Francis Marion Keele

The above photo shows Francis Marion Keele and his mother, Eliza Jane Geary Keele. It was found on a blog for Francis Marion's father, David Keele. The photo was courtesy of Effie Sholes Keele, Francis Marion's wife, in the possession of Kristin Long Osterbaad of Madras, Oregon. Permission to use this photo was granted from Andrea Lee Conley who was the creator of the blog. To contribute information to this family history site, please contact her at 876 North 1010 West, Pleasant Grove, Utah, 84062, 801-785-6258, or email her at conley@fiber.net. There are other photos under the Media Tab above showing the family of David Keele, the cabin where Francis Marion Keele was born in 1896, one with his brothers, Orval, George Quincy, and Howard with their father, David. Another shows all siblings after the funeral for Francis Marion Keele, including Orval, Howard, George, Ireta, Leah, and Ethel. Here is a link to the blog: http://davidkeele.blogspot.com/

Francis Marion Keele was born April 14, 1896, in Panaca, Lincoln, Nevada, to parents David Keele and Eliza Jane Keele. In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census, they were listed as: David, 45, Eliza, 41, Ethel, 17, Jessie W., 12, Leah, 8, George Q., 7, and Francis M., 4. David was working as a farmer. In 1910 they were still in Panaca, and were listed as: David, 55, Liza J., 51, George, 17, Francis, 14, Howard G., 10, Ireta, 7, and Orville, 5. Francis Marion's parents had been married for 32 years, and had 12 children, 9 of whom were still living. David Keele was working as a carpenter.

When Francis Marion Keele completed his U.S. World War I Draft Registration Card on June 5, 1917, in Panaca, Lincoln, Nevada, he described himself as being of medium height and built with light brown eyes and dark brown hair. He said he had defective eyes and hip. He was 21 years old, having been born April 14, 1896, in Panaca, Nevada. He was working as a water master at The Panaca Irrigation Company, and was single. He enlisted June 24, 1918, was honorably discharged on June 18, 1919, and served in the 88th Division Show Det. as a P.F.C.

By 1920, the family was still living in Panaca, and were listed as: David, 65, Eliza J., 60, Marion Francis, 23, Howard G., 19, Ireta, 17, Orval, 14, and Leah Keele Lee, a 29-year old widow, with her two living children, Lorin M., 9, and Fawn Lee, 5. Her husband had passed away in about 1914. They also had a daughter, Pearl, but she passed away at the age of 4 months old. Francis Marion Keele married Effie Sholes in about 1922.

In a 1929 U.S. City Directory, Francis and Effie were living on Walker Lane in Salt Lake City. He was working as a gardener. In the 1930 U.S. Federal Census for Cottonwood, Salt Lake, Utah, they were listed as: Franics M. Keele, 34, Effie, 37, and their children, Jean E., 7, David R., 4 years 1 month, and Howard F., 9 months old. They were living in a home on Walker's Lane that they owned which was valued at $1,600.00 and they had a radio in their home. Francis was working as a landscape gardener.

Francis Marion was treated at the U.S. National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers at the Pacific Branch in Sawtelle, California. His disabilities when he was admitted to the home on May 6, 1931, were cataracts in both eyes and gastritis. He was 35 years old when he was admitted, and was 5'7" tall, a Protestant, working as a gardener and his address subsequent to discharge was in Los Angeles, California. The record for his admission shows that he was married to Effie S. Keele who lived in Murray, Utah. He received a pension of $42.00.

In 1934 and 1935, Francis and Effie were living at 6139 Cottonwood Lane in Salt Lake City and he was working as a gardener. In 1936, Francis and Effie were living at 2583 Hillsden Drive in Salt Lake City.

In the 1940 census, they were living at 2583 Hillsden Drive in Salt Lake City in a home they owned valued at $4,750. Listed in the home were Francis Marion, 44, Effie, 47, Jean Elizabeth, 17, David Rue, 14, Howard Sholes, 10, and Effie's father, Rue High Sholes, a 73 year old widower. Francis Marion was working as a gardening architect. He had an 8th grade education, his wife, Effie, had 4 years of high school, their daughter, Jean was in her 3rd year of high school, David was in the 7th grade, Howard in the 5th grade, and Effie's father also had an 8th grade education.

In 1954, Francis Marion and Effie S. Keele were living in Las Vegas, Nevada, at 822 Bonanza Road, and was working as the President of the Southern Nevada Association of the Blind, and his wife Effie was the Treasurer of that organization. Their son, Howard S., and his wife, Georgetta, was working as a clerk at the Las Vegas Post Office, and was living with his parents. Another of Francis and Effie's sons, David R., was living nearby with his wife Betty L., and he was working as the ground man for Cal Pacific Utilities. They were living at 1113 Silver Lake Drive.

On February 11, 1955, Francis Marion Keele passed away. He was buried in the Memory Gardens Cemetery in Las Vegas, Nevada. An application was made for a headstone on March 15, 1955, and his service record was verified on April 6, and a headstone was ordered from Columbus Marble Works in Columbus, Mississippi. It was scheduled to be shipped to Berkeley L, Bunker, at 231 N. 5th Street in Las Vegas, Nevada, for installation at the cemetery. The signature of the applicant was Francis R. Heber dated 3/12/1955.

• Military_service: McGill, White Pine, Nevada, United States - 18 Jun 1919
• Military_service: Sawtelle, California, United States - 1931
• Residence: Mcgill, White Pine, Nevada
• Residence: ED 26 Meadow Valley Wash, Dutch Flat, Clover Valley, Panaca, Pioche, Bennett Springs, Bullionville,, Lincoln, Nevada, United States - 1900
• Residence: Panaca, , Nevada - 1910
• Residence: McGill, White Pine, Nevada, United States - 1920
• Residence: Cottonwood, Salt Lake, Utah - 1930
  • Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jan 20 2021, 15:56:23 UTC