ited circumstances were then small,
yet Joseph Keifer early determined to secure an education, and by
his own persevering efforts, with little, if any, instruction, he
became especially proficient in geography and mathematics, and
acquired a thorough practical knowledge of navigation and civil
engineering. He could speak and read German. He was a general
reader, and throughout his life was a constant student of both
sacred and profane history, and devoted much attention to a study
of the Bible. In September, 1811, he left Sharpsburg, on horseback,
on a prospecting tour over the mountains to the West, destination
Ohio. He kept a journal (now before me) of his travels, showing
each day's journey, the places visited, the topography of the
country, the kinds of timber growing, the lay of the land and kinds
of soil, the water supply and its quality, etc., and something of
the settlers. This journey occupied seven weeks, during which he
rode 1140 miles, much of it over trails and bridle paths, his total
cash "travelling expenses being $36.30." He travelled through
Jefferson, Tuscarawas, Stark, Muskingum, Fairfield, Pickaway, Ross,
Fayette, Champaign (including what is now Clark), Montgomery,
Warren, Butler, Hamilton, Guernsey, and Belmont Counties, Ohio.
In April, 1812, he started on another like journey over much the
same country, returning May 15th.

On his first journey he visited Springfield, Ohio, and vicinity,
and bargained for and made an advance payment of $500 in silver
for about seven hundred acres of land, located near (west of) New
Boston, from John Enoch, for himself and his brother George Keifer,
agreeing to take possession and make further payment in one year.
He removed with his brother George (who then had a wife and family
of several children), his mother accompanying, by wagon and on
horseback to this land, in the fall of 1812, where both brothers
made their homes during life, each following the general occupation
of farming. The land was chosen with reference to its superior
quality, excellent growth of popular, oak, walnut, hickory, and
other valuable timber for building purposes, and likewise with
reference to its fine, healthful, perennial springs of pure limestone
water. The tract fronted on Mad River, extending northward into
the higher lands so as to include bottom-lands and uplands in
combination.

Joseph Keifer, before leaving Maryland, procured to be made at
Frederick, Maryland, a surv