City Directories and History: 1908 – J.J. Keller and Company (Rock Hill and Yorkville), also John J. Keller of Rock Hill and John R. Logan: lumber, building materials and construction, 1922/23 – Dixie Garage Co.,
The Rock Hill Record reported on May 2, 1907 – “Mr. J.J. Keller, contractor, is fitting up the building this side of the laundry on West Main Street for an office and supply room. He now has his office in the White Building on Main St., over the Rock Hill Supply Company.”
The Record on March 5, 1908 contained an ad for J.J. Keller and Co., architects, designers and contractors, located on West Main Street.
The Record reported on March 23, 1908 – “A. B. Gaines, who formally lived in Yorkville, has moved here with his family and they are living on Lancaster Ave. Mr. Gaines will follow his business of painting and decorating. (The 1908 City Directory identifies him as working for J.J. Keller. David M. Gaines and wife Ida are also living at 519 Lancaster Ave., also listed as a painter.)
The Record reported on June 8, 1908, “that a costly fire at about 3 o’clock Friday morning (June 5, 1908), completely destroyed the building of the Rock Hill Steam Laundry, the Rock Hill Coca Cola Company and the offices and storerooms of J.J. Keller and Company. All were a complete loss with absolutely nothing being saved. All the buildings belonged to Capt. W.L. Roddey, except the Coca Cola Building, which was owned by Mr. W.M. Mitchell.” Also on June 8th, the Record reported that the businesses involved in the fire will relocated temporarily. The Steam Laundry will occupy the hall over Bailey’s Stable. They have placed an order for new machinery and hope to have a new building erected on the old site. J.J. Keller will occupy the second story of the Rock Hill Telephone Building near the Record Building. Mr. Crissman, Mg., of the RH Coca Cola Bottling Works, will be located in the warehouse in the rear of R.W. Cranford and the Rock Hill Supply Company. They will erect a new building on the same spot as the old one at once.”
The RH Record reported on June 3, 1909 – “J.J. Keller and Co., was awarded the contract for the new kitchen and dining room at Winthrop College. The heating contract was awarded to Geumarion and Co., of Columbia.”
The Record contained an ad on May 27, 1912 for J.J. Keller and Co., funeral directors and embalmers. The office and parlor is in the Ratterree Building on East Main Street in Birds Old Stand. J.J. Keller and John M. Anderson are principles.
J.J. KELLER, CONTRACTOR by Paul Gettys
One of the most active builders and contractors in the York County area in the early twentieth century was J. J. Keller. This article is an attempt to provide some information on him and the buildings he built.
J.J. Keller was born on July 20, 1867 in Rutherford County, North Carolina. His parents were Jacob Alexander Keller and Sarah Jane Keller. It appears that his full name was either Joshua John Keller or John Joshua Keller, as there are records in which he is referred to as Josh or Joshua. The earliest reference found is the 1870 Census which had the family (misspelled as “Killer”) located at Silver Creek in Burke County North Carolina. The head of the household was Michael Keller, John’s grandfather, a farmer. John’s father, Jacob, was listed as a farm laborer, and John was listed as “Joshua” aged 3. There was also an infant sister. In 1880, Jacob had become the head of household, indicating the grandfather had died. He was listed as a farmer and John J. was 12 and working on the farm. The family had grown significantly. John was the oldest of six children, ranging down to two years of age. Also in the household was John’s grandmother, Mahala Keller. The 1890 Census has been destroyed and is not available. (Read the entire article – Click on the title under the primary image.)
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