Edward E. Keyes born March 14, 1861 at Grand Rapids, Michigan, was of English descent, his family being able to trace their ancestry back to fore-bearers who came over on the Mayflower. Coming to North Dakota in 1880, his widowed mother and he soon took adjoining homesteads on hand that is yet included on the home farm. He plowed the first furrows in Baldwin Township East ½ and Northwest ¼ and the East ½ of the Southwest ¼ of Section 18.

In 1893 he married Margaret May Walks from Uxbridge Township near Leah, North Dakota, the first teacher in the nearby school. The nearest trading post for the Keyes family was Valley City 25 miles away. In winter he brought necessary supplies from there over the frozen Sheyenne on a hand sled, the trip requiring several days on snowshoes. Distance between settlers made each one necessarily dependent on his own efforts and many hardships had to be endured.

Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Keyes: Ralph, Roy, Susan (Mrs. Wm. Ermatinger), Mary and Nina (Mrs. Clarence Steffen). Nina Steffen is the only surviving member of this pioneer family. Her son Clarence Keyes Steffen and his wife Mary (Arneson) and their five children Shawn, Dwight, Sherri, Lori and Pamela now farm the original homestead.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 122