1.3.5.3.3 Peter J. Keslar (b: 16 Feb 1838 Donegal Township – d: 12 Feb 1915 Fayette County, Pa)
Peter married Amanda J. Randolph (b: 1 Nov 1846-d: 28 Jan 1938 Fayette County, Pa). Peter was Eli and Ellen Keslar’s first son, which is likely the reason that they named him after his grandfather.
Peter served in the Union Army during the Civil War, from 22 Aug 1862 until 7 Jul 1865. He was in Company C of the 84th Pennsylvania Regiment, rising to the rank of corporal. The regiment saw extensive action throughout the war and lost 224 men during the war. Major engagements during Peter’s enlistment included battles at Groveton & Bull Run (29-30 Aug 1862), Battle of Fredericksburg (12-15 Dec 1862), Chancellorsville (1-5 May 1863), pursuit of Lee’s Army after Battle of Gettysburg (5-24 Jul 1862), battles of the Wilderness (5-7 May 1863), Spotsylvania (8-12 May 1863), Spotsylvania Court House (12-21 May 1863), Cold Harbor (1-12 Jun 1863), and the siege of Petersburg (16 June 1864, to 6 Jan 1865), among others.
Amanda Randolph was only 14 when Peter went to war. But they were married after he returned. Peter was a carpenter by trade. He and Amanda had nine children, five died at a young age. Like many families of the era, many of their oldest children succumbed to illnesses such as the flu and scarlet fever.
Descendants of Peter and Amanda
- 1.3.5.3.3.1 Permilla ‘Millie’ Keslar (b: 24 Oct 1868-d: 13 Sep 1877 Fayette County, Pa) died before her 11th birthday.
- 1.3.5.3.3.2 McIntyre Keslar (b: 24 Oct 1869-d: 13 Sep 1870 Fayette County, Pa) died before his first birthday.
- 1.3.5.3.3.3 Annie Keslar (b: 7 Oct 1871-d: 15 Aug 1873 Fayette County, Pa) died before her second birthday.
- 1.3.5.3.3.4 Ellen ‘Ella’ Keslar (b: 25 Mar 1873-d: 28 Jan 1890 Pa) died before her 17th birthday.
- 1.3.5.3.3.5 Jessie Keslar (b: 16 Jan 1876-d: 13 Jun 1879 Pa) died at the age of two.
- 1.3.5.3.3.6 Edwin Forrest Keslar (b: 28 Jun 1877-d: 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. (b: 14 Sep 1915-d: 27 Feb 2005 Pittsburgh, Pa) served in the U.S. Army during WW II. He married Mary Dowling (26 Jul 1896-21 Feb 1956) and they had four children: Edwin Forrest Keslar Jr. (1915-2005), Peter Jay Keslar (1917-1921), Leroy ‘Roy’ Richard Keslar (1924-1999), and Patricia N. Keslar Hosfelt (1928-?).
- 1.3.5.3.3.6.2 Peter Jay Keslar (b: Abt Feb 1917-d: 1921) died at age 4 in an auto accident,
1.3.5.3.3.6.3 Leroy ‘Roy’ Richard Keslar (b: 14 Oct 1924-d: 22 Aug 1999 Westmoreland County, Pa) married Bernadette Harry (11 Sep 1928-24 Dec 2010) and they had four children: Michael Keslar (), Richard Lee Keslar (), Laurie Keslar Larkin (), and Susan Keslar Hustead () - 1.3.5.3.3.6.4 Patricia N. Keslar Hosfelt (b: Abt 1928-d: ?).
- 1.3.5.3.3.7 Leroy ‘Roy’ Keslar (never married b: 28 Jan 1880-d: 19 Jul 1958 Pittsburgh) 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 (b: 1 Apr 1884-d: 9 Nov 1967 Connellsville, Pa) married Elizabeth ‘Eliza’ Florence Frew Keslar (b: 13 Mar 1887-d: 4 Mar 1984 Connellsville, Pa) and they had one child:
- 1.3.5.3.3.8.1 Elizabeth L. ‘Betty Lou’ Keslar Glaser (b: 1 Sep 1926-d: living).
- 1.3.5.3.3.9 Charles Beswich Keslar (b: 12 Jul 1887-d: 18 Feb 1947 Connellsville, Pa) married Sue J. Ayers Keslar (b: 7 Feb 1888-d: 5 Aug 1945 Connellsville, Pa). They had three children:
- 1.3.5.3.3.9.1 Lewis Keslar (b: 9 Jan 1909 Somerset, Pa-d: 21 Jan 1909)
- 1.3.5.3.3.9.2 Randall C. ‘Randy’ Keslar (b: 23 Dec 1912-d: Oct 1987 Westmoreland County, Pa)
- 1.3.5.3.3.9.3 Pearl M. Keslar Beloy (b: 18 Jan 1917-d: 20 Apr 1977 Lancaster, Ca).
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