James William Blaine Keys1

b. September 1893, d. 7 October 1923
James W.B. Keys and Ruth Fisk on their wedding day
photo courtesy Sharyn Wyatt
FatherJames King Keys2 b. 11 Feb 1867 or 1868, d. 7 Oct 1923
MotherSarah F.V. Widner2 b. Sep 1872, d. 1938
BirthSep 1893 James William Blaine Keys was probably born in Sep 1893 in West Virginia or Virginia. His World War I draft registration lists his date of birth as Sept. 24, 1892 however that conflicts with his older sister's March 1892 birth and also with his age on the 1900 and 1910 records (and with his reported birth information on the 1900 census). The 1900 census lists his place of birth as West Virginia whereas in 1910 it was listed as Virginia.1,2,3 
Name Other  James appears to have been known by either of his middle names rather than his given name, perhaps to avoid confusion with his father. 
Migration  When James was 5 or 6 his family left Virginia and settled on Choctaw Indian lands in what is now eastern Oklahoma where James Sr. worked as a miner.2 
Cens-19107 May 1910  By 1910 Oklahoma had been admitted to the Union and the land on which the family was living was part of LeFlore County. That years's census recorded Blaine W., age 17, with his parents and 5 younger siblings. Several other siblings had died while the family was in Oklahoma.3 
Marriage24 Oct 1914 He married Ruth Rachel Fisk on 24 Oct 1914 in Latimer County, Oklahoma.4 
Milit-Reg5 Jun 1917 In 1917, while living in Wilburton in Latimer County, James completed the World War I draft registration processs. He was employed as a miner for the M _ T. Coal Co.. James also indicated that he was married and the father of a child. The form included a physical description which allowed that he was of medium height and build with blue eyes and brown hair.1 
Migration  Sometime after this record was created James, with his own family and his parents and siblings, left Oklahoma and migrated to Colorado. 
Cens-192022 Jan 1920  There he and Ruth were enumerated in January 1920. They lived in Boulder County where James worked as a coal miner. Two children were listed with them: Tropal Lahoma (3) and Wilma [Winifred], 2.5 
  A son followed shortly thereafter. However, James and the family did not stay in Boulder County but moved further west, perhaps in search of better work. By late 1923 they had settled in Mesa County. 
Death7 Oct 1923 There, on 7 Oct 1923, James died at age 30 in a mine explosion that also took the lives of his father and 2 brothers.6 
  Ruth later remarried. She appears on the 1930 census of Delta County, Colorado with her husband John Ison and two Ison children, ages 4 and 2. Tropal, Winifred W. and William B. Keys were also listed.7 

Family

Ruth Rachel Fisk b. 17 Apr 1897, d. 3 Feb 1992
Children
  • Tropal Lahoma Keys8
  • Winifred W. Keys8
  • William Blaine Keys8
ChartsDescendants of John Edmondson and Martha Moore
Last Edited23 Jul 2011

Citations

  1. [S1620] "World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918", subscription database with images, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com : accessed Dec. 2007), Data for James William Blaine Keys, Latimer Co., Oklahoma (5 June 1917).
  2. [S1881] James K. Keys household, 1900 U.S. census, Indian Territory, Choctaw Nation, pop. sched., Township 6N, Range 25E, ED 88, sheet 17B, dwelling 331, family 338, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2007, image 21 of 38. Household includes: James K. Keys, 33, b. Feb. 1867, marr 9 yrs, b. VA, father b. MO, mother b. VA, coal miner; Sarah F., wife, 27, b. Sept. 1872, marr 9 yrs, mother of 6 children, 5 living, b. VA, parents b. VA; Lydia J., dau, 8, b. Mch 1892 VA; William B., son, 6, b. Sept. 1893 West VA; Robert B., son, 4, b. Jul 1895 VA; Martha E., dau, 3, b. Mch 1897 VA; John M., son, 2/12, b. Mch 1900 Indian Territory.
  3. [S1882] James K. Keys household, 1910 U.S. cens., LeFlore Co., Oklahoma, pop. sched., Howe City, ED 152, sheet 12B, dwelling 203, family 203, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2007, image 2 of 4. Household includes: Jame K. Keys, 43, marr #1, marr 19 yrs, parents b. VA, coal miner; Sarah F., wife, 39, marr #1, marr 19yrs, mother of 12 children, 7 are living, b. VA, parents b. VA; Blaine W., son, 17, b. VA; Robert W., son, 15, b. VA; Martha E., dau, 13, b. VA; Clinton _, son, 8, b. OK; Harvey C., son, 3, b. OK; Emma M., dau, 1, b. OK.
  4. [S622] Martha Keys, "RamblingRoots p. 7945.htm," e-mail to Diana Powell, 20 Dec. 2007. Martha cites Oklahoma marriage licenses posted on Rootsweb.
  5. [S844] William B. Keys household, 1920 U.S. cens., Boulder Co., CO, pop. sched., Precinct 27 - The National _uel Co., ED 44, sheet 3B, dwelling 79, family 79, viewed online at Ancestry.com, March 2007, image 6 of 10. Household includes: William B. Keys, 28, b. VA, miner; Ruth R., wife, 23, b. OK; Tropallahoma, dau, 3 11/12; Wilma, dau, 2 _/12; children b. OK.
  6. [S1883] Plateau Voice - Colbran, Mesa County, 12 Oct. 1923, "Terrific Gas Explosion in the Midwest Mine", digital image, Colorado's Historic Newspaper Collection (http://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org : accessed Dec. 2007).
  7. [S1884] John R. Ison household, 1930 U.S. cens., Delta Co., Colorado, pop. sched., Precinct 12 - Payne and Payne Mesa, ED 15-19, sheet 1B (p. 10 stamped), dwelling 19, family 19, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2007.
  8. [S1924] Sharyn Wyatt, "RamblingRoots 7877," e-mail to D. Powell, 4 Jan. 2008.