1.3.5.3.3 Peter J. Keslar (b: 16 Feb 1838 Donegal Township – d: 12 Feb 1915 Fayette County, Pa)
Peter J. Keslar led a life marked by significant service and resilience. As a carpenter in the Connellsville area, he was part of the generation that rebuilt the region’s infrastructure after the Civil War. Peter was Eli and Ellen Keslar’s first son, which is likely the reason that they named him after his grandfather.
Before his long career as a carpenter, Peter served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He enlisted on August 22, 1862, and served until July 7, 1865, rising to the rank of Corporal in Company C of the 84th Pennsylvania Regiment. His service placed him in some of the most pivotal and brutal conflicts of the war, including:
- Second Bull Run (August 1862),
- Battle of Fredericksburg (12-15 Dec 1862),
- pursuit of Lee’s Army after Battle of Gettysburg (5-24 Jul 1862),
- Chancellorsville (May 1863),
- Cold Harbor (1-12 Jun 1863),
- The Wilderness and Spotsylvania (May 1864), and
- the siege of Petersburg (16 June 1864, to 6 Jan 1865).
Following the war, Peter returned to Pennsylvania and established himself as a carpenter. Census records from 1870 through 1910 consistently list this as his trade. While specific project logs are rare, carpenters in the Connellsville and Donegal areas during the late 19th century were often involved in the construction of the expanding coke and coal infrastructure, as well as the Victorian-style residential housing that boomed in Fayette County during that era. It appears craftsmanship ran in the family; his son, Edwin Forest Keslar, worked as a painter and paperhanger, and other relatives in the Kessler/Keslar line were noted as carpenters or builders in the region.
Peter’s adult life was also defined by deep personal endurance. He married Amanda J. Randolph (1 Nov 1846-28 Jan 1938). She was only 14 when Peter went to war. But they were married after he returned.
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Loss and Resilience: They had eleven children together but experienced the profound hardship of losing five of them at young ages to illnesses common to the era, such as scarlet fever and the flu.
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Legacy: Despite these losses, the family remained rooted in the community. Peter lived in Connellsville Township for the latter part of his life and was a well-known figure in the local area until his death in February 1915. He is buried at Hill Grove Cemetery, Connellsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
Descendants of Peter and Amanda
- 1.3.5.3.3.1 Permilla ‘Millie’ Keslar (24 Oct 1868-13 Sep 1877 Fayette County, Pa) died before her 11th birthday.
- 1.3.5.3.3.2 McIntyre Keslar (24 Oct 1869-13 Sep 1870 Fayette County, Pa) died before his first birthday.
- 1.3.5.3.3.3 Annie Keslar (7 Oct 1871-15 Aug 1873 Fayette County, Pa) died before her second birthday.
- 1.3.5.3.3.4 Ellen ‘Ella’ Keslar (25 Mar 1873-28 Jan 1890 Pa) died before her 17th birthday.
- 1.3.5.3.3.5 Jessie Keslar (16 Jan 1876-13 Jun 1879 Pa) died at the age of two.
- 1.3.5.3.3.6 Edwin Forrest Keslar (28 Jun 1877-12 May 1935) married Mary Dowling Keslar (b: 26 Jul 1896-d: 21 Feb 1956 Connellsville, Pa). They lived in Connellsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Edwin was a painter and paper hanger into his 30s but then became proprietor of a paper store. Edwin and Mary had four children:
- 1.3.5.3.3.6.1 Edwin Forrest Keslar Jr. (14 Sep 1915-27 Feb 2005) served in the U.S. Army during WW II. He married Anne Bertha Alt 25 Nov 1918-12 Apr 1997) and they one son: William E. Keslar (27 Dec 1944).
- 1.3.5.3.3.6.2 Peter Jay Keslar (Feb 1917-1921) died at age 4 in an auto accident,
- 1.3.5.3.3.6.3 Leroy ‘Roy’ Richard Keslar (14 Oct 1924-22 Aug 1999 Westmoreland County, Pa) served in the U.S. Navy during WW II, from 20 Jul 1943 to 3 Feb 1946 and was stationed at Supply Depot Oran, Algiers Comm from 27 May 1943 to 30 Sep 1945. He married Bernadette Harry (11 Sep 1928-24 Dec 2010) and they had four children: Richard Lee Keslar (20 May 1949-5 Jun 1967), Susan Keslar Hustead (7 Apr 1954), Michael Lee Keslar (18 Jul 1958), Laurie Keslar Anderson (), and
- 1.3.5.3.3.6.4 Patricia N. Keslar Hosfelt (5 Nov 1927-d: 11 Jan 2020, Wheeling, WV). Patricia was married to William J. Hosfelt for 70 years. They had three children: Kirk Hosfelt, Megan Hickman, and Kerry Mertins; seven grandchildren: Allison Bieniek; Ryan, Emily and Bailey Hosfelt; and Luke, Peter and Jacob Mertins.
- 1.3.5.3.3.7 Leroy ‘Roy’ Keslar (28 Jan 1880-19 Jul 1958 Pittsburgh) was one of ten children of Peter J. Keslar and Amanda J. Randolph. Roy never married. He was a grocer and retired from business in 1950. While he didn’t follow the exact same path as his father’s carpentry trade, his life provides an interesting look at family dynamics in Western Pennsylvania during that era. He was living with Edwin’s family according to the 1940 U.S. Census, after Edwin had died.
- 1.3.5.3.3.8 Lewis Peter Keslar (1 Apr 1884-9 Nov 1967 Connellsville, Pa) married Elizabeth ‘Eliza’ Florence Frew Keslar (b: 13 Mar 1887-d: 4 Mar 1984 Connellsville, Pa). While his father was a carpenter and several brothers were in the painting trade, Lewis carved out a career in commerce: 1) Grocery Proprietor: In the early 20th century, he was noted as the proprietor of a grocery store in the Connellsville area; 2) Sales and Trade: Later census records and local directories often list him as a salesman or involved in retail, showing a shift from the manual building trades of his father toward the service and mercantile industry that was booming in the region at the time. Eliza lived to be 96 years old and passed away in 1984 in Connellsville. Lewis lived to be 83 years old, passing away in 1967. He is buried in the Chestnut Ridge Cemetery in Fayette County, alongside many other members of the Keslar and Geary families. Lewis and Eliza had one child:
- 1.3.5.3.3.8.1 Elizabeth L. ‘Betty Lou’ Keslar Glaser (b: 1 Sep 1926-d: 19 May 2011 Pittsburgh). She was a graduate of Connellsville High School and later graduated from the University of Pittsburgh. She worked as a medical technologist. She was the wife of the late James L. Glaser. In the later years of her mother’s life, Elizabeth and James provided a home for her mother, Elizabeth Frew Keslar in the Pittsburgh area.
- 1.3.5.3.3.9 Charles Beswich Keslar (12 Jul 1887-18 Feb 1947 Connellsville, Pa) followed very closely in the footsteps of his older brother Edwin, both in his trade and his choice of location, living in Connellsville for most of his life. Charles was a skilled tradesman who helped maintain and decorate the homes of Fayette County. He worked as a painter and paperhanger. Much like his brother Edwin, Charles was part of the specialized labor force that handled the interior and exterior finishing of the residential and commercial buildings in the bustling Connellsville area during the early 20th century. He likely worked as an independent contractor or in partnership with family members. Charles married Susan “Sue” J. Ayers Keslar (7 Feb 1888-5 Aug 1945). Charles passed away in 1947 at age 60. Charles and Sue had three children:
- 1.3.5.3.3.9.1 Lewis Keslar (9 Jan 1909 Somerset, Pa-21 Jan 1909) died only twelve days after birth.
- 1.3.5.3.3.9.2 Randall C. ‘Randy’ Keslar (23 Dec 1912-Oct 1987 Westmoreland County, Pa) followed the family tradition in the building trades, working as a painter, similar to his father and his uncle Edwin.
- 1.3.5.3.3.9.3 Pearl M. Keslar Reed (18 Jan 1917-20 Apr 1977 Lancaster, Ca) married Glenn Leroy Reed (1916–1977). They had one daughter: Barbara Lee Reed (1937-2012).
- 1.3.5.3.3.10 Josie Amanda Keslar (1889-1890) died in infancy.
U.S. Census Entries
- 1840: Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, Pa. (140/203) Elias Keslar
1 male <5 = Peter J (1838)
1 male 30-39 = Elias (1807)
2 females <5 = (Sarah Jane 1836 and ????)
1 female 5-9 = (Martha 1833)
1 female 20-29 = Ellen (1810) - 1850: Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, Pa. (10&11/61 22 Aug)
Eli Keplar 44, Ellen 42, Martha P. 17, Sarah J 14, Peter 12, William 8, Mary 6, John 4, Eliza 2 - 1860: Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, Pa. (p. 12/35 12 Jun) William Lohr 24, Sarah Jane Lohr 22, Isaac Newton Lohr 2, Peter Kestler 21
- 1870: Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, Pa (32/34 26 Jun) Peter Kesler 28 (carpenter), Amanda 22, Permilla 3, McIntyre 1
- 1880: Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, Pa (7/29 5 Jun) P.J. Keslar 42 (carpenter), Amanda 34, Ellen 7, Edward F. 3, Roy 4/12
- 1900: District 0010, Connellsville, Fayette County, Pa (36/41 12 Jun) Peter J. Kesler 62 (carpenter), Amanda J. 54, Forrest E. 22 (painter-paper hanger), Roy 19 (clerk-grocery), Lewis 16, Charles 12
- 1910(1): District 0008, Ward 3, Connellsville, Fayette County, Pa (19/34 23 Apr) PJ Kesler 72 (carpenter), Amanda 63, Edwin F 32 (painter-paper hanger), Lewis P 23
- (2): District 0009, Ward 3, Connellsville, Fayette County, Pa (13/25 Apr 20) Charles Keslar 20 (laborer), Sue 21
- 1920(1): District 0008 Connellsville Ward 2, Fayette County, Pa (17/43 Jan 9) Amanda Kessler 73, Roy 39 (merchant general store), Louise 34 (merchant general store)
- (2): District 0008 Connellsville Ward 2, Fayette County, Pa (17/43 Jan 9) Forrest Keslar 38 (paper store merchant), Mary 24, E. Forrest 4 3/12, Jay 2 2/12
- (3): District 0008 Connellsville Ward 2, Fayette County, Pa (17/43 Jan 9) Charles Kessler 31 (paper hanger), Sue 30, Randolph 7, Pearl M. 3 6/12
- 1930(1): District 0010 Connellsville, Fayette County, Pa (38/41 Apr 24) Forrest Keslar 48 (paper store merchant), Mary 35, Forrest E. 14, Leroy 5, Patricia 2, Amanda 83 (mother), Leroy 45 (brother)
- (2): District 0011 Connellsville, Fayette County, Pa (35/43 Apr 17) Lewis Keslar 46 (grocery store proprietor), Elizabeth 37, Elizabeth L. 3
- (3): District 0009 Connellsville, Fayette County, Pa (17/33 Apr 9) Charles Kessler 41 (odd jobs), Sue J. 40, Randolph C. 17, Pearl A. 13
- 1940(1): District 26-17 Connellsville, Fayette County, Pa (22/46 Apr 12) Mary D. Keslar 42 (b: Nebraska; saleslady retail store), Edwin F. 24 (clerical), Leroy 15 (newsboy), Patricia N. 12, Leroy Keslar 60 (lodger)
- (2): District 26-19 Connellsville, Fayette County, Pa (19/21 Apr 3) Lewis Keslar 56 (salesman – dairy), Elizabeth 53, Elizabeth L. 13
- (3): District 26-15 Connellsville, Fayette County, Pa (39/44 Apr 18) Charles Kessler 52 (paper hanger & painter), Sue 51
- (4): District 65-95 Latrobe, Westmoreland County, Pa (15/24 Apr 24) Randolph Keslar 28 (power company lineman), Betty 23, Clissen 4 (daughter), Dick 2