Jacob Keller

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Jacob Keller

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

Jacob KELLER, proprietor of the Hotel Central at Rockaway, New Jersey, is a representative business man of this city, where he maintained his home since 1909. He was born in the empire of Germany, March 10, 1861, and in that country was reared and educated. His parents, Conrad and Margaret (ZEUN) KELLER, lived and died in Germany and to them were born five children as follows: Carl, Catherine, Louis, August, Jacob. The daughter is the wife of Frederick SCHMETZER, a resident of New York.

At the age of twenty years Jacob KELLER bade farewell to fatherland and relatives and immigrated to America. He landed in New York City in 1881 and there began to work at the trade of printer and compositor, which occupation he followed for a period of five years, at the expiration of which time he removed to Paterson, New Jersey. In the latter place he became interested in the provision business and followed that line of enterprise with marked success for the ensuing twenty-one years. In 1907 he engaged in the hotel business at Passaic, New Jersey, and in June, 1909, he came to Rockaway, where he is now proprietor of the Hotel Central. This modern hotel has twenty-one sleeping rooms and is conducted principally for the accommodation of summer boarders. Excellent food is provided for its patrons and a congenial, homelike atmosphere pervades the place. Mr. KELLER is a Democrat in his political convictions and while he does not take an active part in local politics he is deeply and sincerely interested in all matters projected for the good of the general welfare, at this writing he is candidate for councilman on the Democratic ticket. In a fraternal way he is connected with the Loyal Order of Moose and the Fraternal order of Eagles. He and his wife are devout members of the Presbyterian church and they command the unqualified confidence and esteem of their fellow citizens.

January 1, 1887, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. KELLER to Eliza PENNER, born and reared in Germany, daughter of Cornelius and Emily PENNER. Mr. and Mrs. PENNER had four children: Martha, Eliza, Otto, Margaret. To Mr. and Mrs. KELLER have been born the following children: Gretchen, married Bernard RICKES; Catherine, Elizabeth, Elsie, Jacob Jr.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)