Shawnee Springs near Springfield in Clark County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Keifer Cabin Site
Pioneer Archeological Work
— At George Rogers Clark State Park/ Peckuwe Battle Field —
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 27, 2015
1. The Keifer Cabin Site Marker
close up, showing text
Inscription.
The Keifer Cabin Site. Pioneer Archeological Work. You are standing on the site of a cabin built by John Keifer in 1824. John Keifer (1802- 1863) and his wife Elizabeth Donnel (1805- 1865), daughter of surveyor Jonathan Donnel, resided here until 1830. That year the family moved to another farm closer to Springfield. John and Elizabeth’s daughter, Caroline was born in the cabin in 1829.
Elizabeth’s father, Jonathan Donnel came from Pennsylvania and may have settled in Bethel Township, just west of George Rogers Clark Park, as early as 1795. John’s father George Keifer, originally from Maryland, settled in the Township in 1812. John Keifer’s cabin sat on a 100 acre tract that was once part of his father’s much larger farm, which encompassed most of the 1780 Peckewe (Piqua) Battlefield. When George Keifer died in 1845, John and Elizabeth returned to Bethel Township and resided the rest of their lives on what was left of his father’s original farm along the west side of Tecumseh Road. John Keifer was a farmer, US Marshal, Federal census taker, and the cousin of Civil War general Joseph Warren Keifer.
From 1831 until 1835 the cabin which stood on this site was home to Frederick Mennert, (sometimes spelled Minert or Minard), born 1795, his wife Elizabeth Bachman, born 1791, and their five children. Their fifth child Frederick, Jr. was born in the cabin in 1833. Frederick Mennert had formerly owned a grist mill in Blair County, Pennsylvania. In 1830 the family moved to Ohio and in 1831 Frederick purchased John Keifer’s cabin and the old Leffel Mill located along the Mad River just downstream from the cabin. After going bankrupt in 1835, Frederick and his family moved to Tazewell County, Illinois. There he opened a tavern and later purchased another grist mill. Frederick and his wife died in Illinois.
After the Mennert family left the area, the Keifer cabin and surrounding 100 acres went through several owners. By the time Daniel Hertzler purchased the property in 1853 the cabin had long been abandoned and was probably in a state of disrepair. Any remaining foundation stones and bricks from the chimney and a nearby smokehouse were probably reused in the construction of the Hertzler mansion. All that remains of the Keifer cabin is the stone hearth foundation, which was discovered here during an archaeological excavation carried out in the spring of 2012.
You are standing on the site of a cabin
built by John Keifer in 1824. John Keifer
(1802- 1863) and his wife Elizabeth Donnel
(1805- 1865), daughter of surveyor
Jonathan Donnel, resided here until 1830.
That year the family moved to another farm
closer to Springfield. John and Elizabeth’s
daughter, Caroline was born in the cabin in
1829.
Elizabeth’s father, Jonathan Donnel came
from Pennsylvania and may have settled in
Bethel Township, just west of George Rogers
Clark Park, as early as 1795. John’s father
George Keifer, originally from Maryland,
settled in the Township in 1812. John Keifer’s
cabin sat on a 100 acre tract that was once
part of his father’s much larger farm, which
encompassed most of the 1780 Peckewe
(Piqua) Battlefield. When George Keifer died
in 1845, John and Elizabeth returned to
Bethel Township and resided the rest of
their lives on what was left of his father’s
original farm along the west side of
Tecumseh Road. John Keifer was a farmer,
US Marshal, Federal census taker, and the
cousin of Civil War general Joseph Warren
Keifer.
From 1831 until 1835 the cabin which
stood on this site was home to Frederick
Mennert, (sometimes spelled Minert or
Minard), born 1795, his wife Elizabeth
Bachman, born 1791, and their five children.
Their fifth child Frederick, Jr. was born in
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the
cabin in 1833. Frederick Mennert had
formerly owned a grist mill in Blair County,
Pennsylvania. In 1830 the family moved to
Ohio and in 1831 Frederick purchased John
Keifer’s cabin and the old Leffel Mill located
along the Mad River just downstream from
the cabin. After going bankrupt in 1835,
Frederick and his family moved to Tazewell
County, Illinois. There he opened a
tavern and later purchased another grist mill.
Frederick and his wife died in Illinois.
After the Mennert family left the area, the
Keifer cabin and surrounding 100 acres went
through several owners. By the time Daniel
Hertzler purchased the property in 1853 the
cabin had long been abandoned and was
probably in a state of disrepair. Any
remaining foundation stones and bricks from
the chimney and a nearby smokehouse were
probably reused in the construction of the
Hertzler mansion. All that remains of the
Keifer cabin is the stone hearth foundation,
which was discovered here during an
archaeological excavation carried out in the
spring of 2012.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1824.
Location. 39° 54.57′ N, 83° 54.706′ W. Marker is near Springfield, Ohio, in Clark County. It is in Shawnee Springs. Marker can be reached from South Tecumseh Road (Ohio
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 27, 2015
2. The Keifer Cabin Site Marker
full view of main plaque
Route 69). marker is located is George Rogers Clark State Park, on the hill, behind the Hertzler Mansion. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 936 S Tecumseh Rd, Springfield OH 45506, United States of America. Touch for directions.
marker can be seen at a distance. there are six plaques on the fence surrounding the dig site
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 27, 2015
4. The Keifer Cabin Site Marker
second plaque; Peckuwe Battlefield, with Hertzler Mansion, and Keifer cabin
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 2, 2015
5. The Keifer Cabin Site Marker
3rd plaque; Henry Howe drawing, showing the Keifer cabin
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 27, 2015
6. The Keifer Cabin Site Marker
4th plaque; typical cabin, with artifacts from the dig
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 27, 2015
7. The Keifer Cabin Site Marker
5th plaque; more artifacts
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 27, 2015
8. The Keifer Cabin Site Marker
6th (final)plaque; artifacts
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 27, 2015
9. The Keifer Cabin Site Marker
the hearth foundation
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 27, 2015
10. The Keifer Cabin Site Marker
the Hertzler Mansion, which eventually replaced the Keifer cabin. Viewed from the cabin site.
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 27, 2015
11. The Keifer Cabin Site Marker
looking down at the Peckuwe battlefield, from the Keifer cabin site. Historical markers and flagpole are visible through the trees.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 29, 2015, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 870 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on May 29, 2015, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.