McDonough ILGenWeb

Note: Jacob KEITHLEY and his wife Sarah ROBERTS lived in Blandinsville. Prior to their deaths they had a cemetery stone engraved with their names. After the transcontinental railroad came into use they made at least three trips to California to visit their sons John, Francis, Seth and William. In 1875 while in California Jacob died and was buried here. Because of the engraving in Blandinsville there was some question as to where he was actually buried. Sarah, however, returned to Blandinsville and is actually buried there. I've located his burial site in California so I'm satisfied as to where he is interred. He was buried in the Shiloh Cemetery in present day Windsor, California. Jacob was born 25 May 1805 in Bath County, Kentucky. The death date on his stone states August 27, 1875 which differs from the obituary. The present day spelling of KEITHLEY using two "E" s is prevalent in the Mid West but for reasons not known to me the KEITHLY surname is spelled with one "E" in California.

The Sonoma Democrat - Santa Rosa, California September 4, 1875

"Our special corresondent writes us this morning: "Last evening about 6:30 Mr. Jacob Keithly died very suddenly at his residence near this place (Fulton Station). He had been in town during the day and only few minutes before his death was with his son picking fruit in the orchard when he complained of being ill and went to the house to rest. Upon arriving there he told his wife he was going to die, whereupon Mrs. Keithly went to call her son from the orchard. and during her absence the old gentleman quietly breathed his last. Deceased had purchased James Fulton's farm this year and had not more than taken possession before he was called away. Mr. Keithly was in his seventieth year and a native of Kentucky."

Contributed by Harry Stafford