She was united in marriage by J. R. Kemper to Walter J. Keys on April 12, 1890 at Camp, in Doddridge County, WV. The bride was 21 at the time and the groom was 27 years old.
Walter and Laura were caretakers of the Poor House (the old County Infirmary) that once stood on Poverty.
According to an article titled "A Bit of History" written by Roy C. Gaskins of Salem (date of article unknown):
On a warm, clear day one Sunday in June (it is believed the year was 1891), Roy Gaskins was a boy and he and his family were going to visit Laura Keys' parents, Felix & Martha (Gaskins) Davis. Martha was Roy Gaskins' aunt. As Roy's parents started up the road from the church, they saw that the Poor House was on fire, the old shingle roof burning furiously. The people from the church ran to help get the residents out of the house and what furniture they could save.
A boy of about 8 years of age, Phillip Cowman, ran into the flaming house and picked a baby out of its cradle and carried it to safety. The baby he saved was Austin Keys, Laura's son, who was only one month old at the time.
Roy Gaskins, who had been playing with friends, heard about the fire and ran to see the sight. By the time he got there, all that remained was smoking ashes and smouldering sills, and a large pile of burnt wheat. The wheat, which had been threshed a few days before, had been stored in an adjoining building.
Shortly after the fire, Laura's father, Felix Davis, bought the Poor Farm and built a house which occupied the same location where the old log structure had stood.
The following information was shared by Laura's grandson:
As Laura attempted to put the fire out, rescue the residents and her own belongings, she breathed in too much smoke, super-heated air and, according to verbal family history, she also inhaled a red hot spark. Laura permanently damaged her lungs and died 2 1/2 years after the fire. Her son, Austin, was only 2 years and 8 months old at the time of her death.
Walter and Laura were caretakers of the Poor House (the old County Infirmary) that once stood on Poverty.
According to an article titled "A Bit of History" written by Roy C. Gaskins of Salem (date of article unknown):
On a warm, clear day one Sunday in June (it is believed the year was 1891), Roy Gaskins was a boy and he and his family were going to visit Laura Keys' parents, Felix & Martha (Gaskins) Davis. Martha was Roy Gaskins' aunt. As Roy's parents started up the road from the church, they saw that the Poor House was on fire, the old shingle roof burning furiously. The people from the church ran to help get the residents out of the house and what furniture they could save.
A boy of about 8 years of age, Phillip Cowman, ran into the flaming house and picked a baby out of its cradle and carried it to safety. The baby he saved was Austin Keys, Laura's son, who was only one month old at the time.
Roy Gaskins, who had been playing with friends, heard about the fire and ran to see the sight. By the time he got there, all that remained was smoking ashes and smouldering sills, and a large pile of burnt wheat. The wheat, which had been threshed a few days before, had been stored in an adjoining building.
Shortly after the fire, Laura's father, Felix Davis, bought the Poor Farm and built a house which occupied the same location where the old log structure had stood.
The following information was shared by Laura's grandson:
As Laura attempted to put the fire out, rescue the residents and her own belongings, she breathed in too much smoke, super-heated air and, according to verbal family history, she also inhaled a red hot spark. Laura permanently damaged her lungs and died 2 1/2 years after the fire. Her son, Austin, was only 2 years and 8 months old at the time of her death.
She was united in marriage by J. R. Kemper to Walter J. Keys on April 12, 1890 at Camp, in Doddridge County, WV. The bride was 21 at the time and the groom was 27 years old.
Walter and Laura were caretakers of the Poor House (the old County Infirmary) that once stood on Poverty.
According to an article titled "A Bit of History" written by Roy C. Gaskins of Salem (date of article unknown):
On a warm, clear day one Sunday in June (it is believed the year was 1891), Roy Gaskins was a boy and he and his family were going to visit Laura Keys' parents, Felix & Martha (Gaskins) Davis. Martha was Roy Gaskins' aunt. As Roy's parents started up the road from the church, they saw that the Poor House was on fire, the old shingle roof burning furiously. The people from the church ran to help get the residents out of the house and what furniture they could save.
A boy of about 8 years of age, Phillip Cowman, ran into the flaming house and picked a baby out of its cradle and carried it to safety. The baby he saved was Austin Keys, Laura's son, who was only one month old at the time.
Roy Gaskins, who had been playing with friends, heard about the fire and ran to see the sight. By the time he got there, all that remained was smoking ashes and smouldering sills, and a large pile of burnt wheat. The wheat, which had been threshed a few days before, had been stored in an adjoining building.
Shortly after the fire, Laura's father, Felix Davis, bought the Poor Farm and built a house which occupied the same location where the old log structure had stood.
The following information was shared by Laura's grandson:
As Laura attempted to put the fire out, rescue the residents and her own belongings, she breathed in too much smoke, super-heated air and, according to verbal family history, she also inhaled a red hot spark. Laura permanently damaged her lungs and died 2 1/2 years after the fire. Her son, Austin, was only 2 years and 8 months old at the time of her death.
Walter and Laura were caretakers of the Poor House (the old County Infirmary) that once stood on Poverty.
According to an article titled "A Bit of History" written by Roy C. Gaskins of Salem (date of article unknown):
On a warm, clear day one Sunday in June (it is believed the year was 1891), Roy Gaskins was a boy and he and his family were going to visit Laura Keys' parents, Felix & Martha (Gaskins) Davis. Martha was Roy Gaskins' aunt. As Roy's parents started up the road from the church, they saw that the Poor House was on fire, the old shingle roof burning furiously. The people from the church ran to help get the residents out of the house and what furniture they could save.
A boy of about 8 years of age, Phillip Cowman, ran into the flaming house and picked a baby out of its cradle and carried it to safety. The baby he saved was Austin Keys, Laura's son, who was only one month old at the time.
Roy Gaskins, who had been playing with friends, heard about the fire and ran to see the sight. By the time he got there, all that remained was smoking ashes and smouldering sills, and a large pile of burnt wheat. The wheat, which had been threshed a few days before, had been stored in an adjoining building.
Shortly after the fire, Laura's father, Felix Davis, bought the Poor Farm and built a house which occupied the same location where the old log structure had stood.
The following information was shared by Laura's grandson:
As Laura attempted to put the fire out, rescue the residents and her own belongings, she breathed in too much smoke, super-heated air and, according to verbal family history, she also inhaled a red hot spark. Laura permanently damaged her lungs and died 2 1/2 years after the fire. Her son, Austin, was only 2 years and 8 months old at the time of her death.
Inscription
Laura's grave stone is topped with an urn, which is a symbol of death of mourning.
Wife of Walter Keys
Died
Aged 24 Y 11 M 10 D
We hope to meet thee
someday in heaven
and greet thee
where no farewell tears are shed.
Gravesite Details
Birth month and day were calculated based upon age at time of death.
Family Members
Advertisement
Advertisement
