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Our great-great grandfather John Keasling was born October 23, 1805, in Wythe County, Virginia. He was the son of Jacob Keasling and Catherine "Caty" Phillippi.
John's family moved to Greene County, Tennessee in 1811. John's mother died in 1816 and his father died in 1826. It appears that John had not quite reached age 21 when his father died. Moses G. Alison and Joseph Davis of Greene County were appointed guardians of the older children in 1826. John's step-mother, Mary Harmon Keesling, was appointed guardian of her four young children. During this period on Jan. 24, 1827, Mary Harmon Kisling (Keesling) was charged with having a illegitimate child. Wythe County, Virginia Court Order Books show that on June 12, 1827, Peter, Rosanna, and George Keesling, orphans of Jacob Keesling, upwards of age 14, chose John Keesling (Kisling) (older brother), guardian and he was appointed guardian for Jacob Keesling, Jr., under age 14.
John married our great-great grandmother Anna Maria Headrick on January 28, 1828, in Greene County, Tennessee. Anna Headrick was born 1808, in Greene County. She was the daughter of John Headrick and Rachel Barnard.
The 1830 Greene County, Tennessee census shows John Kesling, a male 20-29; one other male 20-29 (probably his brother Peter); one female (Anna) 20-29; and three females under 5 years of age (daughters Catherine, Roseann and Christina). We do not know where John's other siblings were in 1830, but the census indicates they were not living with him at that time. Living a short distance away was John's step-mother, who had married Andrew Smiley on October 2, 1829.
Anna died in early 1837, in Greene County. She was only 29 years old, and left behind seven small children under the age of nine years.
John married Mariah Sarah "Sally" Sharpe on April 4, 1837, in Greene County. Sally Sharpe was born about 1812, in Tennessee.
The 1840 Greene County census shows John Keasling, a male 30-39; three males (Jacob, Ruben & Rufus) 5-9; one female (2nd wife, Sally) 20-29; one female (Catherine) 10-14; two females (Roseann & Christina) 5-9; and one female (Martha Jane) under 5 years of age.
It appears that about 1844, John moved to Indiana, leaving all but one of his children from his first marriage in various homes in Greene County, Tennessee. Before leaving John bound out his twin sons, Rufus and Ruben to Christina Knipp, in Greene County, Tennessee. Rose Barnstable, a descendant of the family relates that, "The Knipps and the Keaslings have an interesting relationship ...... John Keasling bound out Rufus and Ruben at the age of 10 and one of them (I think Ruben) grew up with Christena Knipp." Census indicates that John's daughter Christina also remained with the Knipp family. It appears his two eldest daughters, Catherine and Roseann, and his youngest daughter Martha Jane, who was not yet ten years old, also remained in Greene County. After separating his children into various homes, it appears that John and his second wife, Sally, moved to Johnson County, Indiana, with their young daughter and John's son Jacob, from his first marriage.
Sally died prior to 1850, in Johnson County, Indiana.
The 1850 Johnson County, Indiana, White River Township census shows John Keesling, 44, a farmer, born VA; Jacob, 18, born TN; Mary, 9, born TN; and Sarah, 7, born IN. Listed with the family were Noah Massey, 23, laborer, born TN; and James Paxton, 25, laborer, born VA.
The 1850 census shows John's children Christina, Rufus and Ruben living in Tennessee. The 1850 Greene County, Tennessee census shows Elias Knipp, 38, farmer, $500 real property, born VA; Christeny (Elias' mother), 62, born VA; Christeny Keasel, 18, born TN; and Rufus Keasel, 17, laborer, born TN. Also living in Greene County, a short distance away was their brother Ruben. The census shows Anthony Rankin, 55, farmer, $2000 real property, born TN; Margaret, 54, born TN; Martha, 19, born TN; Sarah Crop, 42, born TN; Ruben Keasling, 16, laborer, born TN; and John C. Carson, 22, born TN. Living a short distance away from the other Keasling children was the youngest sibling, Martha, who was living with the Lonas family. The census shows Adam Lonas, 28, tenant, born TN; Catharine, 30, born TN; Sarah, 6, born TN; James, 4, born TN; and Martha Keasling, 12, born TN, blind.
After Sally's death, John Keasling married his third wife, Mrs. Mary Baker on September 11, 1851, in Johnson County, Indiana. Mary Baker was born December 24, 1812, in Virginia.
About 1853, the family moved to Keokuk County, Iowa. The 1856 Keokuk County, Iowa, Lancaster Township, Special Census shows John Keasling, 50, resided in state 3 years, born VA, farmer; Mary, 43, resided in state 3 years, born VA; Mary E., 15, resided in state 3 years, born TN; Sarah E., 13, resided in state 3 years, born IN; and Orphine, 12, resided in state 3 years, born IN (probably Mary's daughter from her first marriage).
The 1860 Keokuk County census, Lancaster Township, shows John Keasling, 55, teamster, $200 personal property; born VA; Sarah, 48, born VA; Sarah E., 17, born IN; Anna, 4, born IA; and Joseph M., 3 months old, born IA.
Prior to 1870, the family moved to Taylor County, Iowa. The 1870 Taylor County, Iowa census, Washington Township, shows John Keasling, 64, farmer, $246 personal property; Mary, 56; Amy, 14 and Joseph W., 10 years old. Listed next to John was his son Jacob and his family.
The 1880 Taylor County, Iowa census, Washington Township, shows John Keasling, 75, farmer; Mary, 66, wife; and Joseph, 19, son, farmer. Listed next to John was his son Jacob and his family.
Mary died May 25, 1887, in Taylor County, Iowa. She is buried in Ladoga Cemetery, at Ladoga, Taylor County. John died there on March 15, 1891, and is buried beside his wife. Headstones mark their graves.
At the time of his death, John had outlived three wives, and had produced at least 11 children.
Children of John Keasling and Anna Headrick
1. Catherine Keasling was born about Nov 1, 1828, in Greene Co, TN. She married Alfred Paxton on Sept 15, 1845, in Greene Co. Alfred Paxton was born about 1825, in TN. The family appears on the 1850, 1860 and 1870 Greene Co, TN census. Catherine died in 1868, in Greene Co. John died prior to 1870, in Greene Co. Their children, all born in Greene Co, TN, were: (1) Margaret Paxton, b. 1845; (2) Christina Paxton, b. 1846; (3) Amelia Paxton, b. 1847; (4) Anna Paxton, b. 1849; (5) Louisa Paxton, b. Jan 18, 1850; m. Emanuel Wilhoit; (6) Andrew Paxton, b. Feb 2, 1854; (7) William Paxton, b. 1857; (8) Rufus Paxton, b. Dec 26, 1859; (9) Lydia Frances Paxton, b. 1862; (10) Lorena E. Paxton, b. 1864; (11) John A. Paxton, b. 1866; and (12) James Paxton, b. 1868
2. Roseann Keasling was born about Aug 30, 1829, in Greene Co, TN. She married John W. Nelson on July 28, 1850, in Greene Co. John Nelson was born Nov 5, 1828, in Greene Co. The family appears on the 1850 Greene Co census, and the 1860, 1870 & 1880 Knox Co, TN census. John died Mar 19, 1896, in Knox Co, TN. Roseann died there on Mar 22, 1917. Their children, all born in Greene and Knox Co, TN, were: (1) Jacob A. Nelson, b. 1851; (2) Ruben A. Nelson, b. 1853; (3) Andrew J. Nelson, b. 1856; (4) Mary C. Nelson, b. 1859; (5) Barbara Catherine Nelson, b. 1861; (6) Martha Nelson, b. 1863; (7) Nancy Nelson, b. 1866; (8) Louisa Nelson, b. 1868; and (9) John L. Nelson, b. 1872
3. Christina Keasling was born June 11, 1830, in Greene Co, TN. She married Joseph Abel. (our line)
4. Jacob Keasling was born Mar 16, 1832, in Greene Co, TN. It appears that Jacob moved to IN about 1844 with his father. Jacob married Nancy Williams on June 7, 1855, in Keokuk Co, IA. Nancy Williams was born Jan 30, 1834, in IN. The family appears on the 1860, 1870, 1880 & 1900 Taylor Co, IA census. Jacob died June 10, 1900, in Taylor Co, IA. Nancy died there on Feb 21, 1917. Their eldest child was born in Keokuk Co, IA and the remainder of their children were born in Taylor Co, IA. Their children included: (1) Mirah E. Keasling, b. Dec 1856; (2) Ledra Bell Keasling, b. Mar 26, 1861; (3) Virginia A. Keasling, b. 1863; (4) John W. Keasling, b. Dec 11, 1865; (5) Mary D. Keasling, b. Apr 1, 1868; and (6) James Rufus Keasling, b. May 1870
5. Ruben Alexander Keasling was born Feb 22, 1834, in Greene Co, TN. He was a twin to Rufus Dudley Keasling. Ruben appears on the 1850 Greene Co, TN census, living with the family of Anthony Rankin. He was listed as a laborer. Ruben married Nancy Russell about 1857, in Greene Co. Nancy Russell was born 1834, in TN. The family appears on the 1860 Greene Co, TN census, and the 1870 Cocke Co, TN census. Nancy died Aug 28, 1875, in Cocke Co, TN. Ruben then married Lucretia Adeline Knipp on May 1, 1879, in Cocke Co. Lucretia Knipp was born May 5, 1847, in TN. The family appears on the 1880 & 1900 Cocke Co, TN census. Ruben died Oct 3, 1909, in Cocke Co. Lucretia died there on Feb 21, 1920. They are buried in Joseph's Chapel Cem, Newport, Cocke Co, TN. Ruben's children by Nancy , all born in Greene and Cocke Co, TN, included: (1) Sarah Jane Keasling, b. 1859; (2) William Alexander Keasling, b. 1862; (3) Rufus Anthony Keasling, b. 1866; (4) Alfred M. Keasling, b. 1868; (5) Robert Inman Keasling, b. 1870; and (6) John Andrew Keasling, b. 1872. Ruben's children by Lucretia, all born in Cocke Co, TN, included: (7) P. Thomas Keasling, b. Apr 19, 1879; (8) Andrew Keasling, b. Sept 1882; (9) Jacob Keasling, b. May 1885; (10) Earnis Keasling, b. Sept 1887; (11) Joel Keasling, b. Mar 1892; and (12) Rosa Bell Keasling, b. July 1894
6. Rufus Dudley Keasling was born Feb 22, 1834, in Greene Co, TN. He was a twin to Ruben Alexander Keasling. Rufus appears on the 1850 Greene Co, TN, along with his sister, Christina, living with Elias Knipp and his mother, Christena Knipp, to whom Rufus and Ruben were bound out. Rufus married Rohema E. Cobble on Oct 19, 1856, in Greene Co, TN. Rohema Cobble was born Apr 30, 1836, in Greene Co, TN. The family appears on the 1860, 1870 & 1880 Greene Co, TN census. Rohema died on May 19, 1889, in Greene Co. Rufus died there a short time later on Oct 22, 1889. They are buried in Sinking Springs Cem, Midway, Greene Co, TN. Their children, all born in Greene Co, included: (1) Ruben Alexander Keasling, b. 1857; (2) John Dudley Keasling, b. Dec 1859; (3) Mary Elizabeth Keasling, b. 1861; (4) George Washington Keasling, b. 1863; (5) Susan Lavina Keasling, b. 1866; (6) Sarah Etta Keasling, b. 1868; (7) Rebecca Ann Keasling, b. Mar 1870; (8) Mahala Emeline Keasling, b. 1872; (9) James Rufus Keasling, b. 1875; (10) Rohema Cordelia Keasling, b. 1877; and (11) William Ernest Keasling, b. 1879
7. Martha Jane Keasling was born May 27, 1835, in Greene Co, TN. According to the 1850 census, Martha Jane was blind. She appears on the 1850 Greene Co, TN census, living with the family of Adam Lonas. Martha Jane married William Stafford on Oct 5, 1854, in Greene Co, TN. William Stafford was born about 1830. He died prior to 1870, probably in Greene County. Martha Jane then married John Henry Lowe on Dec 28, 1867, in Greene Co. John Lowe was born 1798, in NC. Martha Jane was his third wife. He had several children from his first two marriages who were considerably older than Martha Jane. John died 1875, in Greene Co. We did not locate Martha and William Stafford on the 1860 census. Martha and John Lowe appear on the 1870 Greene Co census. Martha, a widow, appears on the 1880 and 1900 Greene Co census with various children and grandchildren. We have been told that Martha Jane died on Oct 10, 1908, in Greene Co. Martha Jane's children, all born in Greene Co, TN, included: (1) Emeline Stafford, b. abt 1855; (2) Mary Jane Stafford, b. Apr 15, 1859; m. James Hanson Kirk; (3) Hugh Stafford, b. 1864; (4) Thomas Hunley Stafford, b. Feb 23, 1867; (5) Minnie C. Lowe, b. Oct 17, 1871; and (6) George Marion Lowe, b. Mar 25, 1875
Children of John Keasling and Sally Sharpe
8. Mary Elizabeth Keasling was born Feb 18, 1841, in Greene Co, TN. She married William Jasper Strong in 1858, in IA. Jasper Strong was born Aug 1837, in IN. The family appears on the 1860 & 1870 Keokuk Co, IA census, and the 1880 and 1900 Josephine Co, OR census. Mary, widowed, appears on the 1910 & 1920 Josephine Co census with her son Douglas, who never married. William died Nov 24, 1904, in Josephine Co, OR. Mary died there on Jan 15, 1922. They are both buried in Laurel Cem, Kerby, Josephine Co, OR. Their children, the seven oldest born in IA, and the three youngest born in OR, were: (1) Alice Louisa Lovina Strong, b. Apr 15, 1859; (2) Douglas A. Strong, b. Nov 20, 1860; (3) John William Strong, b. Oct 22, 1863; (4) Walter Atlas Strong, b. Feb 2, 1865; (5) Cordelia Emaline Strong, b. Nov 28, 1866; (6) James F. Strong, b. Mar 23, 1869; (7) Seneth Mariah Strong, b. Apr 24, 1871; (8) Edward Robert Strong, b. Nov 1875; (9) Henrietta Sylestia Strong, b. 1877; and (10) Clarence Earle Strong, b. July 29, 1885
9. Sarah Keasling was born about 1844, in IN. She appears on the 1850 Johnson Co, IN census, and the 1856 and 1860 Keokuk Co, IA census.
Children of John Keasling and Mary Baker
10. Amy Anna Keasling was born June 23, 1856, in Keokuk Co, IA. She married Stephen William Ackerman on July 4, 1875, in Nodaway Co, MO. Stephen Ackerman was born Sept 1839, in NY. The family appears on the 1880 Decatur Co, KS census, and the 1900 Johnson Co, WY census. Anna, widowed, appears on the 1910, 1920 & 1930 El Paso Co, CO census. Stephen died May 20, 1905, at Fremont, King Co, WA and is buried in Grand Army of the Republic Cem, Seattle, King Co, WA. Anna died July 6, 1936, in El Paso Co, CO and is buried in Evergreen Cem, Colorado Springs, El Paso Co, CO. Their children included: (1) William Henry Ackerman, b. Aug 25, 1876, IA; (2) Frederick Guy Ackerman, b. Feb 24, 1878, IA; (3) Edna L. Ackerman, b. Dec 10, 1880, KS; m. Ira J. Vruwink; (4) Anna Mary Ackerman, b. Dec 26, 1881, KS; m. William Holmes, Jr.; (5) Dorothy Alice Ackerman, b. Nov 7, 1883, WY; m. Charles Ross Loftland; (6) Iva Idella Ackerman, b. Dec 3, 1885, KS; m. Oscar Olson; (7) Rilla Peral Ackerman, b. Mar 10, 1888, CO; (8) Laura M. Ackerman, b. Oct 20, 1889, CO; (9) Margaret Janet Ackerman, b. Mar 19, 1892, WY; (10) Andrew Stephen Ackerman, b. Aug 12, 1894, WY; (11) Jasper Donald Ackerman, b. Oct 22, 1896, WY; and (12) Howard Lee Ackerman, b. May 1, 1902, WY
11. Joseph M. Keasling was born May 1860, in Keokuk Co, IA. He married Sarah C. Williamson in 1881. Sarah Williamson was born Nov 1863, in Henry Co, IA. The family appears on the 1900 & 1910 Taylor Co, IA census, and the 1920 & 1930 Miami Co, KS census. Joseph died 1940, in Miami Co, KS. Sarah died there in 1942. They are buried in Osawatomie Cem, Osawatomie, Miami Co, KS. Children: (1) Mary "Molly" Keasling, b. 1882, Taylor Co, IA; (2) Fredy Keasling, b. Nov 28, 1884, Taylor Co; Dec 19, 1884, Taylor Co; bur Ladoga Cem, Taylor Co, IA; (3) Orpha Keasling, b. Nov 1888, Taylor Co; and (4) Orvil Alva Keasling, b. Apr 11, 1890, Taylor Co; d. Mar 24, 1891, Taylor Co; bur Ladoga Cem, Taylor Co, IA