KELLER, Jacob Riley - Family - 1903 - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Covington Friend - With the exception of two sons, the entire family of Jacob Riley Keller of Jackson Township have been adjudged insane. "The afflicted ones are the mother, Mrs. Margaret Keller, her daughter, Annie and three sons, John, Dave and Joe."

The mother was adjudged insane several years ago and only last July was taken away from the asylum by her sons and removed to the old home in Jackson Township. Trouble commenced then and it was not long until Jacob Riley Keller left and went to California where he now lives.  About four weeks ago Joe Keller, who is a married man was adjudged insane and he was taken to the hospital at Indianapolis. Only a few days past until the neighbors noticed that Dave, john and Annie were not right and at times were violent and threatening to kill. They all imagined that the world was coming to an end, and that they were sent here by God to save the world. Dave has been regarded as insane for some time but last week he became worse and a constable went to the home where John K.Keller, his mother and sister Annie lived to get Dave.  As soon as Dave saw the officer coming he started to run. They shot a couple of times thinking that would cause him to cease running. Instead of stopping he ran the faster. He climbed a tree about 40' high and jumped out alighting on his back. He was badly inured and was carried home. A physician was called but he was not allowed to enter the house the other inmates standing guard with pitchforks and clubs.

Saturday morning before Justice Davidson, Drs. Hicks and Faulkner of Hillsboro an inquest was held and John and Annie were both adjudged insane, brought to this city and placed in jail to await the return of the papers from Indianapolis, admitting them to the asylum. The papers are expected back today and Sheriff Reeves will at once remove the unfortunate brothers and sister to the asylum. Annie Keller is about 25 years of age. She imagines that she died, went to Heaven and was sent back to earth in the form of an angel to preach the gospel. She thinks her father in dead and cannot be convinced that he is still living. The insanity is of course hereditary but we are told that it is an unprecedented occurrence for five members in one family to be inmates at one time in the insane asylum.

John Keller owns about 6 acres of good land in Cain Township and a lot of stock. Joe and Dave are not so well off. The mother of this afflicted family is 65 years of age. She is incurably insane and her condition is indeed sad and pitiable.. Annie occupies quarters with Mrs. Elmira Drake at the county jail and is not near as violent as her brother John who occasionally causes the sheriff a lot of trouble.