Keast, Thomas (1844-1895)

KEAST

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 7/25/2007 at 21:26:50

Thomas Keast
(August 9, 1844 - June 9, 1895)

Thomas Keast, who dated his residence in this county from 1877, was a self-made man who came empty-handed from England to the New World to enjoy in its better business conditions the broader opportunities which were to lead him to success. He followed farming in Section 31, Macedonia Township. His birth occurred in Cornwall, England, August 9, 1844, and of that Country his parents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Talling) Keast were also natives. The father died in 1848, but the mother is still living at the very advanced age of 91 years and is yet hale and hearty. She resided alone for a number of years, doing her own housework, but about a year ago, she went to live with a grandchild. Thomas Keast was reared in the land of his birth and in early life was connected with the occupation of farming, but afterward turned his attention to mining. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey, he chose Miss Eliza Grace Oliver, whom he wedded March 3, 1865. She was born in Cornwall, England, April 27, 1846 and was a schoolmate of Mr. Keast in their childhood days. Her parents were William and Elizabeth (Mathews) Oliver. Four years after their marriage, the young couple sailed for the United States, taking passage on a vessel which weighed anchor at Liverpool and sailed for New York. They did not tarry in the east, however, but proceeded into the interior of the country, spending one year at Rockford, Illinois. They then took up their abode upon a farm at New Milford, where they lived for four years and afterward removed to the vicinity of Linnville, Ogle County, Illinois, where they made their home until 1877. That year witnessed their arrival in Pottawattamie County and Mr. Keast purchased eighty acres of the home farm, where on he resided up to the time of his death, which occurred June 9, 1895. He had prospered in his undertakings and left an estate of 380 acres all in one body. Of this, 80 acres was on Section 36, Silver Creek Township, and the remainder in Macedonia Township; the home standing in Section 31. Almost his entire life was devoted to general agricultural pursuits and he followed no other occupation after coming to Pottawattamie County. In addition to tilling the soil, he engaged quite extensively in raising stock and both branches of his business proved profitable. In February preceding his death, he removed into the present fine residence which stands upon the farm and which he had just completed. It is not a monument to his thrift and enterprise. The greater part of his place was unbroken prairie when it came into his possession, but he convered it into rich and productive fields, which he brought into a high state of fertility. He set out a grove and made many other modern improvements and in the course of years, the farm became one of the more valuable properties of the neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Keast became the parents of seven children, of whom the eldest two were born in England. Emma, is the wife of D. D.Clark of Gregory, South Dakota and his six children - Charles, Nettie, Frank, Florence, Maurice and Jennie. Samuel is married and has three children, Earl Evelyn and an baby unnamed. William operates the home farm for his mother. John, living in Huntley, Harlan County, Nebraska, is married and has a daughter, Rena Grace. Elizabeth is the wife of Walter Casson, of Silver Creek Township, and has six children: Charles, Ernest, Oda, Roy, Chester and Allen (Alvin). Frank, living in Macedonia Township, has four children: Ray, Gladys, Marion and Fay. Charles, the youngest of the family, resides upon a part of the old home farm and is married and has three sons, Edgar, Walter and Laurence. In his political view, Mr. Keast was a Republican from the time when he became a naturalized American citizen. He was not prominent in political circles; however, preferring to devote his time to his family, and he derived his greatest happiness from providing for the welfare and comfort of his wife and children. His financial condition at the time of his death was in marked contrast to his position when he arrived in the New World. He had to borrow money in order to come to the United States and start here, therefore in debt. When he settled upon the home farm in Macedonia Township there was only a small four-room house on the place. That he lived a life of activity and energy is indicated by the fine appearance of the farm, in the midst of which stands a commodious and attractive residence built in modern style of architecture. Mr. Keast, however, did not gt to enjoy his new home for any length of time as death claimed him and he passed from earthly toil to the rest beyond. His diligence and perseverance in former years enabled him to leave his family in comfortable financial circumstances.

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.704)
THOMAS KEAST, of section 30, Macedonia Township, was born in Cornwall, England, August 9, 1844, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (TALLING) KEAST, natives of the same place. They reared three children, of whom Thomas was the second son. The father received an injury by draining while ditching in England. He was an invalid about one year and then died, when Thomas was but four or five years of age. The mother now lives in Cornwall, England.

Thomas was reared in England, and his first work was at farming, and later he engaged in mining. He was about 21 years of age when he was married to Eliza Grace OLIVER, March 3, 1865, who was born in Cornwall, England; she was the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Mathews) Oliver. Some four years later, he came to America, sailing from Liverpool, England, to New York, and from there he went to Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois. He lived there one year, and then went on a farm at New Millford, where he lived four years. He then removed to Ogle County, Illinois, near Linnville, on a farm, eleven and one half miles from Rosehill. He lived there until 1877 when he came to Pottawattamie County, and in 1876 purchased 80 acres of land from J.D. EDMUNDSON of Council Bluffs. Here he has since resided, and he now has an improved farm of 310 acres, which is one of the best in Pottawattamie County.

He has a mill building, 16 X 40, with an addition of 12 X 20, a feed mill and two windmills, which supply the motive power for grinding the feed. He has a grove of catalpas, forest and other trees. His farm is well watered by tiling and pipes, and he is engaged in general farming and stock raising. His land lies in three different sections; his residence and 80 acres are in section 30, 150 acres are in section 31, and 80 acres are in section 36, Silver Creek Township.

Mr. and Mrs. KEAST have seven children: Emma, wife of D.D. Clark of Clay, Nebraska; Samuel of the same place; William, John, Elizabeth, Frank and Charley. Politically Mr. Keast is a Republican.