John William Kile (Keil)

   Cause of his death was Cerebral Hemorrhage (4 days) / Arteriosclerosis with Hypertension.

  General Notes:

The 1910 and 1920 Federal Census records the John W. Kile (Keil) family renting a home at 101 North York Street in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., Pa. It is of interest that the 1900 Federal Census records this home being occupied by his parents, David and Missouri Keil and family.

The 1910 Federal Census for Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania,, ED# 24, page 34A records John W. (39) and Katherine M. (38) Kile with children Romain B. (7), Edna M. (5), William D. (3) living at 101 North York Street. John and Katherine have been married for 8 years and have had 3 children. John is a laborer at the Spoke Works.

The WWI Draft Registration Card for John William Kile dated Sept. 12, 1918 lists his date of birth as June 25, 1880. He is living with his wife Katherine Kile 101 North York Street in Mechanicsburg, PA and is working as a Laborer at Eberly and Orris Manufacturing Company. His physical description is medium height and build with light blue eyes and light brown hair.

The 1920 Federal Census for Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania, ED# 25, page 47B records John W. (29 - Ohio) and Katheryn M. (27 - PA) Kile with children Romaine B. (17), Edna M. (15), William D. (12), John H. (7), Katheryn H. (11/12) living at 101 North York Street. John is a Hubturner at the Spoke Factory.

The 1930 Federal Census for Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania, District 26, page 92B, dated April 10, 1930 records the John W. Keil (sic) family (John W.-49, Catherine M.-45, John H.-17, Catherine M.-11, Edwin E.-8, Elmer F.-2 2/12) living at 44 West Allen Street in Mechanicsburg, PA. This is the same address that David and Missouri were living at in 1920. John is a laborer at the Spoke Factory and was married at age 21 while Catherine at age 19.

The 1940 Federal Census for Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania, District 21-32, page 521A, dated April 11, 1940 records John W. Keil (59 - Ohio) with his wife Kathryn (56 - PA) and children Edward E. (18), Elmer F. (12) living at 44 West Allen Street in Mechanicsburg, PA. Next door, at 46 West Allen Street, is John's son, William H. Keil (38) and his wife Verna A. (31) and their son William H. Jr. (8). Both William and Verna are employed as Twisting at the Silk Mill, William earning $768 and Verna Earning $336, both working 48 weeks during the last year. William has completed 8 years of schooling while Verna has completed 7 years. John and Katheryne have both completed 8 years of schooling with John working as a Spoke Turner at the Wood Mill earning $600 while working 40 weeks during the last year. Edward is a Clerk at a Sporting Goods Store earning $260 while working 26 weeks during the last year.

The WWII Draft Registration Card (for men born on or after April 28, 1877 and on or before February 16, 1897) taken April 27, 1942 for John William Keil records his date of birth as June 6, 1880 in Urbana, Ohio. He is living with his wife, Catherine Keil, at 44 West Allen Street in Mechanicsburg, PA. John is employed at Eberly - Orris Manufacturing Co. His physical description is 5' 5 1/2" tall at 196 lbs. with brown eyes and hair and a ruddy complexion. His signature is definitely "John William Keil".

The John W. Keil family began using the spelling Kile as early as 1910, possibly as a more recognized spelling or perhaps in reaction to German sentiments from WWI. As indicated on his WWII Draft Record, John was well aware that his legal name was "Keil".


Date: Fri, 06 Apr 2007 21:26:12 -0400
From: Bill Kile <bkile@alltel.net>
Subject: RE: Pictures
To: "'L. Bolling Hagen'" <lhagen@vt.edu>
Bo:
... My grandfather John Kile [John William Keil] of course was my father's dad [Bill's father was William David Keil] and he lived next door to us. He was sort a quiet man and I didn't see him often in a personal sense, but he was always friendly to me when I did talk to him. He worked in the "Eberly Lumber Yard" just a few doors down from where we lived. One of the things that company made was wooden wagon wheels, the very same wheels that were filmed in many Western movies. They were well known for that.
We lived in what was called a "double" house where it was one structure with two doors in front but there was a dividing wall which made for two separate living spaces. You mentioned the name John William Keil and I don't think it was my grandfather, however, I admit I never really knew his middle name ...

  Medical Notes:

Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963
Name: John W Kill (married)
Residence: 44 W Allen, Mechanicsburg, PA
Occupation: Machinist at Eberly & Orris Mfg Co.
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 71
Birth Date: 25 Jun 1880
Birth Place: Ohio
Death Date: 21 Feb 1952
Death Place: Mechanicsburg, Cumberland, Pennsylvania
Burial: Feb 24, 1952 at Mechanicsburg Cemetery
Father Name: David Kile
Mother Name: Missouri Kramer
Certificate Number: 12859
Informant: William D. Kile (son) of 46 W Allen, Mechanicsburg, PA (living next door to his father)

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: working in a spoke factory (1910,1930) / hub turner (1920).

John married Katherine Margaret (Katie) Halter, daughter of David R. Halter and Dessie Clara Faust, on 24 Oct 1901 in Cumberland Co., PA. (Katherine Margaret (Katie) Halter was born on 6 Nov 1883 in Leesburg, Cumberland Co., PA, died on 15 Jul 1958 in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., PA. and was buried on 19 Jul 1958 in Mechanicsburg Cemetery, Mechanicsburg, PA. (Plot L1-12).) The cause of her death was Cachexia / widespread metastases (4 months) / malignant lymphoma (8 months).

  Marriage Notes:

Marriage record is from the Ophan's Court, [Old] Cumberland County Courthouse in Carlisle, PA [April 2008 visit]. This record reports Katherine Halter was born in Leesburg, Cumberland Co., PA ... Fred Kile tells me that she was born at Lee's Crossroads.