KELLER, Mary Keller - Putnam

Mary Keller, daughter of Henry and Elinor Keller was born in Tennessee,  Mar 9 1816; died at the home of her daughter, Ellen Sowers, Sept13, 1907, aged 91 years, 3 months 28 days. She came with her parents to Greencastle, Ind., when a small child;  was married to Henry Keller in 1834 at the age of 18.  To this union were born 10 children, 6 of whom have preceded her in death. One daughter and two sons remain to mourn a mother’s loss. She also leaves an aged brother in Iowa and two sisters in Owen county.  Forty  nine grand children, eighty seven great grandchildren owe their origin to this noble old grandmother.  She with her husband entered a government claim one mile south of Wallace, on which her husband built a log cabin, then brought his bride and all their belongings on horseback to begin life in the forest. She began life under all the difficulties that our pioneer parents knew. She was familiar with the flax brake and the spinning wheel. There were deer and wild cat here when she first came and often has she interested her grand children by telling them how she would throw sticks at the deer to drive them from the path when she was going through the forest to a neighbor’s house.  She lived in the old double log house that her husband built  sixty three years ago or until fire destroyed it ten years ago.

That better part which cannot be taken away was not neglected for she was converted at the age of sixteen years and has always lived a Christian life.   Her home was a place where servants of the Lord ever found a welcome and as long as her health permitted she would walk for miles to attend church.  She was a friend to everyone and ever ready to visit the sick or help those who needed her help. The funeral was preached by Elder Simmons at the Freedom church and the body was laid to rest in the Zackmire cemetery beside her loved ones. The pall bearers were six of her great grand children—Mrs. Ura Philpott, Viola Allen, Gertie and Minnie Rogers, Pearl Rogers and Oral Pearson.