Keith Brothers

Submitted by Dick Keith

I've a number of military records on his brothers serving in the 53rd Indiana Volunteers, "I" Company. Their parents were Nicholas H. Keith (b.1813 Indiana) and Lenora Waugh Keith (b.1814 S.Carolina ) married Nov. 21, 1835. (records of Vivey, Switzerland County.) Nicholas and Lenora had 8 children, 5 sons, 3 of which served in the Indiana military during the war:

JAMES A. KEITH (b. 1837, probably Switz Cnty.) Enlisted /Pvt. on 1 Oct, 1861 @ Rockport, IN., Mustered in 30 Nov.1861 @ New Albany, "I" Co., 53rd Indiana (C.O. Capt. Langford) for 3 year enlistment. Married Esther Perigo 20 Sept. 1860 , Boon Township, Warrick County. As of the battle of Vicksburg in 1864 he was Sergeant Major of F/S Co. of the 53rd. where he reup'd for another 3 years. ("Camp Hebron" Miss.) He was in the battle of Kennesaw Mountain in June, 1864 and was KIA in the battle for Atlanta , 22 July 1864. and is buried at the National Cemetery at Shiloh. ( I think!) He and Esther had 2 children, Lilla Glen (b. Oct 1861) and James A. that he never saw (b. Jan 1865).

NICHOLAS H. KEITH (B. 5 May, 1841 Switz. Cnty.) Enlisted 16 Dec., 1861 @ Boonville, IN., Mustered @ New Albany, IN., 24 Feb.,1862 "I" Co., 53rd Indiana Reg't., for 3 years. as a Pvt. Was at Vicksburg in l864 and reenlisted with his brother James at Camp Hebron as Corporal in "I" Company. He was WIA at Kennesaw Mountain, (both arms and both legs! - the rebs evidently used him for target practice.) Was subsequently shipped to a Mil. hospital at Evansville and discharged 27 July, 1865. (d. 6 Jan,1910) Married Abbie (aka Addie) E. Gresham in Sept. 1870, no children. (can't imagine why!)

GEORGE L. KEITH (b.2 July ,1842) "Barkworks", Switz. Cnty. IN (later renamed Quercus Grove.) Enlisted in 136th Reg't. IN Inf. Mustered in 7 May,1864 for 100 days @ Boonville, Warrick Cnty., Mustered out as Corporal at Indianapolis on 2 Sept. 1864. Moved to Sidney, Iowa in 1871. Married Sarah Amanda Lovelady 24 July, 1872 @ Plesant Grove, IA. They had 2 children , William (b. 9 May 1873) and a girl in 1877 (stillborn).