AYLMER KEITH
Past High Priest 1851, 1852, 1853, 1855
[ I N D E X ]

Aylmer Keith was born in Rome, Oneida County, New York, February 16, 1802, the son of the Reverend William Keith and Sally Tibbets. He served as a Second Lieutenant in the 8th Regiment Artillery of Oneida County New York in 1821. On September 25, 1822, he was married to Eliza Dennison Wylie, and from this union the following children were born; Charles Wylie, Sarah Maria, Aylmer Dennison and Eliza Dixon. He came with his family to Naperville in 1840.  Following the death of Eliza and on May 26, 1841, he married Janette Maria Wight and from this union the following children were born: William Henry, Julia Maria, Edwin Wight, Franklin Botts, and Mary Wight.

He served as a member of Fire Company No. 2 in Rome, New York in 1826.He operated a grocery store in Rome, New York in the 1830’s and served as Treasurer of Mount Morris, New York in 1835. He was a Naperville merchant, operating a drug and general store, and also a bank and insurance brokerage. He was an investor in the “Plank Road” and also in the “Chicago, Sterling and Mississippi Railroad Corporation.” He served as the first Clerk and Secretary of the Naperville Cemetery Association, and drew the first plot map for the cemetery. In February 1841, he was appointed as Secretary and served on the Executive Committee of the DuPage County Bible Society, and also helped form the Methodist Society. He served as a Delegate to the Chicago River and Harbor Convention in July, 1847. He was appointed as a Director of the Merchants and Mechanics Bank of Chicago in 1851, and as Naperville Postmaster in 1852.

He was a charter member of Euclid Lodge and its first Worshipful Master. He was probably raised a Master Mason in Roman-Hatheway Lodge No. 223 in Rome, Oneida County, New York. He was also a charter member and first High Priest of Euclid Chapter No. 13, Royal Arch Masons.

He died November 13, 1855 in Naperville, DuPage County, Illinois and was buried in Naperville Cemetery, with the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the state of Illinois performing the funeral ritual. 200 Masons from the surrounding area were present to pay their last respects.