Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

necticut, Douglass, Uxbridge, and North
Brookfield, Massachusetts, dying in the
last named town, November 14, 1829. He
married in Douglass, January 22, 1777,
Lydia Cummings, born there October 20,
1755, died February 9, 1818, in North
Brookfield, daughter of Joseph and Mar-
tha (Smith) Cummings, formerly of
Topsfield, Massachusetts. They had five
children recorded in Douglass. Of these,
Ezra Southworth, born February 6, 1788,
in Douglass, lived in Ashford, Connecti-
cut. He married Eliza Sherman. Their
daughter, Eliza Ann Southworth, born
September 19, 1813, in Ashford, became
the wife of Josiah Otis Keep, as before
noted.
William Ezra Keep, third son of Josiah
Otis and Eliza Ann (Southworth) Keep,
was educated in the public schools of his
native town of Paxton, and during the
vacations he was employed in assisting
his father and also in tilling the paternal
homestead. At the age of ten years his
summer schooling ended, and most of his
education has been supplied by reading,
observation and experience of the world.
Blessed with a fine memory, he may well
be rated among the well informed men of
his time. When eighteen years of age,
he enlisted in Company B, Fifty-first Reg-
iment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry,
serving his term, and reenlisted again in
the First Battalion, Massachusetts Heavy
Artillery, in which he served until the
close of the war. After that time he was
a resident of Hartford for a period of one
year, removing thence to Worcester, Massachusetts.
He later returned to Hart-
ford, in 1871, and has been a citizen of that
city ever since. He had learned the trade
of carpenter, and after serving for sev-
eral years as a journeyman he engaged in
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
38i
the contracting and building business, in
which he was deservedly successful. No
greater tribute to his skill and workman-
ship could be shown than that he has
been employed more than once by the
same persons to erect buildings. This is
proof that his work is satisfactory in
every sense. The southwest section of
the city of Hartford, including the vil-
lage of Elmwood, contains many houses
that were built by Mr. Keep and also a
factory, school house and church. He is
held in high respect by the business me'n
of Hartford, and through his upright deal-
ings and high integrity holds an honored
place among them.
Mr. Keep is a member of the Republi-
can party in political affiliation, and has
served as a member of the Court of Common
Council for two terms. He is a
member and past commander of Robert
O. Tyler Post, Grand Army of the Repub-
lic, and was formerly affiliated with Custer
Council, No. 85, Order of United
American Mechanics, now extinct. In
1918, he was appointed patriotic instruc-
tor by Tyler Post, and has visited nearly
all the schools of Hartford in discharge
of his duties. Both in business and social
circles, Mr. Keep enjoys a large acquaint-
ance. Through his genial personality, he
has made many friends not only in Hart-
ford but in other cities where he has trav-
eled. He is a man worthy of confidence,
a citizen of the best type.
Mr. Keep married, October 15, 1873,
Adelaide M., daughter of Horatio A. Giddings.
She was born June 29, 1845, m
Hartford, and died January 23, 1918, at
her home on Webster street, Hartford.
She was a member of the South Congre-
gational Church of Hartford.