John M. Keema, of Bruceville, Sacramento county, a foremost agriculturist of this part of the state, is a native son of Sacramento county, and has devoted his efforts very successfully to his present occupation since arriving at manhood's years. Mr. Keema belongs to the young and progressive element of his community, and while his energies are directed primarily to his private affairs he has taken an active part in all movements pertaining to community growth and improvement.

Mr. Keema was born in Sacramento county, August 11, 1872, being a son of Henry and Mary (Ehrhardt) Keema, his father a native of Germany and his mother also of German lineage. Henry Keema was a pioneer citizen of California, having come here in the early fifties. For a time he was engaged in stock-raising on a ranch several miles southwest of Franklin, Sacramento county, and later settled at what is now the town of Bruceville, where he continued general farming and stock-raising until his death, in June, 1890. He was a man of recognized ability in all the relations by which he came in contact with his fellow men, and was honored as a self-made man, a public-spirited citizen and a California pioneer. His widow still lives, making her home in Sacramento county. The children of these worthy parents are named as follows: Henry N., of Bruceville; Lulu M., wife of Lee Hess, in Sacramento county; John M.; Laura C., wife of Charles King, in Sacramento county; and Frederick W., in Sacramento county.

Mr. Keema was reared in his native county, and his education was obtained principally in the public schools, also being a student for a time in Washington College, a former well-known educational institution at Irvington, Alameda county. He is the owner, altogether, of five hundred and twenty-eight acres of land, and his home ranch contains three hundred and twenty acres.

August 25, 1898, Mr. Keema was united in marriage with Miss Alice Beckley. She was born in Sacramento county, and her father was the late Piram Beckly, of Franklin. Mr. and Mrs. Keema have one son, George M. Mr. Keema fraternizes with the Native Sons of the Golden West, his membership being with Elk Grove Parlor No. 41. He takes much interest in local eductional affairs, and at this writing is serving as a trustee of the Carroll school district, in which he resides.

Source: History of the New California - Its Resources and People, Volume II

The Lewis Publishing Company - 1905
Edited by Leigh H. Irvine