Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County, Illinois; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.

W. F. KEITH, dealer in drugs, medicines, books, stationary, etc., Elwood; was born near Rome, 
Lewis Co, N. Y., Aug. 11, 1827; his father was a Methodist clergyman, a member of the Genesee 
Conference, and died when his son W. F. was quite young; after his father's death, the son 
lived in Livingston Co. and in the city of Buffalo; he was educated in the public schools of 
Buffalo and at Rich Academy in Attica, N. Y.; in 1855, he came West, and, after spending two 
years at Naperville, he came to Joliet in 1857. On the breaking-out of the war, he enlisted 
in the 19th I. V. I., as a musician in the Lockport Band, and remained until March, 1862, 
when he was discharged for disability; returning, he engaged in merchandising in Elwood, 
his being the only store in the village for four years; at the end of this time he engaged 
in his present business; he has been prominent in the building-up of the village; on the 
incorporation of the village in 1868, he was chosen Clerk of the Board of Trustees, serving 
two years; he was a member of the Board seven years, three of which, he was its President; 
he has been Police Magistrate two years, and Notary Public for the past twelve years; he 
served his township two years as Supervisor, and has also served three years as School 
Director; in March, 1878, he entered the office of the County Treasurer in Joliet, as 
Deputy where he is still engaged. He was married July 17, 1866, to Mrs. Hannah LEVERICH, 
of Naperville; they have two children - William H. and Edward E.; he has also one son, 
Clarence A., by a former marriage.