Michael R. Keiper, superintendent of water works, agent of Lykens Valley Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Elizabethville, Pennsylvania, was born in Washington Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, on the homestead, one mile west of Elizabethville, 5 October 1839. He is a son of John Keiper and Catherine [Runk] Keiper.
His grandfather, Jacob Keiper, was a native of Reamstown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and a lifelong resident of that place. He was a cooper. His wife was Sarah Echterhacht.
Mr. Keiper’s father was born in Reamstown, 14 July 1810. He died in Washington Township, 16 August 1854. From the time when he came to Dauphin County, at twenty years of age, he was a farmer. During his earlier life he had been engaged in driving cattle to eastern markets. While thus employed, and on a trip through Washington Township, he made the acquaintance of Miss Catherine Runk, who afterwards became his wife. She was born 20 June 1822 and died 24 March 1845. After his marriage, Mr. Keiper was for many years engaged in mercantile business at Elizabethville. His children by his first wife are: Michael R. Keiper; John Keiper, died in Philadelphia, 4 July 1887, where he was employed in a store; Catherine Keiper, widow of Samuel Keiter, Elizabethville. Mr. Keiper’s second wife was Miss Lucinda Buffington, who survives him and by whom he had but one child, William Henry Keiper, residing at Lykens, Pennsylvania. Mr. John Keiper always took a prominent part in village and township affairs. He was originally a Whig, and subsequently affiliated with the Republican party.
Michael R. Keiper was educated in the common schools of his native place and Middletown, Pennsylvania. At the age of sixteen he commenced working Good’s Woolen Mill, near Millersburg, Pennsylvania. He was employed here two years, during which time he learned different branches of the business. But he was forced to seek other employment, the mill work being detrimental to his health.
Mr. Keiper rented the home farm and began tilling the soil. After several years he bought the homestead, and continued farming from that time, 1861, until 1855, when he retired from the farm and took up his residence in his new home in Elizabethville, which he built in 1884. After removing to Elizabethville he engaged in the insurance business and is now agent for the Lykens Valley Mutual Fire insurance Company. Mr. Keiper still owns the home farm and several other good farms, He has for many years been director of the First National Bank of Millersburg, and of the Miners’ Deposit Bank of Lykens.
Mr. Keiper was married in Washington Township, 14 February 1861, to Miss Sarah Etta Sheesley. Their children are:
John A. Keiper, a United Brethren minister at Meyerstown, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, graduate in theology of Ursinis College, Montgomery County, Pennsylvnia, married Gertrude Barr;
Katie S. Keiper, married Albert Romberger, farmer, Washington Township, has two children, Earl K. Romberger and Roy Arthur Romberger;
Annie E. Keiper, married Frank Campbell, Millersburg, Pennsylvania;
Laura Etta Keiper, unmarried, at home.
Mr. Keiper is a Republican and an active worker for his party. He served three years as school director, three years as assessor, and one year as judge of elections. He is an active member of of the United Brethren church, is class leader of class No. 1, trustee of the church, and president of its official board. He was for twenty-five consecutive years superintendent of the Sunday-school He is president of the United Brethren Campmeeting Association.
___________________________
The above information was modified/edited from Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1896 by J. M. Runk and Company of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. A free download is available from the Internet Archive.
Note: Michael R. Keiper died on 6 January 1910 and is buried at the Maple Grove Cemetery, Elizabethville. His grave marker is pictured at the top of this post, there being no available portrait of him at the time of this writing.