JOHN M. KELTNER, was born near Jacksonville, Illinois, July 24, 1830, and seven years after moved with his parents to Salem, Illinois; at that time it was the county seat of Menard county. His father kept the New Salem Hotel, and Abraham Lincoln boarded with him two years, and Lincoln painted the sign board of this hotel. During this time Mr. Lincoln kept a grocery store in Salem. John M. Keltner remained in Salem three years. When he was twenty-one years of age he went to work for himself; he worked in the stone quarries on Rock creek, in partnership with a man named Thompson one year, when he married Miss Nancy C. Keltner, August 20, 1852; she was born in Morgan county, Illinois, January 4, 1835; she was the daughter of Andrew Keltner, who was born in Kentucky, where he died in 1845, and Opha (Self) Keltner, who was born in Kentucky, and died in 1847; she was the mother of six children. After Mr. and Mrs. Keltner were married he ran a circular saw and grist mill on Rock creek, eleven years, when he sold out and bought property in Salisbury, Sangamon county, Illinois, and opened a store of groceries and general merchandise, which he still runs. He is the present acting postmaster. His father, Michael Keltner, was born in Pennsylvania, and died August, 1876; his wife was Elizabeth (Rogers) Keltner, who was born in Adair county, Kentucky, and the mother of nine children; she died December 25, 1851. Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Keltner have had eight children, two living: Chas. H. and Eva M. In politics, Mr. Keltner is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Franklin Pierce.