The Christian and Anna Keller Farmstead: historic site in Franklin County, Missouri

Photo byS. Findall via NRHP Nomination Form.

The historic Christian and Anna Keller Farmstead is at 936 Kohl Country Lane near Gerald, Missouri (Franklin County). The property is also known as the Mel and Ruth Kohl Farmstead as they were the owners at the time the property was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places. It was listed on the National Register on August 6, 2009.

The one-and-a-half-story farmhouse was constructed by the Kellers, German immigrants, between 1855 and 1860. It's categorized as a German bank house which is German colonial architecture attributed to German-speaking immigrants in America.

The area of the farmstead reminds of the large number of German immigrants who arrived in Missouri during the 1850s. The Keller farmhouse was constructed of clay bricks made by Keller. The structure is important because of its architecture, ethinic heritage, and early settlement.

The Keller Farmstead consists of a German bank house-style farmhouse, a late 1800s barn, and a cistern well that was linked to an artificial pond by an underground pipe. Also on the property not included with the National Register listing is the chicken coop, the above-ground swimming pool, and the artifical pond.

The Kellers

During the 1850s, Christian Keller was one of the German immigrants who came to Franklin County, Missouri. Without knowing the exact date he arrived in Franklin County, it is believed in the spring of 1854, he acquired 40 acres of farmland from the U.S. Government.

In 1855, the post office in Gerald, Missouri was established and within five years, Keller built the house for his family. The house was made of homemade bricks. He also purchased another 80 acres of land.

Keller's farmhouse was a bank house. It was built into a hillside which also created a cellar. It's likely that while digging into the hillside, he came across clay which was used to make his bricks.

During the Civil War, there was a violent incident on their property. One of their neighbors was shot and killed. The Keller's farm was ransacked and the house was raided.

According to a Missouri 1860 census record, Christian Keller was a Prussian farmer who was 45-years-old. His wife, Anna, was 43 and also from Prussia. At that time, they had three children who were born in Missouri.

By 1870, the farm contained 160 acres. The Kellers owned livestock and their farmland produced winter wheat, Indian corn, and oats. They also produced wood, Irish potatoes, hay, and molasses.

In 1877, Christian Keller's son, Henry (Heinrich), received a patent for a straw cutting machine, also known as a chaff cutter. He also designed a new type of plow.

The Kellers benefited from immigration to the United States and were self-sufficient because of their farm. Immigrants were allowed to live on large farms in America which helped support their families. The Kellers were hard workers.

The Kellers operated their farmstead until 1889. A portion of their farmstead was purchased by Charles H. and Louise Meyer. Through the decades, other purchases were made. Keller's family were influenced by hard work. Their son, Henry, started his own farm as well as having two patents for farm equipment.

William Christian Joseph Keller died on August 4, 1889, at age 74. His wife, Anna Marie Schenk Keller, died on October 6, 1984, at age 77. According to the Find-a-Grave record, they had four daughters and one son who have all since passed.

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