JOSEPH KEYS, a very successful agriculturist, and prominent representative of an old family of Smith township, is a grandson of James Keys, who was born and reared in Cumberland county, Penn., and was there married to a native of the same county, who bore him one son, James. Soon after the birth of this son the father died (about 1777), and his widow was then married to Robert Watson. Her son James lived with them, and in 1794 accompanied the family to Washington county, locating on Chartiers creek, Chartiers township. In 1800 James Keys was united in marriage with Jane McClelland, who was born in 1779, a daughter of James McClelland, of Mt. Pleasant township, Washington county, who was a native of Ireland, and in an early day settled in the locality of Miller's run, Washington county. To the union of James and Jane Keys children were born as follows: Martha (married to William McBride, of Robinson township, this county), Jane (married to John McBurney), John (deceased), James (a retired farmer of Steubenville, Ohio), William (deceased farmer of Kansas), Joseph (residing in Smith township) and Ezra (a grocer of Leavenworth, Kans.). After his marriage to Jane McClelland, James Keys moved to Trumbull county, Ohio (then a vast wilderness), remaining there but a short time, and then came to Smith township, this county, locating on a farm in Cherry Valley. In 1822 he represented Washington county in the Legislature, serving five years, and then returned to his farm. He was a brilliant and intellectual man, a leader in every undertaking for the public good. He was a Whig in politics, and in religious connection he and his wife were members of the Seceder Church in which he was an elder. His wife died in 1838, and after a useful and successful life, he was laid by her side in 1854. Joseph Keys was born December 24, 1819, on his father's farm, in Cherry Valley, Smith township, this county, and during his boyhood assisted in the usual duties of agricultural life, and attended the subscription school of his neighborhood. On January 15, 1843, he was united in marriage with Eleanor Smith, who was born in 1821, a daughter of John Smith, a resident of Smith township. The following children have been born to this union: Martha J. (deceased wife of William Rea), Angeline (widow of A. L. Rea), Lizzie (living at home with her father), William J. (a farmer of Barton county, Kans.), and John W. and Joseph F. (both residing with their parents). Mr. and Mrs. Keys located on a farm in Smith township after their marriage, and in 1849 moved to the valuable farm where Mr. Keys is now residing. It is one of the finest in the township, and comprises 264 acres of prime land. The place was entered by Lou Washington, a cousin of George Washington, and here for twenty years Mr. Keys has carried on a general farming; stock-raising and dairying business. In 1886 his residence was laid in ashes by a destructive fire, but it was immediately rebuilt on a more substantial and modern plan. Joseph Keys is one of the most solid and prosperous farmers in Smith township. In politics he has been a Whig and Republican. In 1886 he was called to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed from earth after a married life of forty-three years. She was a member of the U. P. Church, with which he is connected. His home is now being cared for by his daughter, Miss Lizzie.

Text taken from page 595 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed June 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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