Peter Keefer was born 19 Mar 1816 in the state of New York, possibly in New York City.  He married Sarah Jane Ray on 17 Sep 1837 possibly in in Sandusky County, Ohio.  Sarah Jane Ray was born on 12 Dec 1819.

The 1850 census of Blanchard Township, Hardin Co., Ohio includes:

Peter Keefer 34 years of age born in NY

Sarah J. Keefer 32 years of age born in PA

Hannah Keefer 12 years of age born in OH

William H. Keefer 10 years of age born in OH

Lester Keefer 8 years of age born in OH

Mary E. Keefer 7 years of age born in OH

Alexander Keefer 4 years of age born in OH

Albert Keefer 3 years of age born in OH

Lydia Keefer 9 months old born in OH

The 1860 census of Williamston, Ingham Co., Michigan includes:

P Keefer 45 years of age born in NY

S J Keefer 42 years of age born in PA

H Keefer 20 years of age born in OH

M E Keefer 16 years of age born in OH

A Keefer 14 years of age born in OH

A Keefer 12 years of age born in OH

L Keefer 10 years of age born in OH

J Keefer 7 years of age born in OH

S Keefer 5 years of age born in MI

E Keefer 1 year old born in MI

The 1870 census of Galena Township, La Porte Co., Indiana includes:

“Keeper”, Peter 53 years of age born in NY

Sarah J 52 years of age born in PA

Alexander 22 years of age born in OH

James 16 years of age born in OH

Sarah 14 years of age born in MI

Elizabeth 12 years of age born in MI

The 1880 census of Galien, Berrien Co., Michigan includes:

Keifer, Peter 65 years of age born in NY

Sarah 60 years of age born in PA

Cowgill, Frank 10 years of age born in IN “grandson”

Note:  Frank Cowgill was the son of Benjamin and Lydia (Keefer) Cowgill according to his marriage record to Lydia E. Swank on 04 Oct 1891 in Berrien Co., Michigan.  No death record for Lydia (Keefer) Cowgill was found.  Benjamin F. Cowgill remarried on

and also:

Keifer, Henry 40 years of age born in OH

Australie 25 years of age born in IN

G. 7 years of age born in MI “daughter”

Fred 5 years of age born in MI “son”

L. 3 years of age born in IN “daughter”

Charlotte 9 months old born in MI “daughter”

Note this was William Henry Keefer often seen as Henry Keefer son of Peter and Sarah J. (Ray) Keefer.

Peter Keefer died on 25 Feb 1890 in Galien, Berrien County, Michigan and is buried in the Galien Cemetery.  Sarah J. Keefer died on 20 Oct 1892 and is also buried in the Galien Cemetery.  The Berrien County record carried a death notice for Sarah Keefer on 26 Oct 1892 and it reads:  “ From Galien. Mrs. Sarah J. Keefer, mother of Wm. H. Keefer who lives a few miles south of Galien, died at the home of her son, last Friday night.  Rev. Birdsall, of Buchanan, conducted the funeral services at the Centre, Sunday.”

Peter and Sarah (Ray) Keefer had children:

Hannah Keefer b. 1838 who married William A. Badley in Hardin Co., Ohio

William H. Keefer b. 1840 who married Susan Australia Kidwell

Lester Keefer b. 1842 who died in the Civil War

Mary E. Keefer b. 1843 who married 07 Jun 1868 in Berrien Co., Michigan to Leander Butler

Alexander R. Keefer b. 1848 who married Mary Jane Condon

Albert H. Keefer b 1846 who married Nellie Galeener

Lydia Keefer born 1850 who married Benjamin F. Cowgill on 5 March 1869 in Berrien Co., Michigan

James Keefer b. 1854 who married Rachael Helmick on 04 Oct 1874 in Berrien Co., Michigan

Sarah Keefer b. 1856 who married Loammi Dunlap on 10 Jul 1881 in Berrien Co. Michigan

Elizabeth Keefer b. 1858 

The Berrien county record carried a death notice for Alexander Keefer on 10 Jan 1895 and it reads:  “Galien-Alex. R. Keefer died at his home two miles and a half south of this place Monday after a very brief illness with erysipelas.  The funeral services were held at Galien Centre, Wednesday at 2 o’clock, conducted by Rev. C. P. Birdsey.  Interment took place in Galien cemetery.”

The Acorn carried an obituary for Mary (Condon) Keefer, wife of Alexander Keefer on 25 Dec 1924 and it reads:  “Mary Jane Keefer. Mary Jane Condon was born at Rolling Prairie, Indiana, August 8, 1851, and passed this life December 17, 1924, reaching the age of 73 years, 4 months and 9 days. She was united in marriage to Alecndria Keefer at the age of 28 years. Four children were born to this union, two daughters and two sons; Alma Kane of Niles, Bernard of Holland, Peter of Grand Haven and Mrs. Margaret Kramer of Three Oaks. There are also 14 grandchildren and three great grandchildren to mourn her loss. After their marriage they made their home near Rolling Prairie and later moved on a farm southwest of Galien, where they lived at the time of Mr. Keefer's death, he having died in 1896. Mrs. Keefer remained on the place until about 15 years ago, when she moved to Three Oaks and later years made her home with her daughter Mrs. Wm. H. Kramer. The funeral services were held Friday afternoon from the local St. Mary's Church. Rev. Hammer officiating. Burial took place at the Galien Cemetery."

William Henry Keefer’s death record indicates his father was Peter Keefer who was born in New York City and his mother was Sarah Ray born in Ohio.  The Niles Daily Star carried an obituary for William H. Keefer on 26 Feb 1934 and it reads:  “Galien Civil War Veteran Dies Sunday. Galien, Feb 26-Henry Keefer, 93, one of two remaining Civil war veterans of Galien township, died Sunday night after having been in failing health for some time. He was born in Gaspalia, O., June 25, 1840, and moved to Michigan at the age of 15 and settled with his parents near Lansing. He enlisted at the outbreak of the Civil war and served throughout as a member of Company G 5th Ohio infantry. At the close of the war, he came home and married Miss Suzanne Kidwell of Plymouth, Ind., and the young couple came to Galien where they transformed an 80 acre wooded tract into a model farm home. Seven years ago the retired and moved to Galien, where Mrs. Keefer died three years ago. The deceased was one of the oldest Masons in the state, having joined the order 71 years ago. Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Susan Ray, Mrs. Grace Goodenough, Mrs. Charlotte Roundy, all of Galien, and Mrs. Annie Lowe, Three Oaks, four sons, Ray Keefer, Galien, O. A. Keefer, Three Oaks, William Keefer, Plymouth, Mich., and Fred Keefer living in North Dakota; also 19 grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon in the Methodist Episcopal church with the Rev. Victor Niles, officiating. Burial will be at Galien with the American Legion in charge of rites."

Two other children of Peter and Sarah (Ray) Keefer are also buried in the Galien cemetery:

Albert H. Keefer 1848-1920

James Keefer 1853-1897

Their daughter, Mary Keefer 1843-1926, who married Leander Butler, is buried in the Rolling Prairie Cemetery, La Porte Co. Indiana along with her husband Leander Star Butler.

 The 1880 census of Galena Township, La Porte County, IN includes:
Leander Butler 37 years of age born in Maine
Mary Butler 35 years of age born in Ohio
Edith Butler 4 years of age born in Indiana
Eliza Butler 69 years of age born in Maine
Sarah Keefer 24 years of age born in Michigan
Frank Nichols 25 years of age born in Indiana

Sarah Keefer was Mary's younger sister and was working as a servant in this household.

The La Porte Daily Herald Argus carried an obituary for Mary Butler on, 12 Jun 1926 and it reads: "Mrs. Mary Butler, age 81 died at her home in New Carlisle at 10:15 last night after an illness of 7 weeks. Mrs. Butler was the daughter of Peter and Sarah Keefer of Harding County, Ohio. She was born in Harding County February 17, 1845 but had lived the past 20 years in New Carlisle. In 1868 she was married to Leander Butler, now dead. She was a member of the Baptist Church. Survivors are one daughter, Mrs. Charles Phillips at Three Oaks, Michigan, one sister, Mrs. G. W. Ray of Clyde, Ohio and one brother, Henry Keefer of Galien, Michigan. The funeral held at the Rolling Prairie Methodist Church Monday morning at 11 o'clock. The Rev. John W. Moffatt of the local Baptist Church to officiate, burial at Rolling Prairie with Cutler Bros. in charge."