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Added notes are {italicized-bracketed}.

Genealogy of the Family Keeler

{photo} Mary A. Keeler

Ten Generations of the Family of Keeler - Saginaw, Michigan - Julian A. Keeler - 1916

Ralph Keeler, was born in England about 1613. He was a carpenter. Emigrated to Connecticut, was in Hartford 1639 to 1641, then to Norwalk, where he made his will, Aug. 20, 1672, proved Nov. 5, 1677. First wife not known. For second wife, married, after 1651, Sarah, widow of Henry Whelpley. She had been left a widow before 1633, and she survived Keeler. The had six children, of whom the fourth,

Samuel, was born at Norwalk, 1656, married there Mar. 10, 1682 to Sarah St. John, daughter of Mark and Elizabeth Stanley St. John of Norwalk. He was in the great swamp fight of the Narragansett campaign of King Philip's War, which occurred Dec. 19, 1675, and for this service the town voted him a bounty of land in Norwalk. He died May 19, 1713, his wife April 15, the next year. His will was probated in 1716 at Fairfield, although he was said to have moved to Ridgefield late in life. His oldest child was

Samuel, born in Norwalk, in 1682. Jan. 18, 1704 he married Rebecca Benedict, daughter of James Benedict of Danbury, Ct., who died Mar. 20, 1709. His second wife was Sarah, daughter of Thomas Betts. He died Aug. 8th 1763. His son

Matthew, was married Oct. 28, 1722, to Sarah Greenwood. They had a family of fourteen children.
He was an uncle of Jeremiah Keeler ---> connected with battle of Ridgefield, Orderly Sergeant to Gen'l Lafayette.
his third son,

Thomas, was married Oct. 18, 1767, to Annie Squires.

George, his son, was born Feb 1st, 1791, and was married Jan. 1st, 1810, to Elizabeth Smith, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., by whom he had Lewis, Henry, Caroline, Amanda, Ann. Later, he married Lucinda Wheeler, by whom were George, Egbert, Sarah, Serena.

Lewis S. was born Dec. 4, 1810 1811, was married to Sarah Warner, March 22, 1835, at Union, Broome County, N. Y., their home until 1855, when they emigrated to Michigan. Died April 27, 1884. Sarah Warner, born Mar. 20, 1810, died, Oct. 5, 1862. Their four children were

Dexter D. born Jan. 19, 1836
Sanford born Dec. 21, 1837
Francis, born June 10, 1841

These three were identified with the early history of Saginaw, Michigan, for over 60 years, and still live there in 1916. Dexter and Francis served in the Civil War, the former in the 23d, the latter in the 16th, Michigan Infantry. Sanford drove the first salt well in the Saginaw district in {18}59 and is one of the builders of the Pere Marquette Rail Road, being its Superintendant from April, 1873, to Aug., 1891.

Sarah E., born Aug. 29, 1849, married to Dr. Wm. Hoyt, of Hillsboro, O.

Francis married Oct. 5, 1868, Mary Alice Bailey, of Ionia Mich., born July 12, 1847, died March 18, 1912.
their children,

John W. born and died April, 1870
Julian A., born Aug. 5, 1872. June 8, 1898, married Maude J. Stevens, of Saginaw, born Aug. 23, 1877, died Mar. 4, 1910, at Corona, California. July 2, 1913, married {second} Susan E. Farmer, of Saginaw, born Jan. 12, {19}82. Class of {18}90 High School; with Second National Bank of Saginaw from Sep. 12, {18}90 to date, except 30 months in California. Died Aug. 22, 1931.
John {illegible} Keeler 1869 d 1869.
Francis D. junior, born May 25, 1877
Rachel, born April 12, 1882.
son of Julian and Maude is

Philip Stevens, born Jan. 12, 1900.

Frank Hayes Butterfield Jr. Copy

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Added notes are {italicized-bracketed}.

RALPH KEELER, was probably {born} in England about A. D. 1613, a carpenter, was in Hartford, Conn., 1639 to 1641, then to Norwalk, Conn., where he made his will, Aug. 20th 1672, which was proved Nov. 4th 1677. His first wife is not known, his second wife was Sarah, widow of Henry Whipley who was left a widow before 1633, and she survived Keeler.

Samuel Keeler son of Ralph, married Sarah StJohn.

SAMUEL KEELER, son of Samuel married Sarah Betts.

Marhew Keeler, son of Samuel, married Sarah Greenwood father of the following children; Mathew Keeler, Samuel Keeler, Thomas Keeler, Sarah Keeler, Stephen Keeler, Rebecca Keeler, Hannah Keeler, Elizabeth Keeler, Mary Keeler, Twins Abigal & Annie, Arron Keeler, William Keeler.

THOMAS KEELER, a son of Mathew married to Annie Squires, Oct 18th 1767.

GEORGE KEELER, son of Thomas Keeler, Born Feb. 1st 1791, was married to Elizabeth Smith, 1810, and the following children were born; Lewis S. Keeler, Henry Keeler, Caroline Keeler, Amanda Keeler, Ann Keeler. After the death of Elizabeth, George Keeler was married the second time to Lucinda Wheeler, Oct. 19th 1823, and the following children were born; George M. Keeler, Sarah M. Keeler, Egebert E. Keeler, Serena Keeler.

LEWIS KEELER, son of George Keeler, was born Dec. 4th 1811, was married to Sarah Warner, March 22d, 1835. Died April 27th 1884. Children Dexter Dwight Keeler born Jan 19th 1836, Sanford Keeler born Dec 21st 1837, Francis D. Keeler born June 16th 1841, Sarah E. Keeler born Aug. 29th 1849.

Added notes are {italicized-bracketed}.

(1) Ralph Keeler, was born in England about 1613. He was a carpenter. Emigrated to Connecticut, was in Hartford 1639 to 1641, then to Norwalk, where he made his will, August 20th, 1672, proved November 5th, 1677. First wife not known. For second wife, married, after 1651, Sarah, widow of Henry Whelpley. She had been left a widow before 1633, and she survived Keeler. They had six children, of whom the fourth,--

(2) Samuel, was born at Norwalk, 1656, married there March 10th, 1682, to Sarah St. John, daughter of Mark and Elizabeth Stanley St. John of Norwalk.
He was in the great swamp fight of the Narragansett campaign of King philips War, which occurred December 19, 1675, and for this service the town voted him a grant of land in norwalk. He died May 19, 1713, his wife April 15, the next year. his will was probated in 1716 at Fairfield, although he was said to have moved to Ridgefield late in life. his oldest child was, --

(3) Samuel, born in Norwalk, in 1682. January 18, 1704, he married Rebecca Benedict, daughter of James Benedict, of Danbury, Ct., who died March 20th, 1709. His second wife was Sarah, daughter of Thomas Betts. He died August 8th, 1863. his son, -

(4) Matthew, was married October 28th, 1722, to Sarah Greenwood. They had a family of fourteen children. he was an uncle of Jeremiah Keeler, Orderly Sergeant to Gen. Lafayette. His third son, -

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(5) Thomas, was married October 18, 1767, to Annie Squires.

(6) George, his son, was born February 1st, 1791, and was married Januardy 1st, 1810, to Elizabeth Smith of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. by whom he had Lewis, Henry, Caroline, Amanda, Ann. Later he married Lucinda Wheeler, by whom were George, Egbert, Sarah, Serena.

(7) Lewis S. was born December 4, 1811, was married to Sarah Warner, March 22, 1835, at Union, Broome County, N. Y., their home until 1855, when they emigrated to Michigan. Died April 27, 1884. Sarah Warner, born March 20, 1810, died October 5th, 1862. Their four children were:

(8) Dexter D. born January 19, 1836
         (8) Sanford, born December 21, 1837
         (8) Francis, born June 16, 1841.

These three were identified with the early history of Saginaw, Michigan for over Sixty years, and still lived there in 1916. Dexter and Francis served in the Civil War, the former in the 23rd, the latter in the 16th Michigan Infantry. Sanford drove the first salt well in the Saginaw District in 1859 and was one of the builders of the Pere Marquette Rail Road, being its superintendent from April, 1873, to August 1891.

(8) Sarah E. born August 29, 1849, married to Dr. Wm. Hoyt of Hillsboro, Ohio.

Francis married October 5, 1868, Mary Alice Bailey of Ionia, Michigan, born July 12, 1847, died March 18, 1912, - Their children -

John W. born and died April, 1870.

(9) Julian A. born August 5, 1872, June 8, 1898, married first, Maude J. Stevens, of Saginaw, born August 23, 1877, died March 4, 1910, at Corona, California. July 2, 1913, married second Susan E. Farmer of Saginaw, born

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January 12, 1882, Julian A. died August 23, 1931.

Graduated class of 1890 E. S. High School; was with Second National bank of Saginaw from September 12, 1890, to date of death except thirty months in California.

Francis d. Junior, born May 25, 1877,
         Rachel, born April 12, 1882.

(10) Philip Stevens, son of Julian and Maude, born January 12, 1900.

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Relating to the incidents in which members of the Keeler family descendents of - Ralph Keeler participated

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November 1, 1708, Samuel Keeler, Sr., was appointed on a Committee to lay out a town plot.

Distribution of lots - drawn by lottery: Samuel Keeler, drew the second lot.

Joseph Keeler, drew the nineteenth lot.

Lot No. 1 was the former home of john S. Keeler.
Lot No. 8 was the home of Mrs. Ebenezer W. Keeler.

Tony's Cave on the farm of Mortimer Keeler.

February 23, 1740, Timothy Keeler signed as witness on a Bill of Sale - November 21st, 1777, Timothy Keeler also signed as witness the leberation of a slave at a town meeting in Ridgefield, Ct.

April 15th, 1771, Timothy Keeler was elected Moderator.

December 17th, 1775, town meeting decided to approve Acts of Continental Congress, among them, Timothy Keeler, Mathew Keeler, - at a town meeting April 4, 1777, Timothy Keeler was chosen Moderator{.} Mathew Keeler on a committee to provide for soldiers families Continental Army, December 14th, 1778, Town granted Six pounds to each soldier. Samuel Keeler and John Keeler, 2nd, to collect tax for same.

Isaac Keeler owned a mill near Salem, which was destroyed by the British.
         British set fire to the tavern occupied by Timothy Keeler, well known, ardent patriot.
         April 17, 1777, in battle of Ridgefield, benjamin Keeler was taken prisoner by British.

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In 1776 Capt. G. Northrup and company included, Sergt. Thaddeus Keeler, Aaron Keeler, Jabez Keeler, Levi Keeler, Lockwood Keeler, Uriah Keeler.

April 24, 1777, in Capt. E. Jones Company,
Philip Keeler

June 3rd, 1778, Captain David olstead's company included, Mathew Keeler, Lewis Keeler,
May, 1779, Levi Keeler, Jeremiah Keeler, Benjamin Keeler, Mathew Keeler.

Capt. Isaac Hines company, Beardsleys Regt. Ensign John Keeler, Timothy Keeler, Timothy Keeler, 2nd.

"Among the brave men who served from Ridgefield in the Revolution, and whose names deserve to be written boldly in the annals of that war, are the following -
Thaddeus Keeler,
Jeremiah Keeler, who was born in Ridgefield, April 4, 1760, and enlisted May 28, 1777, was with the Connecticut lines three years. in February 1780 was promoted to corporal. He was selected by baron Steuben as a member of the Light Infantry commanded by Gen. Lafayette. on July 14, 1780, he was assigned to the post of Orderly Sergeant by the French General. On account of his bravery, intelligence and excellent judgement he was often chosen for duty where these characteristics were most essential. He was present at the Battles of Jamestown and Monmouth and at the siege of Yorktown. We read that he was one of the first to scale the breastworks in

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the face of a murderous fire. For his galantry at Yorktown, General Lafayette preseted him with a sword. Sergeant Keeler remained with the army until mustered out in 1783.

He walked from Yorktown after the army was disbanded in Virginia, using his sword as a cane. Before his departure, he was presented with a gold medal for his long and honorable service. The sword and scabbard are {at} the Ridgefield Library, the scabbard being worn at the bottom through use as a cane on his long walk home.

Jeremiah Keeler, married huldah Hull, and settled in South Salem. Eleven children were born to this worthy couple. Mr. Keeler died in May 1853 in his ninety-fourth year. He is buried in the Titicus Cemetery, Ridgefield, Ct.

Sergeant Keeler's brother Thaddeus, eight years his senior, also saw much distinguished and hard service. He was Quartermaster of the 5th Connecticut Regt. May 2, 1780.

Paul Keeler was a trumpeter in the Second Regt. Light Dragoons.

Soldiers from Ridgefield in the Revolutionary War include; - Aaron Keeler, Jabez Keeler, Jeremiah Keeler, Philip Keeler, Jr., John Keeler, Ensign Samuel Keeler, Levi Keeler, Nehemiah Keeler, Lewis Keeler, Paul Keeler, Jr., Lockwood Keeler, Thaddeus Keeler, Mathew Keeler, Thomas Keeler, Nathaniel Keeler, Timothy Keeler, Nathaniel Keeler, 2nd., Uriah Keeler, Peter Keeler, Benjamin Keeler.

Thaddeus Keeler was a member of the Society of Cincinnati.

Subscribers to a fund to celebrate the 4th of July-

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Daniel Keeler.

Soldiers in the War of 1812. August 3rd, 1813, Adoniram Keeler.

The Keeler Tavern, built by Timothy Keeler, a grandson of Samuel Keeler, Sr., who kept it until his death in 1815. Squire Keeler was also Postmaster and representative in the State Legislature several times.

Smith b. Keeler was a clerk of the Congregational Church from March 1842 to March 1849.

Abner Keeler, clerk November 2, 1913.

November 17, 1847, Young Ladies Society organized with Miss Betsey Keeler as Secretary and Treasurer.
Owners of meeting house, March 22nd, 1800, were Thaddeus Keeler, Mathew Keeler, Jeremiah Keeler, Jonah Keeler, Benjamin Keeler, Levi Keeler, Timothy Keeler, John Keeler, Jeremiah Keeler, Jabex Keeler, Paul Keeler, Ebenezer Keeler, Jasper Keeler, clerk in 1888,

Reverend Seneca Keeler, of South britain, Conn.

Among the members of the Methodist Church in 1789 were: Daniel Keeler and his wife, Grace.

Among selectmen - a Committee to raise funds included;

George Keeler - (Not out {our?} George.)

Enlisted in the Civil War, 1861 -
         Edgar Keeler, enlisted in 1861.
         Eli J. Keeler, enlisted in 1861.
         Henry Keeler, enlisted in 1861.

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         Henry W. Keeler, enlisted in 1861.
         Ira Keeler, enlisted in 1861. Oscar Keeler, enlisted in 1861.
         Rufus D. Keeler, enlisted in 1861.
         Smith Keeler, enlisted in 1861.

In 1863, George Keeler was on a Committee to equalize war debts.

No Keeler name appears in the lists of the Mexican war or the Spanish American war.

Mrs. Ebenezer W. Keeler, served as Vice President of the national League of Woman's Service, April 1917.

American Legian Post organized August 10th, 1920, commander Robert R. Keeler.
Enlisted, 1918, Leut. Harold Y. Keeler.

Ridgefield Grange No. 165, organized December 21, 1906, included, Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer C. Keeler.

A band organized in 1874 included, Richard W. Keeler.