From Kansas Farm Boy to Moderator
A Short History of the Life of
Rev. William Francis Keesecker
Mary Jane Baird
Published by Murder Creek Publishing at Smashwords
Copyright 2010 Mary Jane Baird
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Since grandchildren often wonder about their ancestors, and by the time they get interested the ones who know the details have often departed, I thought I should write some random thoughts about your grandfather that might help you understand.
William Francis Keesecker had a hard time in his younger years. He was born on a farm in Washington, Kansas (it is still being farmed by a Keesecker after 120 years). His father, Glenn Keesecker, died during the terrible influenza plague in 1920 or 1921, when young Bill was 3 or almost 4. His two brothers were Max, who was 14, and Oak, who was out of high school.
Oak had to be the manager of the farm, and try to do all the farming. The many neighbors tried to help out, and did the big jobs, but life was hard and money was in short supply. Bill’s mother, Maude Frances King Keesecker, had a brother, Ellsworth King (Uncle Ess) living a mile from them, so he really helped a great deal, and tried to help out like a father.
Then along came the dust bowl, and the depression (1932 to 1938), so life became even harder. Often there was no money. They produced pigs, vegetables, and a few chickens to feed themselves, but they had little else.
Your grandfather rode a horse two miles to a rural grade school and then into town for high school. He did well in school except for arithmetic. In rural schools one teacher would have 15-20 students spread throughout 6 grades, so if you did not catch on to something quickly, and it was not repeated the next day – or if you missed class that day, you were just out of luck. And, of course, every teacher was not always a good teacher. After the six grades were completed, all the rurally educated children had to pass a state test before they went to the town schools for seventh and eighth grades and high school.
Bill played football in high school and sang tenor in several music groups. His mother saw to it that Billy got up on Sundays and went to Sunday school and church with her – much to his regret. He would have preferred to stay home and work on an old watch (a hobby he continued as an adult). But she insisted he go with her.
There was a young minister, just out of seminary, and his wife at this small rural Presbyterian church. His name was Bud DeJung, and he was full of energy and life. He had a big influence on young Bill. He was kind of a mentor to Bill, and that persuaded Bill to go into the ministry.
After high school, Bill went to college at College of Emporia, in Emporia Kansas. There he got a job to help pay his way. Also he worked on threshing teams in the summer and made a little there to pay for his first year in college. Bill was in his second year when I arrived at C of E. He was living on the 4th floor of the dorm and one of his friends there knew me, and suggested he date me. So one night three couples of us went on a date together in a car. From then on we were a “couple.” During my second year at C of E we agreed to marry someday. For a ring I wore his father’s black cameo ring. His mother, Max and Elva drove to Emporia to meet “Billy’s girl.” After they arrived we had lunch together downtown, and then had a short but stilted visit. After that they left to return home.
College of Emporia Where Bill Met His Wife Mary Jane
I went to the farm to see Bill, once, before we were married. I was asked to play for Mildred Anderson Boliek’s (she was a cousin of Bill’s) wedding. The wedding was at Mildred’s farm home. Here was my first introduction to an outdoor “two-holer” (they did not have running water or electricity). The next day Bill and I headed for Emporia to go back to college. We went via train. It was my third year of college and Bill’s senior year. During the summers and after Bill was through working on the farm, he would hitchhike to Kingman, Kansas (150 miles away) to see me and stay about a week. That was when Granpa Murray would bring out his 3-day fish story about company – but Bill was determined to stay anyway. Then he had to hitchhike back to Washington, Kansas before going back to college or later on to seminary.
After graduation from college, your granddad started going to seminary at McCormick Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. It is a Presbyterian seminary. He rode to Chicago with Don Evans and Don’s parents who drove them there. The campus was beautiful old English style, enclosed by fences. Bill stayed in the dormitory his first and second years. Then the third year we were married. We lived in a strange apartment off campus. It was 2 blocks from the “El” (elevated train) very noisy and very crowded. But it was only 2 blocks from the seminary. We lived in Chicago just six months (thankfully) before Bill graduated. I rode the El twice a day to work in an insurance office typing E bonds that the hundreds of employees were buying to help the war effort. This was in 1942-1943.
Bill and Mary Jane on Their Wedding Day
After he graduated in April, we immediately were called to serve a small church in Peoria, Illinois. The big brick church had, at one time, been very active with a large congregation, but because it was located near downtown and a housing district, it did not have a very active neighborhood from which to draw new members. We rented a house from one of the members whose husband was in the service. Since the house was not located near the church, Bill took the car (a Model “A” Ford, which I hated to drive), for he needed it to get back and forth – plus driving to the various ministry needs.
After being in this church position for 18 months, Bill enlisted in the Navy. He was called up soon after he enlisted and left in May to take 6 weeks of training at William and Mary College in Williamsburg, Virginia.
When he left to train, I took what little furniture we had, and moved back to Kingman, and stayed with my parents until Bill, hopefully, would return. To keep busy, I managed to teach 40 piano students plus play the organ for the Presbyterian Church. I tried to help Mother as much as I could. I joined a music club, which was the extent of my social life. In the meantime, I had sold the model “A” and bought a used Hudson. It ran well, but I was glad when we could finally buy a new car (Bill was always wishing we had kept the model “A”).
After Bill returned, we immediately drove down to Washington to see his mother and family. While there, we found the Washington church did not have a minister. Bill felt obligated to his home church and decided to stay in Washington. The church had a nice-sized manse, so we had a place to live. This was a county seat town of 1,500. Nine months after moving to Bill’s hometown, Mary Elizabeth was born on April 20, 1947. I enjoyed getting to know the people that Bill had known all his life, and was pleased whenever we returned in later years. They were always glad to see us and our family. When Maribeth was 6 months old, the Fort Scott church called Bill as their pastor. We remembered Fort Scott as a town we had traveled through on our way to Chicago, remarking that we never wanted to live in that town. “Never say ‘Never’”, for here we were. The church had an old, big, two-story house a half block from the beautiful church. Our house had a coal furnace which I could not work, so sometimes I would have to have Bill come from work and shovel coal to keep us warm. Rebecca Anne was born December 10, 1949. We lived in Fort Scott seven years, and made very good friends there. We still visit them and some of them live near us in the Kansas City area. One of our members in Fort Scott moved to Burlington, Iowa; and soon a pulpit committee was coming to meet with Bill, to see if he was interested in moving to Burlington. Your grandfather always felt if a congregation acted interested he was supposed to inquire. By November 1953, we moved to Burlington, Iowa after 7 years in Fort Scott.
Burlington, Iowa is a town of many hills, wonderful black soil for growing corn and other crops. It sits on the Mississippi River with the Delta Queen. But Burlington has terrible snowy, icy winters, and muggy hot summers. Sharon Rachel was born September 25, 1955, early in the morning with Bill Strauser waiting with your Grandpa. We were good friends with them from the time we moved to Burlington, for they were the Episcopal rector and family. They moved from Pennsylvania the same time we moved there, and the church and house were one block from each other. After we moved to Wichita, they stayed with us on their way to Tulsa, Oklahoma; where their daughter was getting married. We went with them to the wedding.
After 4 years in Burlington, we found we could stay no longer due to your Grandpa’s health. Because of the river, he could not get over summer flu, and doctors advised us to leave Iowa. We then moved to Grace church in Wichita, Kansas where we lived for 21 years. Our three daughters graduated from high school in Wichita, and can tell you more about their life there than I can. We did enjoy being in Wichita, but Bill felt a need for something new after that many years in one place. He decided to go into interim ministry at that time.
Oklahoma City First Presbyterian church was in great need of help, after having deep problems, and letting four ministers go, as well as the organist and choir director. Bill accepted “the challenge” and tackled a very sticky situation. The church building is a beautiful Gothic church with all the needed rooms and equipment. But the people were certainly split over the situation, so Bill was definitely challenged. As always, he gave his all to bring the congregation together. When we left, in 1989, almost eight years later, to retire in Overland Park, Kansas, he left a church of almost 1,800 members and a million dollar budget for the year. Your grandfather was almost 70 when he decided to retire, and the reason we moved to the Kansas City area was because of Maribeth’s health (cancer), and also to help with Kristen, if needed. Besides our family here, we found several minister friends of past years, and we all formed a social group and got together frequently. The personal relationships helped us get adjusted to a new city.
On June 28, 1992, we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary at Knox Presbyterian church Fellowship Hall. The girls acted as hostesses, and several friends and relatives from out of town were present. Sadly, a few days later, your grandfather entered Shawnee Mission hospital for heart surgery, and died July 19, 1992.
Bill Delivering a Sermon
I lived in our house and helped Maribeth when I could until she died on January 15, 1995. In May of 1995, I sold our house, and moved into Lakeview Village, a retirement community. There I met a man whom I had known at the College of Emporia (we knew each other there, but had not dated at that time). We renewed our acquaintanceship, and on October 5, 1995 we were married. We are enjoying our life together in this retirement community.
As I look back on my life, the major part of it was with your grandfather. We had a happy life. He was a very considerate husband, and was not the least bit demanding of me. I never doubted that he loved me, and I knew I loved only him. As we look back on our lives, there are many regrets, but the happy and loving times stand out. In thinking of the extra special times, we of course, remember the years 1975-1976 when your grandfather was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. The Moderator means representing all the Presbyterian churches in the U.S. It was a busy year, but a thrill. He preached or met with congregations in about every state in our union, plus traveled to England, Scotland, and Ireland – and preached in cathedrals there. He attended the Council of Churches meeting in Kenya, Africa, representing our denomination. All of these meetings I was able to attend and benefited from all the traveling. It was a marvelous year for me, too. All in all, your grandfather and I have been wonderfully blessed.
Mary Jane Keesecker Baird
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