William H. Keefer

Male 1871 - Abt 1915  (44 years)


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  • Name William H. Keefer 
    Birth 1871  Titusville, Crawford Co., Pennsylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Death Abt 1915  St.Louis, St.Louis Co., Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial Bethany Cemetery Wellston, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • THINK HE IS LOST.
      Titusville Man Believed to Have Lost His Life in the St. Louis Disaster
      Titusville, Pa., May 30 - H. W.[W. H.] Keefer, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Keefer, is believed to have lost his life in the St. Louis disaster, as he worked in the office of the Vandalia freight house, which was wrecked by the storm. Receiving no response to telegrams, Mr. Keefer left for St. Louis this morning to investigate the matter.
      (Buffalo Evening News, Buffalo, NY, Saturday, May 30., 1896)
      --The May 27, 1896 St. Louis disaster was a result of one of the most devastating tornado events in US history. Two large tornados leveled areas of the city - F4 tornado. Fourteen of the thirty-five clerks in the Vandalia office died when the building collapsed.

    • W. H. Keefer, bill clerk for the Vandalia, who is suffering from a severe bruising and internal injuries, was in the office at the time of the approach of the storm, and with others in the building tried to hold the door closed, but the wind blew the windows in and then all ran for places of safety. Mr. Keefer and Mr. Hanford started for the other side of the building when it collapsed, burying both under its walls, but near the surface from which position they were rescued. Mr. Hanford a little while afterwards, and Mr. Keefer after about four hours, but all the time they were able to talk to those engaged in the rescue and give them direction.
      (St.Louis Glove-Democrat, Friday, May 29, 1896, page 11)
      --There are several stories in this paper about the perils of the storm and the collapse of the old building in which the Vandalia offices were situated, in the direct path of the tornado. After the crash of the walls "pandemonium reigned; those who had escaped with their lives ran frantically about, crying for help, the fierce and almost unearthly shrieks of the dying filled the air...."

    • His house was skipped in the 1900 census - 1899 city directory he was living at 4627 Kennerly Ave., also there is Frank Buird (his late wife's father). In 1901 city directory he was living on Washington Ave, as was the widow Mary B. Riley.
      1910 living in St.Louis,MO (w/wife Mary) working as a clerk in a Railroad office.
    Person ID I12374  OurNorthernRoots
    Last Modified 31 Jan 2023 

    Father Henry A. Keefer,   b. 7 Jul 1848, Hornellsville, Steuben Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 14 Oct 1907, Jamestown, Chautauqua Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 59 years) 
    Mother Nora AnaBell Nelson,   b. 5 Jul 1852, Titusville, Crawford Co., Pennsylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 29 Dec 1908, Jamestown, Chautauqua Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 56 years) 
    Marriage Feb 1870  Oil Creek, Crawford Co., Pennsylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F3354  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Catherine Buird,   b. 12 Feb 1870, Sedalia, Pettis Co., Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 22 Feb 1899, St.Louis, St.Louis Co., Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 29 years) 
    Marriage Est 1890 
    Children 
    +1. Marie Josephine Keefer,   b. 17 Oct 1894, St.Louis, St.Louis Co., Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 26 Sep 1974, Pasadena, Los Angeles Co., California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 79 years)
    +2. Cora Katherine Keefer,   b. 22 Mar 1898, St.Louis, St.Louis Co., Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Jan 1987, Arcadia, Los Angeles Co., California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 88 years)
    Family ID F10276  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 22 Aug 2017 

    Family 2 Mary Belle Burns,   b. 23 Jul 1852, Alton, Madison Co., Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Dec 1939, St.Louis, St.Louis Co., Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 87 years) 
    Marriage 25 Sep 1901  St.Louis, St.Louis Co., Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F6498  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 6 Sep 2014 

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