Jacob C. Keithly, P. O. Shackelford. Was born in Ralls county, Missouri, March 4, 1831. His grandfather, Jacob, lived in southern Kentucky, where he raised a large family of children, eighteen in number (thirteen sons and five daughters), most of whom moved to Missouri before it became a state, (one of whom was killed by the Indians in St. Charles county); and they settled in St. Charles, Pike and Ralls counties. His son Levi (father of Jacob C.), married Miss Fanny White in Kentucky, and came to Missouri in 1819, and was one of the pioneer settlers of Ralls county, where he lived and farmed until 1875, and died at the advanced age of eighty-one years. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk war of 1832. Jacob C., the subject of this sketch, was the eighth of nine children by his father’s first wife. Was educated at Van Rensselaer Academy, in Ralls county, and at Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri. In April, 1857, he came to Saline county and engaged in teaching for three years in the Petra neighborhood. October 27, 1857, he was married to Miss Jane M. Vawter, daughter of Wm. Vawter, of Boone county, Missouri, and born January 16, 1837. Of this union were born eight children, viz.: Irving W., June 20, 1858; Herbert R., June 2, 1862; Flora, December 3, 1863; Ella, August 28, 1866; George E., December 20, 1868, and Rowland Hill, June 1, 1877, now living; and Joseph C. and Stanley, who died early. In September, 1860, he moved to the neighborhood of Salt Springs, where he now lives. The next spring the war began, but, although Mr. Keithley espoused the Union cause, he did not volunteer into the service. When the order to enroll in the Enrolled Missouri Militia was made, however, he obeyed, and was in the service at Marshall for one year—about four months of active service—and there being no further need of his services, he paid the commutation tax, which exempted him thereafter. In September, 1852, he united with the Presbyterian Church (O.S.), in Ralls county, and has never regretted the step from that day to this, but has striven to live the life of a consistent Christian. Since the war he has devoted himself to farming. Latterly he has been striving to effect the propagation of different fish in several ponds, fed by lasting springs. In one he has native fish, such as perch, newlites or crappies, and channel cats; in another, German carp, obtained from Washington City. His object is to make these ponds furnish fish as food the year round. His farm is well improved, containing,, among many other improvements, a stone milk-house, through which cold spring water flows, keeping milk and butter sweet and fresh in the hottest weather.
