Samuel William Keys1

b. 27 September 1880, d. 2 July 1934
Samuel W. Keys
photo courtesy Connie Widener
FatherAndrew Edmondson Keys1 b. 2 Oct 1848, d. 3 Jun 1918
MotherFlorence H. Hutchinson1 b. 27 Dec 1858, d. 6 Jul 1948
Birth27 Sep 1880 Samuel William Keys was born on 27 Sep 1880 on a farm seven miles south of Glade Spring in Washington County, Virginia.1,2,3 
Occupation  As a young man Samuel was employed as a furniture salesman, but about 1903 he went to work for the Bank of Glade Spring where he eventually became the cashier [chief officer]. During this time he also served as President of the Virginia Bankers Association.2,3,4 
Marriage9 Sep 1908 He married Sarah Katherine Peery, daughter of Joseph Stras Peery and Lavonia Brown, on 9 Sep 1908 in Fleet, Virginia.5,6 
Cens-Sum  Samuel and Kate lived in Glade Spring where they were recorded on both the 1920 and 1930 census enumerations. There they raised 3 daughters (Katherine, Elizabeth and Vernon) and 2 sons (Samuel Jr. and Joseph). In 1920 Kate's father, Joseph Peery was also recorded with the family.7,8 
Residence  The family lived in a beautiful old home at the edge of Glade Spring known as Woodburn. They purchased the home and its surrounding acreage about 1920. Not long afterwards, while having steam heat installed in the house, a secret room was discovered. It held over 1,500 pounds of tobacco hidden away during the Civil War (see link below for additional information on the home and its history). 
Death2 Jul 1934 Samuel died on 2 Jul 1934 at age 53.1 
Burial He was buried at Emory Cemetery in Washington County.9 

Related Links and Images:

Samuel's baby picture (1882)
Daughter Katherine with little brother Sam Jr.
Sam and Kate's 5 children, probably taken in the early 1920s. Click on camera icon for larger image10
Samuel, Kate and family circa 1934 (probably taken in New York City)10
Samuel's birth entry in his mother's Bible11
Also the entry recording his death11
Sam and Kate's 5 children, circa 1948. Click on camera icon for larger image and then run cursor over faces to see names10
Samuel and Sallie's home known as Woodburn photographed in 2006 (page includes link to article about Woodburn's secret room)12

Family

Sarah Katherine Peery b. 1888, d. 10 Aug 1972
Children
  • Katherine Peery Keys13 (25 Aug 1910 - 10 Aug 1990)
  • Elizabeth Keys13 (9 Oct 1911 - Mar 1987)
  • Samuel William Keys13 (23 Jan 1915 - 7 Apr 1999)
  • Florence Vernon Keys+13 (30 Sep 1917 - 9 Apr 2006)
  • Joseph Andrew Keys13 (12 Apr 1920 - 16 Nov 1999)
ChartsDescendants of John Edmondson and Martha Moore
Last Edited15 Dec 2010

Citations

  1. [S1377] Florence (Hutchinson) Keys Bible.
  2. [S574] Andrew Keys household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring, ED 108, sheet 1B, dwelling 16, family 19, viewed online at Genealogy.com, Feb. 2006, image 2 of 70. Enumeration includes: Andrew Keys, 51, b. Oct. 1848 VA, marr 23 yrs, parents b. TN, produce dealer, owns home; Florence H., wife, 41, b. Dec. 1858, marr 23 yrs, mother 11 children, 8 living, b. TN, father b. PA, mother b. NC; Samuel, son, 19, b. Sept. 1880, furniture salesman; Bessie, dau, 16, b. Apr 1884; Charles, son, 14, b. May 1886; George G., son, 12, b. Feb. 1888; all at school; cont. next page: Louise, dau, 8, b. Feb. 1892; Marie, dau, 5, b. May 1895; Thomas, son, 2, b. Jan. 1898; Needham, son, 3/12, b. Feb. 1900; all b. VA; Elizabeth Hutchinson, mother-in-law, 65, b. Dec. 1834 in N.C., parents b. NC, widowed, mother of 3 children, 1 living.
  3. [S1914] History of Virginia - Virginia Biography, Vol. 6: 355.
  4. [S2317] "Vernon Keys Mark", obituary (2006), written by her son Dr. Steven Mark.
  5. [S681] Martha Keys, "Andrew Edmondson Keys" family group sheet.
  6. [S1344] Notification re the estate of Jean Buchanan, dec'd, The Journal Virginian, Oct. 11, 1962. No marriage date given.
  7. [S238] Samuel Keys household, 1920 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring, ED 149, sheet 7B, dwelling 125, family 128, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Feb. 2008, image 11 of 21. Household includes: Samuel Keys, 38, bank cashier, rents home; Katherine, wife, 29; Katherine, dau, 9; Elizabeth, dau, 7; Samuel, son, 4 11/12; Vernon, dau, 2, 3/12; Joseph Perry, father-in-law, 80, wid; all b. VA; resid Gladespring and Damascus Rd.
  8. [S639] Samuel W. Keys household, 1930 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring, ED 96-4, sheet 7A, dwelling 157, family 163, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Feb. 2008, image 13 of 14. Household includes: Samuel W. Keys, 48, owns home, is a farm, owns radio, marr at 27, bank cashier; Katherine, wife, 40, marr at 18; Katherine, daughter, 19; Elizabeth, 18; Samuel W. Jr., son, 15; Vernon, daughter, 12 and Joseph, son, 10; all b. VA.
  9. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 157. Samuel's stone is reported to read: S.W. Keys, 1880-1934, "Husband of Katherine Peery."
  10. [S1376] Image courtesy of Steven Mark Jr..
  11. [S1376] Bible images courtesy of Martha Keys.
  12. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Carolyn Ryburn.
  13. [S2302] Steven Mark, "Keys Family," e-mail to D. Powell, 10 June 2009. Steven is the great grandson of Samuel W. Keys and Sarah Katherine Peery.