John
M. Keema, who recently became supervisor for the fifth district, has made his
home in Elk Grove for sixteen years and has always lived in California. He was
born in Franklin, Sacramento county, August 11, 1872, a son of Henry M. Keema,
who left Missouri in 1851 and made the long and arduous overland journey to the
Pacific coast. He settled near Folsom, California, where he became a partner of
Ney Brothers. This firm acquired large holdings in land in the vicinity of
Folsom and Franklin and when the partnership was dissolved Henry M. Keema took
over the property in the Franklin district. There he engaged in ranching and
stock raising until his death. In young manhood he married Miss Mary Aheart, who
came to California by the isthmus route, and of the five children born to them
four are now living.
Their
son, John M. Keema, was a pupil in the Carroll school, and in Alameda,
California, he entered Irvington College, which he attended until his father’s
death, returning home to assist in the development of the ranch. Two years
later, when a young man of twenty-one, he began his independent career as an
agriculturist and was thus engaged until 1915 when he leased the ranch. Since
that time he has resided in Elk Grove and for fourteen years has been employed
as a road foreman by the county, having charge of much important construction
work during that period.
Mr.
Keema first married Miss Alice Beekley, who passed away, leaving a son,
Mulford. For his second wife he chose Miss Emma Kloos, a member of one of the
old families in California, and they became the parents of two children; Gussie
Mae, now Mrs. William Rice; and Elwood J., who is attending high school. Mr.
Keema has one grandchild, John Mulford Keema, in whom he takes much pride. In
the last election Mr. Keema was the successful candidate of the republican
party for supervisor of the fifth district for a term of four years and is
discharging his official duties with the thoroughness, ability and
conscientiousness that have characterized his work throughout life. He is a
charter member of Elk Grove Parlor, No. 41. Native Sons of the Golden West, and
his affection for the state of his birth is deep and abiding. He has a wide
acquaintance in Sacramento county and is endowed with the qualities which
inspire esteem and friendship.
Transcribed
by Marla
Fitzsimmons.
Source: History of the
Sacramento Valley California Vol. III J. W. WOOLDRIDGE 1931. Page 259-260.
© 2004 Marla
Fitzsimmons.