Dr. J. Frank Keefer, practicing physician at Sterling, was born May 10, 1856 in Hopkins Twp. this county. His parents, Henry & Elizabeth (Strickler) Keefer, were natives of PA and in 1854-5 came West, settling in Empire, Hopkins Township, where Mr. Keefer purchased a farm of 80 acres and followed farming until 1875, when he sold and moved into Sterling. In the spring of 1878 he purchased Dr. Galt's drug-store on the corner of Locust and Third Streets, and has since been engaged in business there.

Mr. Keefer, the subject of this sketch, was reared as a farmer's son until 17 years of age, when he entered the Carthage (Illinois) College and continued there until the spring of 1878, graduating; then, attending Rush Medical College at Chicago two winter terms and in spring, he received his medical diploma, Feb. 22, 1881; and finally located in Sterling, in the practice of his profession in which he has a rising popularity. He is also a partner of his father in the drug-store, which also is a leading business establishment of the place.

Portrait & Biographical of Whiteside County 1885 Pg. 257