March 29, 1937
Salix, Pa
Geo. W. Cutrell
Scottdale, Pa
Dear Brother In regard of your letter of March 23-37. I will give you a part of my history
of the Keim clan. Beginning in the early centuries down to the present time. Gottschalch
Keim is the ancestor
for a part of this history. Beginning A.D. 1020 and he died A.D. 1075.
The was the Father of two sons, namely Hinkmar and Theodabart. and Theodabart Keim also
died A.D. 1143. Hinkmar Keim was the father of two daughters. and Theodabart Keim was the
father of one sone namely Albertus. And Albertus Keim was the father of two sons and one
daughter. Anselm and Waltermar. Waltermar Keim was the father of three sons, namely Conrad
Kuno and Wolfhart Keim. Thes are the descendants of Gottchatch Keim to the fifth
generations nearly 1000 years ago. Those men stood high in homor with the kings.
Theodabart Keim had the skill and knowledge to study medicine, astronomy, alchemy, and
astrology that he stood in high honor with King Henry IV. and Albertus Keim had the skill
and knowledge of his father to study mathematics and military engineering. and in the year
A.D. 1150 he followed King Conrad III to
the Holyland for his Physician and military engeneer. and Waltermar Keim was bodily
Physician for the German Emperors. In the fifteenth
century the Keims were very numerous in Switzerland along the river Rhine. living in
prosperity in that beautiful vally of the Rhine. before the 30 years of war (1618-1648)
with Germany and France. &&.-
In 1698 John Keim sailed across the Atlantic Ocean for the United States for three years.
in 1701 he returned to his Fatherland in 1706 he married in 1707. he returned again to the
United States and brought his wife along and located in the civinity of Germantown which
is now a part of Philadelphia. A few years later they moved on a farm in Oley
Township Berks County, Pa. He was the father of 16 children. and was married twice. he had
six children born with his first wife. and ten
children with his second wife. He married his second wife January 1st, 1731. and he died
in 1753. he had a will, and made ample provision for
his six children born with his first wife. and also bequethed sufficient on the same
manscript for his widow and ten children. The will was Probated January first 1754 in the
courthouse a Reading Pa.
John Peter Keim my great grand Father Keim. Probably born in Baden Germany. he sailed from
Rotterdam on the ship Nancy. Thomas Cantom
master of the ship via Coroes across the Atlantic Ocean for the Unitedstates landed at the
Port at Philadelphia August 31, 1750. He was unmarried when he came in this country and he
located in Berks County Pa. in 1766 he got married and reared a family of eight children.
namely, Nicholas, Jacob, Georde, John, Samuel, Peter, Mary and Elizabeth
Keim. Nicholas his eldest son was born in Berks County Feburary 2, 1768. and moved in
Somerset County near Berlin and from there to Cambria County which is now a part of the
city of Johnstown. Just one house there owned and occupied by Joseph Johns the founder of
Johnstown. Nicholas Keim was living in a house scarcely more than a hut. from there
to near Glessners Mills. from there to the Sailey farm
near Davidsville later known as John Kaufman farm. In 1810 he moved in Elklic Township at
Salsbury. He was the Father of 24 children and was married thrice. His first wife Fanny
Stutzman, second wife Fanny Hostetter, third wife Catharine Eash. Nicholas Keim was the
Father of 20 adults, 13 sons and 7 daughters. namely, John, Jacob, Daniel, Jonas,
Nicholas, Moses, Solomon, Jeremiah, Emanuel, Samuel, Christian, Joseph and Benjamin.
Daughters, Elizabeth, married Samuel Weaver, Susannah to
Stever Yoder, Christian to Jacob Kaub, Mary to Henry Yoder, Fanny to Michael Yoder,
Barbara to Moses Beachy. Catharine Joseph Miller. Four of his children died in infancy.
Nicholas Keim died Oct. 18, 1830. His children nearly all of them moved to other states,
to Holmes county Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois . Three of his sons stayed in
Elklic Township.
John Keim born January 6, 1792, died sept. 18, 1889. He was a Mennoite. Jonas Keim born
march 11, 1803. died Aug. 3 1865. Jacob Keim born July 1st 1789 he was the Father of
Bishop David Keim. Jacob
Keim (second son of John Peter Keim the emigrant in Berks Co) born 1769. He move in
Garrett County Maryland died march 16 1849. George Keim born in Berkes County moved to
Somerset County and from there to Holmes County Ohio. Peter Keim born in Berks County
Sept. 16 1780 moved to Indiana he also reared a large family died in 1870 aged nearly 90
years Mary Keim married to Jacob Yoder and Elizabeth Mr. Fetters .
Jacob Blanch a son of Christian Blanch was porbably born in Berne Switzerland in 1745. he
came with his Father from Switzerland to the Unitedstates Sailed on the ship Brotherhood
John Thomson was the captain. reached the Port at Philadelphia November 3 1750. and
located which is now Dauphin County. There Jacob grew to manhood and married Anna Kaufman.
nine children born in the family namely, John, Jacob, Christian, Henry, David, and Mary.
Elizabeth, Veronica and Anna Blanch,and his descendants are more than twenty ministers of
the Gospel in 1790 he moved with his family from Dauphin County to Somerset County. in the
quemahoning valley at the Stony creed and quemahoning Junction in Conemaugh Township, Pa.
(if I am informed right) he was the founder and
leader of the Mennonite Church in the Johnstown District Died in 1811. Jacob Blanch his
son was ordained to the ministry about 1810 and few
years later porbably 1814, Biship. he was the first Mennonite bishop in the Johnstown
District, Born 1775 died 1849. My grandfather Samuel Keim was married to Anna Blanch a
daughter of Jacob Blanch, Sen. and also a sister of Bishop Jacob Blanch they were the
Early Mennonites in the Johnstown District. Peter Keim a grandson of Samuel Keim was
ordained to the misistry of the Mennonite Church in Kent County Michigan probably about
1867. or near that time with Bishop John Speicher the Leader. Jacob Saylor a son of Joseph
Saylor was a Mennonite Preacher.
He came from Switzerland to the Unitedstates and brought a German Bible with him published
March 16, 1536. That Bible was handed down from generation to generation to the seventh
generation. John Henry Blough is the owner of that German Bible at the
present time. he is living near Krings Station in Cambria County, Pa.
Pre. Jacob Saylor was born in Switzerland January 30, 1715 married to Magdelen Hald on the
19 day of March 1739. His will was probated 1796. Bishop Jacob Blauch was married to
Catharine Saylor. She was a descendant of Preacher Jacob Saylor. Elizabeth Blauch was
married John Saylor. (if I have the right instruction) John Saylor was also a
descendant of Pre. jacob Saylor & so
Yours Sincerely
(signed) J.J. Keim
Salix, Pa.
P.S. I am past 81 yr. 5 mo.
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