JAMES W. KEYES was born in Monroe county, Virginia, November 1, 1805, son of Humphrey and Sarah (Hanley) Keyes. His father came to this county November 10, 1830, and located east of Springfield on a farm, where he died in October, 1833, in his seventieth year. His mother started for California in 1846 with her daughter and son-in-law, James F. Reed, and died on the way. She was buried on the water of the Big Blue river. James W. received a common school education, and learned the tailor's trade, which occupation he followed thirty years.
He was married January 9, 1827, in Botetourt county, Vermont, to Lydia Spickard, who was born June 17, 1807, in the county. They have had nine children, namely: Charles A., Mary C., now Mrs. William H. Vandoren; Edward L., Henrietta M., now Mrs. Henson Robinson; Thomas R., Susan F., now Mrs. Silas W. Hickox; Margaret E., now Mrs. William Day; Martha J., now Mrs. Douglas Hickox. The two deceased are James L., born May 10, 1829, and died November 13, 1830 in Virginia, and Ellen, born August 5, 1844, and died May 10, 1846.
Mr. Keyes moved to Springfield in April, 1831, where he continued to work at his trade, and in 1836, he entered his present farm, and in 1861 moved onto the same. He is now the owner of a nice farm situated north of Springfield, consisting now of two hundred and thirty-four acres. In 1872, he was afflicted with a paralytic stroke, which disabled him to such an extent that he was obliged to retire from business. His first vote was cast in 1828, for Andrew Jackson. He was a postmaster in Springfield, first under Van Buren, and then under Buchanan; was justice of the peace in Springfield fourteen years, and was also supervisor. Politically, he is a Democrat.
1881 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS, Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1881. Page 1025
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Died, at his residence, North Fifth street, Springfield, Ill., at 5:50 p.m., Saturday, May 19, 1888, James W. Keyes, aged 82 years. Funeral from the Third Presbyterian church. Friends of the family invited to attend.
Mr. Keyes was born Nov. 1. 1805, in Monroe county, Virginia. He removed to Springfield in March, 1831, and has resided here ever since, being engaged in the merchant tailoring business for a number of years, retiring about 1855 and removing to his farm near this city. He had been an invalid for several years.
Mr. Keyes was a staunch democrat, and was postmaster of Springfield from 1837 to 1840 under Martin Van Buren, and from 1857 to 1859 under James Buchanan. Early in 1859 Mr. Keyes took sides with Stephen A. Douglas against Mr. Buchanan and was relieved of his office by the latter. He was one of the five gentlemen who went from here to Peoria to the convention in 1838 which nominated Mr. Douglas, then a resident of Springfield, for congress, for which position he was defeated by the late Major John T. Stuart, of this city, by 16 votes. Mr. Keyes was also a justice of the peace here for several years.
His wife, whom he married in Virginia before removing to Springfield, died a year ago. He is survived by eight children, all residing in this city, viz: Hon. Chas A. Keyes, Mrs. W. H. Van Doren, Mrs. S. W. Hickox, Edward L. Keyes, Thomas R. Keyes, Mrs. Henson Robinson, Mrs. William Day and Mrs. Douglas Hickox.
Mr. Keyes was a charter member of Springfield lodge No. 4, A. F. and A. M., together with Stephen A. Douglas, Abraham Lincoln and Gen. James Shields; and at the time of his death was the sole surviving charter member. Mr. Keyes was greatly respected for his integrity, and was an honored citizen, and a loving husband and father. He will be buried with Masonic honors.
IL State Register, Springfield, IL 5-20-1888
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Note: James is buried in the same plot as wife Lydia. Her name is inscribed on the Keyes obelisk but his is not.
He was married January 9, 1827, in Botetourt county, Vermont, to Lydia Spickard, who was born June 17, 1807, in the county. They have had nine children, namely: Charles A., Mary C., now Mrs. William H. Vandoren; Edward L., Henrietta M., now Mrs. Henson Robinson; Thomas R., Susan F., now Mrs. Silas W. Hickox; Margaret E., now Mrs. William Day; Martha J., now Mrs. Douglas Hickox. The two deceased are James L., born May 10, 1829, and died November 13, 1830 in Virginia, and Ellen, born August 5, 1844, and died May 10, 1846.
Mr. Keyes moved to Springfield in April, 1831, where he continued to work at his trade, and in 1836, he entered his present farm, and in 1861 moved onto the same. He is now the owner of a nice farm situated north of Springfield, consisting now of two hundred and thirty-four acres. In 1872, he was afflicted with a paralytic stroke, which disabled him to such an extent that he was obliged to retire from business. His first vote was cast in 1828, for Andrew Jackson. He was a postmaster in Springfield, first under Van Buren, and then under Buchanan; was justice of the peace in Springfield fourteen years, and was also supervisor. Politically, he is a Democrat.
1881 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS, Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1881. Page 1025
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Died, at his residence, North Fifth street, Springfield, Ill., at 5:50 p.m., Saturday, May 19, 1888, James W. Keyes, aged 82 years. Funeral from the Third Presbyterian church. Friends of the family invited to attend.
Mr. Keyes was born Nov. 1. 1805, in Monroe county, Virginia. He removed to Springfield in March, 1831, and has resided here ever since, being engaged in the merchant tailoring business for a number of years, retiring about 1855 and removing to his farm near this city. He had been an invalid for several years.
Mr. Keyes was a staunch democrat, and was postmaster of Springfield from 1837 to 1840 under Martin Van Buren, and from 1857 to 1859 under James Buchanan. Early in 1859 Mr. Keyes took sides with Stephen A. Douglas against Mr. Buchanan and was relieved of his office by the latter. He was one of the five gentlemen who went from here to Peoria to the convention in 1838 which nominated Mr. Douglas, then a resident of Springfield, for congress, for which position he was defeated by the late Major John T. Stuart, of this city, by 16 votes. Mr. Keyes was also a justice of the peace here for several years.
His wife, whom he married in Virginia before removing to Springfield, died a year ago. He is survived by eight children, all residing in this city, viz: Hon. Chas A. Keyes, Mrs. W. H. Van Doren, Mrs. S. W. Hickox, Edward L. Keyes, Thomas R. Keyes, Mrs. Henson Robinson, Mrs. William Day and Mrs. Douglas Hickox.
Mr. Keyes was a charter member of Springfield lodge No. 4, A. F. and A. M., together with Stephen A. Douglas, Abraham Lincoln and Gen. James Shields; and at the time of his death was the sole surviving charter member. Mr. Keyes was greatly respected for his integrity, and was an honored citizen, and a loving husband and father. He will be buried with Masonic honors.
IL State Register, Springfield, IL 5-20-1888
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: James is buried in the same plot as wife Lydia. Her name is inscribed on the Keyes obelisk but his is not.
JAMES W. KEYES was born in Monroe county, Virginia, November 1, 1805, son of Humphrey and Sarah (Hanley) Keyes. His father came to this county November 10, 1830, and located east of Springfield on a farm, where he died in October, 1833, in his seventieth year. His mother started for California in 1846 with her daughter and son-in-law, James F. Reed, and died on the way. She was buried on the water of the Big Blue river. James W. received a common school education, and learned the tailor's trade, which occupation he followed thirty years.
He was married January 9, 1827, in Botetourt county, Vermont, to Lydia Spickard, who was born June 17, 1807, in the county. They have had nine children, namely: Charles A., Mary C., now Mrs. William H. Vandoren; Edward L., Henrietta M., now Mrs. Henson Robinson; Thomas R., Susan F., now Mrs. Silas W. Hickox; Margaret E., now Mrs. William Day; Martha J., now Mrs. Douglas Hickox. The two deceased are James L., born May 10, 1829, and died November 13, 1830 in Virginia, and Ellen, born August 5, 1844, and died May 10, 1846.
Mr. Keyes moved to Springfield in April, 1831, where he continued to work at his trade, and in 1836, he entered his present farm, and in 1861 moved onto the same. He is now the owner of a nice farm situated north of Springfield, consisting now of two hundred and thirty-four acres. In 1872, he was afflicted with a paralytic stroke, which disabled him to such an extent that he was obliged to retire from business. His first vote was cast in 1828, for Andrew Jackson. He was a postmaster in Springfield, first under Van Buren, and then under Buchanan; was justice of the peace in Springfield fourteen years, and was also supervisor. Politically, he is a Democrat.
1881 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS, Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1881. Page 1025
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Died, at his residence, North Fifth street, Springfield, Ill., at 5:50 p.m., Saturday, May 19, 1888, James W. Keyes, aged 82 years. Funeral from the Third Presbyterian church. Friends of the family invited to attend.
Mr. Keyes was born Nov. 1. 1805, in Monroe county, Virginia. He removed to Springfield in March, 1831, and has resided here ever since, being engaged in the merchant tailoring business for a number of years, retiring about 1855 and removing to his farm near this city. He had been an invalid for several years.
Mr. Keyes was a staunch democrat, and was postmaster of Springfield from 1837 to 1840 under Martin Van Buren, and from 1857 to 1859 under James Buchanan. Early in 1859 Mr. Keyes took sides with Stephen A. Douglas against Mr. Buchanan and was relieved of his office by the latter. He was one of the five gentlemen who went from here to Peoria to the convention in 1838 which nominated Mr. Douglas, then a resident of Springfield, for congress, for which position he was defeated by the late Major John T. Stuart, of this city, by 16 votes. Mr. Keyes was also a justice of the peace here for several years.
His wife, whom he married in Virginia before removing to Springfield, died a year ago. He is survived by eight children, all residing in this city, viz: Hon. Chas A. Keyes, Mrs. W. H. Van Doren, Mrs. S. W. Hickox, Edward L. Keyes, Thomas R. Keyes, Mrs. Henson Robinson, Mrs. William Day and Mrs. Douglas Hickox.
Mr. Keyes was a charter member of Springfield lodge No. 4, A. F. and A. M., together with Stephen A. Douglas, Abraham Lincoln and Gen. James Shields; and at the time of his death was the sole surviving charter member. Mr. Keyes was greatly respected for his integrity, and was an honored citizen, and a loving husband and father. He will be buried with Masonic honors.
IL State Register, Springfield, IL 5-20-1888
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: James is buried in the same plot as wife Lydia. Her name is inscribed on the Keyes obelisk but his is not.
He was married January 9, 1827, in Botetourt county, Vermont, to Lydia Spickard, who was born June 17, 1807, in the county. They have had nine children, namely: Charles A., Mary C., now Mrs. William H. Vandoren; Edward L., Henrietta M., now Mrs. Henson Robinson; Thomas R., Susan F., now Mrs. Silas W. Hickox; Margaret E., now Mrs. William Day; Martha J., now Mrs. Douglas Hickox. The two deceased are James L., born May 10, 1829, and died November 13, 1830 in Virginia, and Ellen, born August 5, 1844, and died May 10, 1846.
Mr. Keyes moved to Springfield in April, 1831, where he continued to work at his trade, and in 1836, he entered his present farm, and in 1861 moved onto the same. He is now the owner of a nice farm situated north of Springfield, consisting now of two hundred and thirty-four acres. In 1872, he was afflicted with a paralytic stroke, which disabled him to such an extent that he was obliged to retire from business. His first vote was cast in 1828, for Andrew Jackson. He was a postmaster in Springfield, first under Van Buren, and then under Buchanan; was justice of the peace in Springfield fourteen years, and was also supervisor. Politically, he is a Democrat.
1881 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS, Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1881. Page 1025
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Died, at his residence, North Fifth street, Springfield, Ill., at 5:50 p.m., Saturday, May 19, 1888, James W. Keyes, aged 82 years. Funeral from the Third Presbyterian church. Friends of the family invited to attend.
Mr. Keyes was born Nov. 1. 1805, in Monroe county, Virginia. He removed to Springfield in March, 1831, and has resided here ever since, being engaged in the merchant tailoring business for a number of years, retiring about 1855 and removing to his farm near this city. He had been an invalid for several years.
Mr. Keyes was a staunch democrat, and was postmaster of Springfield from 1837 to 1840 under Martin Van Buren, and from 1857 to 1859 under James Buchanan. Early in 1859 Mr. Keyes took sides with Stephen A. Douglas against Mr. Buchanan and was relieved of his office by the latter. He was one of the five gentlemen who went from here to Peoria to the convention in 1838 which nominated Mr. Douglas, then a resident of Springfield, for congress, for which position he was defeated by the late Major John T. Stuart, of this city, by 16 votes. Mr. Keyes was also a justice of the peace here for several years.
His wife, whom he married in Virginia before removing to Springfield, died a year ago. He is survived by eight children, all residing in this city, viz: Hon. Chas A. Keyes, Mrs. W. H. Van Doren, Mrs. S. W. Hickox, Edward L. Keyes, Thomas R. Keyes, Mrs. Henson Robinson, Mrs. William Day and Mrs. Douglas Hickox.
Mr. Keyes was a charter member of Springfield lodge No. 4, A. F. and A. M., together with Stephen A. Douglas, Abraham Lincoln and Gen. James Shields; and at the time of his death was the sole surviving charter member. Mr. Keyes was greatly respected for his integrity, and was an honored citizen, and a loving husband and father. He will be buried with Masonic honors.
IL State Register, Springfield, IL 5-20-1888
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: James is buried in the same plot as wife Lydia. Her name is inscribed on the Keyes obelisk but his is not.
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