Keeter Family Papers,, PC.2048

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Keeter Family Papers,, PC.2048

Abstract

Papers of the Keeter Family of Rutherford County, 1843-1942, reflecting the family's land, financial, estate and family matters. Consists of three letters; deeds; indentures; a land grant and will; promissory notes and receipts; a day book; cash book; two all-purpose ledgers containing recipes and inspirational poems; a copy of a photograph, and miscellaneous materials.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Keeter Family Papers
Call Number
PC.2048
Creator
Keeter family
Date
1834-1941
Extent
4.00 boxes
Language
English
Repository
State Archives of North Carolina

Restrictions on Access & Use

Access Restrictions

Available for research

Use Restrictions

Copyright is retained by the authors of these materials, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law (Title 17 US Code). Individual researchers are responsible for using these materials in conformance with copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item] in PC.2048, Keeter Family Papers, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C., U.S.A.

Collection Overview

Papers of the Keeter Family of Rutherford County, 1843-1942, reflect the family's land, financial, estate and family matters. Consists of three letters; deeds; indentures; a land grant and will; promissory notes and receipts; a day book; cash book; two all-purpose ledgers containing recipes and inspirational poems; a copy of a photograph, and miscellaneous materials.

Many of the papers shed light on the family's land, financial, estate matters; its few letters hint of political involvements and suggest ongoing contact with Keeter family who had migrated to Arkansas. Account books, apparently maintained by John Calvin Keeter and his son Charles Frank, provide more than a glimpse of a segment of the community in north central Rutherford County. John's work as a wheelright, blacksmith, postmaster, and merchant supported the community's day-to-day life, and the records tell part of the story. Two journals from the early 20th century hold southern recipes and spiritual poems written down perhaps by Emeline, wife of J.C. Keeter, and by Linette, wife of Frank Keeter.

Arrangement Note

Arranged by subjects, and therein chronilogically where possible.

Biographical/Historical note

James Keeter (circa 1791-1834) was a son of Mary Elizabeth Cookesy (ca.1762-1845) and Henry Keeter (ca. 1764-1848). The exact year of Henry's death is uncertain, but his will was probabted in the fall term of superior court, 1848, and eventually filed in the State Archives. Additional documents now also in the State Archives include a land grant entered and issued 1799, 1801, to James Keeter (whose 1802 probabated will in the State Archives places him as the father of Henry and grandfather of James).

Many of the papers reflect the family's land, financial, estate matters; its few letters hint of political involvements and suggest ongoing contact with Keeter family who had migrated to Arkansas. Account books, apparently maintained by John Calvin Keeter and his son Charles Frank, provide more than a glimpse of a segment of the community in north central Rutherford County. John's work as a wheelright, blacksmith, postmaster, and merchant supported the community's day-to-day life, and the records tell part of the story. Two journals from the early 20th century hold southern recipes and spiritual poems written down perhaps by Emeline, wife of J.C. Keeter, and by Linette, wife of Frank Keeter.The James Keeter land grant of 1799, 1801 was on Catheys Creek in the north central part of Rutherford County. For decades the land along both Catheys and Mountain Creeks was the site of homes and farm land of the extended Keeter family. (Catheys and Mountain Creeks flowed into the Second Broad and the Broad River respectively.)James Keeter (circa 1791-1834) married Eliza (Elizabeth) Flack on the 16th of December 1871. Their children included Sarah (Sally Lee )(b. circa 1818); Andrew Jackson (b. circa 1821); Mary C. (b. ca. 1823); John Calvin (b. 11 March 1825); and Henry K. (b. circa 1827). The eldest child, Sarah, married a cousin, another James Keeter, on the 2nd of August 1837, and migrated to Union County Arkansas, apparently with various other extended family members.Elizabeth Flack Keeter's will was probated in November 1879 (State Archives, Rutherford County wills), and included a bequest of her tract of land lying on the waters of Cathey's Creek to her sons, Andrew and John Calvin Keeter. Family sources indicate that John Calvin Keeter (1825-1906) was married around 1853 to Louisa Emaline (aka Mialine) Moore (circa 1833-1913). John Calvin (J.C.) was a wheelright, blacksmith, was also a merchant, and served as postmaster for the community of Cuba (post office discontinued in 1906). On the 1900 U.S. Federal census J.C.'s occupation was listed as that of wheelwright. He was also said to have served as mayor of Union Mills, a community in northern Rutherford County established in 1892. Never far from the family farm land, J.C. and Emaline moved to Union Mills around the turn of the century. Tragedy would strike later in 1906 when John Calvin Keeter was struck by lightening while standing in the doorway of the family home.The children born to Emaline and John Calvin Keeter numbered around eleven. The one offspring represented in these papers is Charles Franklin (Frank) Keeter (1864-1945). He was married to Linnette (Linnie) Oak Boswell (b. 1870 in Charleston, South Carolina, d. 1956 in Raleigh, N.C.). The couple raised a family, and Charles farmed and continued as a merchant in Rutherford County. The children of Charles and Linnie included Jack Keeter, who moved to Raleigh and was a fire chief in the city for a number of years.Branson's Business Directory for the year 1872 listed J.C. Keeton [Keeter] as one of the county's two wheelwrights and as a proprietor located in the community of Cuba. The account books in these sets of papers do not name a store, except for the listing a business named G.W. Crawford & Hawkins, 1870-1872. While this might pose some unanswered questions, this book, labelled by the account keeper, as both Cash Book and Ledger, coupled with account book dated 1869-1871 do provide insight into the life and people of the surrounding community, as well as the family and "colored" customers.

Contents of the Collection

1. Keeter Personal and Financial Papers, 1834-1942

Scope and Content:

Many of these papers are perhaps of family interest only, but do offer a view of a large, extended family that appears to have migrated to Rutherford County from other areas, including Virginia and South Carolina. One of the three letters in the collection sheds light on Keeter family members that moved to Arkansas before the Civil War. It reveals a James Keeter (named shared by various members over the generations) who was elected sheriff in Union County, Arkansas. Additionally, there are a few items such as the will of James Keeter.

Biographical/Family Information and Photograph
Box PC.2048.1
Bonds,1870-1910
Box PC.2048.1
Correspondence (3 letters), 1880; 1912
Box PC.2048.1
Cemetery Plot Deed,6 March 1942
Box PC.2048.1
Deeds (4),1857-1899
Box Oversize PC.2048.2
Estate, Administration of: Elizabeth Keeter,1879
Box PC.2048.1
Indentures (5),1855-1901
Box Oversize PC.2048.2
Land Grant,1834
Box Oversize PC.2048.2
Mortgage, Chattel (1),1898
Box PC.2048.1
Petition to Post Master General ,undated
Box PC.2048.1
Promissory Notes and Receipts (3),1886, 1903, 1912
Box PC.2048
Survey Land with Map,13 December 1911
Box PC.2048
Will of James Keeter,1834

2. Account Books and Journals

Ledger of Customer Purchases with Inventory Lists & Miscellaneous,1869-1971
Box PC.2048.1
Cash Book and Ledger: G.W. Crawford and Hawkins; Keeter, 1870-1872
Box PC.2048.1
Southern Recipe Collection,undated, circa 1900
Account: J.C. Keeter's Purchases from J.W. Lewis, 19 December 1885-23 December 1886
Box PC.2048.1
Cash Book for Purchases and Labor,1887-1901
Box PC.2048.1
Household and Personal Journal,Circa 1900-1916
Box PC.2048.1

Subject Headings

  • Keeter, Andrew J.
  • Keeter, Elizabeth Flack
  • Keeter, James
  • Keeter, John Calvin
  • Keeter, Linnette Oaks Boswell
  • Flack family
  • Keeter Family
  • Keeter, Linnette Oaks Boswell
  • Louisa Emiline Keeter
  • G.W. Crawford and Hawkins General Store.
  • J. C. Keeter, Wheelright, Proprietor.
  • Blacksmiths--North Carolina--History--19th century
  • Cooking, American--Southern style.
  • Land grants
  • Southern States
  • Spiritual life--Poetry.
  • Wives
  • Women--19th century.
  • Women--20th century.
  • Manners and customs
  • Wives
  • Wheelwrights
  • Merchants
  • Catheys Creek (Rutherford County, N.C.)
  • Cuba (Rutherford County, N.C.)
  • Rutherford County (N.C.)
  • Arkansas
  • Account books
  • Indentures
  • Recipes
  • Acquisitions Information

    Gift of W. R. Williams, Wake Forest, N.C., 2012.

    Processing Information

  • Processed by Fran Tracy-Walls
  • Finding Aid by Fran Tracy-Walls