BIOS: Norman B. KEIM, Elk Lick Twp., Somerset County, PA

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History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania; Bedford County by E. 
Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis 
Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, ppg. 228-230

Norman B. KEIM.

The family of which Norman B. Keim, of Elk Lick, is a representative, was 
planted in Somerset county by Nicholas Keim, who came hither from eastern 
Pennsylvania soon after the Revolutionary war, and settled near Davidsville, 
in Conemaugh township.  In 1810 he moved to Elk Lick township and there 
passed the remainder of his life.  He was thrice married and was the father 
of twenty-four children.  His death occurred in 1838.
John Keim, eldest child of Nicholas Keim, was born January 6, 1792, near 
Berlin, Somerset county, and was a child when his parents moved to what is 
now Johnstown.  He gathered walnuts in what is now a populous part of the 
city, but which then boasted but one house, that being owned and occupied by 
a Mr. Johns, and also used for a school.  The only mill in that part of the 
country was six miles away.  The dwelling of the Keims was a small building 
scarcely more than a hut, and some idea of its state may be formed from the 
fact that a man named Christian Yoder, who was one night the guest of the 
family, and who, on account of the limited space, was obliged to sleep in the 
garret, had his slumbers seriously disturbed by the playful antics of a 
number of rats and the continual noise of a rattlesnake.
Mr. Johns, mentioned above, laid out part of the city of Johnstown, and after 
selling his building lots, bought a farm seven miles away.  While living 
there he was robbed of four hundred dollars, which was quite a fortune for 
that time and place.  A short time after this he died, and the Keim family 
moved to Elk Lick township, taking up their abode on what is now known as the 
J. J. Keim farm, the place being then owned by John Hendricks, who lived in a 
log house which is still standing.  Peter Livengood lived on the adjoining 
farm, which is now the property of Jeremiah B. Keim, a grandson of John Keim. 
The site of Peter Livengood's house is now occupied by the residence of 
Michael Hay, and is included within the limits of Salisbury.  A century ago 
it was the only house in the immediate vicinity, and the place was called 
Shirestown.  Berkley lived at Berkley's Mills, and Beechley close to what is 
now Meyersdale, but was then Meyers' Mills.  These two, John Berkley and John 
Beechley, were preachers of the denomination known as the Brethren, Dunkard 
or German Baptist, and services were held in Peter Livengood's house.  There 
was no mill nearer than twenty-five miles, and schools, when held at all, met 
in private houses. John Keim's first teacher is remembered as "Jack 
Griffith."
John Keim married, April 11, 1813, Barbara, born in 1789, daughter of C. L. 
Livengood, and lived in the old Hendricks place until 1815, when he moved to 
Fayette county, remaining there until 1824.  In that year, at the request of 
his father, he returned home and purchased ninety acres of the homestead.  
Mr. and Mrs. Keim had children: Henry; John J., see forward; Elizabeth, 
deceased; Susan, deceased; Catharine, wife of Lewis Bockes; Mary, deceased; 
Diana, wife of Solomon Engle; Nancy, wife of Henry Miller; Barbara, wife of 
Jefferson Speicher; and Sarah, wife of Philip Hoffman. Both Mr. and Mrs. Keim 
lived to be over ninety.
John J. Keim, son of John and Barbara (Livengood) Keim, was born July 2, 
1826, in Elk Lick township, and was a farmer.  He married Diana, daughter of 
Jonathan Berkley, by whom he was the father of the following children: 
Jeremiah B., Ezra, Norman B. (see forward), Nancy and Caroline.  After the 
death of the mother of these children, Mr. Keim married Sarah Beachly, the 
issue of the marriage being Lucinda, Martha, Harvey and Mary.
Norman B. Keim, son of John J. and Diana (Berkley) Keim, was born November 
11, 1856, in Elk Lick township, where he attended the public schools until 
the age of sixteen.  He was the assistant of his father in the management and 
labors of the homestead until 1880.  In 1885 he purchased of his father a 
portion of the home farm consisting of ninety-six acres.  On this land he has 
since made his home, devoting himself to its cultivation and to the raising 
of stock.  He is a Republican and a member of the Progressive Brethren 
church.
Mr. Keim married, November 20, 1885, Sadie, daughter of Jacob J. Meyers, of 
Berlin, Pennsylvania, and their children are: Meyers Victor, born January 16, 
1887; Florence May, September 8, 1888; John Earle, September 29, 1890; and 
Robert N., May 28, 1903.