HIRAM KEACH, deceased, was born at Abingdon, Va., in 1802. He was there reared to manhood, and learned the saddlery business at Stevens� tannery. He was educated thee by his brother John R., who was a Methodist preacher. He followed the saddlery business in his native state until coming to Illinois, about the year 1829. He located at Albion, Edwards county, where he continued his business until 1833, when he removed to Carrollton. There he added merchandising to the saddlery business, and carried that on awhile, and finally commenced dealing in land. During his life he accumulated vast tracts of land in Greene and other counties in Illinois, and also in Missouri and Texas. He was married in Scottsville, Va., to Cary Ann Mayo, a native of Virginia, living near the University at Charlottesville. They were the parents of two children�John Roswell, whose sketch follows this, and Virginia, wife of Joseph Brown, formerly m! ayor of St. Louis. She died in Carrollton in Nov., 1882. Hiram Keach died in Sept., 1868, his wife surviving him until Feb., 1881. Both are buried in the Carrollton cemetery. Mr. Keach w2as one of the early settlers of the county, and became one of its most prominent and prosperous residents. He was a member of the Masonic order.

Transcribed and submitted by: Michael Delaney