Keys

History of Bentleysville, Pennsylvania

Bentleysville title page

This book is a collection of stories, letters, and historical records detailing the brief history of Bentleysville, a rural community in southwestern Pennsylvania. Established around a mill operated by Sheshbazzar Bentley Sr. and Jr. on Pigeon Creek in 1816, the town grew to a population of 300 by 1868. The author traces the origins of Bentleysville back to the 1770s to document the earliest settlers, while also providing context through significant national events like the Whiskey Rebellion and the Civil War. Although Bentleysville’s history as a village ended before 1900, this work preserves its legacy for future generations.

Upper Otorara Presbyterian Church Records, Chester County PA

Upper Octorara Church, Erected in 1840

Provides records for the Upper Otorara Presbyterian Church in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Many early members are mentioned by names. Includes many drawings of the church, as well as the history of the church. Includes transcriptions of both cemeteries for the church.

Biographical Sketch of Monroe A. Keys

Monroe A. Keys, born on February 21, 1870, to Monroe Calvin and Lucy Lowrey Keys, received his education at the Male Seminary. He married Martha Ann Donnelly on March 25, 1905, with whom he had five children: Wahnie, Emma, Amory, Jane, and Clun. A member of the Holly Clan, he is known by the Cherokee name Clun-tee-sta and practices farming near Vinita. His family roots reflect a rich cultural heritage intertwined with the history of the Cherokee Nation.

Biographical Sketch of Elizabeth Keys

James McIntosh Keys, born March 25, 1843, in the Tahlequah District, served in the Confederacy and later became a prominent leader in the Cherokee Nation. He married Nancy Jane Mayes on March 16, 1869, with whom he had three children, including Elizabeth Covel Keys. Keys held significant political roles, including Solicitor, senator, and Chief Justice. His impactful career spanned various positions in the Cherokee Nation government, and he was active during the transition to statehood. Nancy Jane was educated at Baptist Mission and descended from notable Cherokee lineage.

Genealogy of the Cherokee Adair Family

The genealogy of the Cherokee Adair family outlines numerous descendants and marriages within the family lineage, detailing the connections between Scotch and Cherokee ancestry. Key individuals include John Adair, who married a full-blood Cherokee woman, and their children, alongside subsequent generations marked by marriages to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners. The document presents a rich tapestry of family ties, encapsulating over a century of history and illustrating the integration of Cherokee heritage within a broader familial context.

Biographical Sketch of Dennis B. Keys

Dennis Bushyhead, born July 15, 1878, to James McDaniel and Nancy Jane Keys, married Nannie Ethel Riley, daughter of John Martin and Naunie Ethel Brewer, on October 15, 1883. They had one son, Gordon Lindsay Keys. The family lineage includes Charlotte Bushyhead, who married George Washington Mayes, linking to Nancy Jane Mayes, who wedded James McDaniel Keys. George Washington, son of John and Elizabeth Brewer, also had Cherokee heritage through his marriage to Ratliff.

Biographies of the Cherokee Indians

1830 Map of Cherokee Territory in Georgia

The Cherokee Indians, primarily from the Southeastern U.S., have a rich history marked by their early adoption of a written language and a government structure similar to that of the United States. Despite their forced relocation to Oklahoma in the 1830s, they maintained significant genealogical ties, often intermarrying with Whites. Emmet Starr’s “History of the Cherokee Indians and Their Legends and Folklore” emphasizes personal biographies and genealogies, providing insights into the lives and connections of many Cherokee families across generations, thereby enriching their cultural narrative.