarks, they retraced their steps by the route they had come and reached their native state in November of the same year.
In due time Mr. Keith, never having given up his western projects, now turned toward Iowa. Passing beyond the Mississippi, he crossed the borders of Iowa nd located in Linn county, where he soon made a purchase of 647 acres of land in company with a relative, Nathan Gay, in Rapids and Bertram townships. It was a wild, uncultivated tract of land containing considerable timber. They were active and enterprising young men and pulled together in their new project. They purchased a saw-mill and began to improve their land; occupying all the time they could spare in getting out lumber. Mr. Keith, however, was more interested in agriculture than he was in sawmills and turned his attention principally to the cultivation of the land. In later years he suffered reverses, but retained sufficient portion of his former holdings to spend his declining days in cause and plenty.
In early life Mr. Keith was united in marriage to Miss Julia Cory, in Wyoming county, N.Y., March 27, 186?. She died in Cedar Rapids, July 2, 1864.
Four years later, April 7, 1868, Mr. Keith married Miss Fronia Peddycord of Cedar Rapids. He is survived by his wife and five children, Edward O., Arthur E., Miss Jennie, who are at home, and Mrs. Frank B Mills and Mrs. O. M. Park of Terre Haute, Ind.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/237501514
 

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