John Keim, Hardware Merchant, was born at Oley, Berks county, Pennsylvania, July 6th, 1749. He was the only son of Nicholas Keim. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and in the fall of 1777, marched with Colonel Lutz's Battalion to reinforce the army under General Washington. Like his father, he was a man of stern integrity. He studied with delight the ethical writers of England, Germany, and France, and was rigid in his efforts to promote virtue by well-doing and a simplicity of life. He took a great interest in everything relative to the prosperity of the borough and county. He was one of the Burgesses of Reading, after its incorporation, and was a Commissioner of the county from 1787 to 1790. In his business, he amassed a large fortune; as a creditor he was ever lenient, and his numerous tenantry respected him as a kind landlord. He was married, October 15th, 1771, to Susanna, daughter of Dr. George de Benneville. He died, February l0th, 1819, leaving three sons and one daughter.
Source: The Biographical Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the Nineteenth Century. Philadelphia: Galaxy Publishing Co., 1874, pp. 353.
Contributed by: Nancy.