James Toles Keef

Company F, 73rd Enrolled Missouri Militia

Great-great-grandfather of Kevin J. Hagen

James Toles Keef (alias Keith) was born November 30, 1843 in Warren County, Tennessee, the illegitimate son of Frances “Fanny” Keef and Moses Hopper.

He enlisted as a Private at Springfield, Missouri on October 8, 1864 and was mustered into Company N of the 73rd Enrolled Missouri Militia. Company N was made up of Union loyalists from Carroll County, Arkansas who had traveled to Missouri to join the Union Army. The unit was commanded by James’ uncle Gillum Hopper. James’ future father-in-law Isaac Milam also served in the unit. The 73rd saw duty in the District of Southwest Missouri and participated in an expedition from Ozark, Missouri into Marion County, Arkansas from December 9-15, 1862. Between December 31, 1862 and January 25, 1863 it was engaged in operations against Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke’s Expedition into Missouri. Private Keef was mustered out on March 10, 1865.

James T. Keef died on October 12, 1913 in Boone County, Arkansas and buried in Summers Cemetery at Harrison, Arkansas.