Person:Frederica Keller (1)

Frederica was born on 24 October 1888 in Elsah (Jersey County), Illinois. She graduated from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. She then taught in Jersey County until she was married. At one time, she taught in a one room school where one of her students was Nellie Massey who later became the mother of Frederica's son-in-law William Tracy. After she was married, Frederica stopped teaching as was the custom at that time. However, when her younger daughter was four, Frederica received a phone call from the school asking her to temporarily help out and take the place of an ill teacher. Frederica continued teaching for about twenty-five more years. During her teaching career, she taught second grade and junior high school English, and was also principal of the grade school for awhile. It was very unusual for a married woman to work, especially as a teacher at that time and there was some criticism among the community especially during the depression that she was "taking the job away from a man". Frederica's greatest love was the English language--both literature and grammar. Frederica died on 1 December 1963. Theodore died on 3 August 1973 in Jerseyville. Both Theodore and Frederica are buried in the Conklin family plot at Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville.

sisters Marguerite and Frederica Keller

Frederica Keller birthplace Elsah, IL