Ann Dorothy (Harmon) Keyes (1828-1918)

ADAMS, HANSON, HAYS, HOVELAND, KEYES, VAN BUREN

Posted By: Jerry Hale (email)
Date: 8/19/2009 at 09:17:22

Collins Gazette 10-31-1918

The following is the obituary of Mrs. E. H. Keyes, a sister of Hans Hanson formerly of Collins now deceased.

Ann Dorothy Hanson was born in Tarvistead Norway July 28, 1828 and departed this life at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. F. Hays in Mingo, Iowa October 26, 1918 being 90 years 2 months and 28 days of age. Death resulted from a stroke of paralysis. The following history of her life was written by her dictation on her 80th birthday.

She attended the house to house schools in Norway and was able to read and write the native language. When on the 11th of May 1836, with her mother, step-father, brothers and sisters she left the port of Stavanger in a sailing vessel bound for America. The date of the arrival of this ship is not known but the family came direct to Illinois to the home of an uncle, Yerts Hoveland, reaching there in the middle of August. While visiting there she remembers her father coming home one day saying that he had shaken hands with President Van Buren who was touring the country.

The family was urged to join the Norwegian settlement but the father declined saying he had come to America for the good of the family and wanted them to live in an American settlement. So he came farther west to LaSalle county, here they made their home until February 5, 1845 when Ann Dorothy was married to Elias Hughs Keyes. These young people lived in LaSalle for 2 years coming to Benton county, Iowa in April 1847, lived there about 2 years returning to Illinois for 4 years finally returning to Jasper county April 1855, being a continuous resident of this county for over 53 years.

She was a pioneer of pioneers knowing all the deprivations and hardships of early settlers. Fort Dearborn, now Chicago, was but little more than the block hose and a few other buildings.

Mr. Keyes served during the entire duration of the Civil war and she managed the home affairs and kept her family together.

When quite young she united with the Baptist church and upon coming to Mingo she transferred her membership to the Methodist church. She was a woman of very high ideals and of a retiring disposition. The ones who were fortunate to know her best found her to be well read of ready wit and a keen sense of humor. Into her life came an unusual amount of sorrow, that of parting with her husband and eight children, five sons and three daughters, besides father, mother, brother and sisters. One daughter, Carrie, survives her and did all that could be done to make her declining years comfortable and pleasant. She is also survived by six grand children and fourteen great grand children.

The motto of her life was "Thou God seest me" aiming to do all things as in His sight.

Owing to the quarantine private services were held at the residence by the pastor. Rev. Arthur H. Adams who used the text from Psalms which she had so well marked "I Shall Be Satisfied When I Awake With Thy Likeness." Music was furnished by the mixed quartet. [Three?] nephews and [one?] the grandson acting as pallbearers. Interment at the Union Chapel Cemetery.