Keast, Samuel

KEAST

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 5/8/2008 at 18:03:14

Samuel Keast is the owner of the southwest quarter of section 28, Carson township. He was born in Cornwall, England, June 12, 1869, his parents being Thomas and Eliza (Oliver) Keast, both of whom were natives of England. The father died in Macedonia township in 1895 at the age of fifty years and nine months, but the mother is still living on the old home place in this county. Samuel Keast, the second in order of birth in a family of seven children, was only nine months old when his parents crossed the Atlantic to the new world and located in Rockford, Illinois. About eight years were there passed, after which they came to this county in 1877, establishing their home on a farm in Macedonia township, where Samuel Keast lived until twenty-one years of age. Leaving home, he then went to Hall county, Nebraska, where he spent two years, and for five years was a resident of Wayne county, that state. Upon the western frontier he engaged in breaking prairie and in operating a threshing machine most of the time. Following his return to this county he lived with his mother on the home farm for three years and then becan an independent farming venture. He took up his abode of land that is rich and arable and responds freely to the care and labor he bestows upon it. He now raises both grain and stock and has a well improved property. Mr. Keast has been married twice. In January, 1900, he wedded Miss Tessie Bolyard, a native of Warren county, Iowa, and they had two children, Thomas Earl and Tessie Evelyn. On the 16th of August, 1905, Mr. Keast was again married, his second union being with Ruby Coons, a native of Knoxville, Marion county, Iowa, and a daughter of David and Miranda (Ruby) Coons, natives of Ohio and Iowa respectively. They have one son, Leland David, born September 28, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Keast have a wide acquaintance in their locality and are greatly esteemed by many friends, who recognize and appreciate their genuine personal worth. Mr. Keast votes the republican party, but the honors and emoluments of office have little attraction for him, as he prefers to give his attention to his business affairs, which are now bringing him a success that he justly merits.