Fanny May Keep a/k/a Anna Peak Delano (Sutter)
Oct. 18, 1850-Oct. 9, 1935
Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 9, 1935, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library
FANNY MAY KEEP DIES AT AGE 85
Once Member of Famous Family of Bell Ringers; Played at Tony Pastor's
Mrs. Fanny May Keep, 85, died early this morning at her home, 324 Elm street, following a long illness. During the last few months she has been suffering from the effects of a stroke of paralysis.
Mrs. Keep was a member, many years ago, of the Peak Family Swiss bell ringers, a famous act that toured the country and played some of the famous old theaters. She was a familiar figure in theatrical circle of the east in the early days and played several runs at Tony Pastor's the leading New York variety house in those days.
Retiring from theatrical life she made her home in Niles. She was married about two ayers ago to Claude Keep, who survives her. Her former husband was Jeppe Dalano[sic] who died here several years ago.
Funeral services will be held in the Price and Kiger funeral home Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The Christian Science service will be read, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
Niles Daily Star, Thursday, October 10, 1935, page 1, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library
Vivid Personality Recalled by Friends of Fanny Mary Keep
Friends of Fanny May Delano Keep, who died at her home here, Wednesday morning, are recalling today some of the incidents in the life of the former state star who vivid personality brought her success and fame in the early trouping days.
Mrs. keep and her late husband, Jeppe Delano, made one of their stage hits in an act billed as “Fanny and Jeppe,: a musical and comedy skit, in which the petite Fanny did the musical turn.
She was the adopted daughter of the Peake family, famous in the last century as the original Swiss Bell Ringers. Her own name was Sutter, but she was universally known under the name of her adopted parents.
Mrs. Keeps' last stage appearance was in a home talent presentation here of “Uncle Tom's Cabin,” in which she played the part of Miss Ophelia. Appearing in the cast with her were a number of Niles men and women who formed the amateur theatrical talent of the town in those days. The play was presented in the Elks temple in 1916.
Among those cast in the more important roles were Dr. F.N. Bonine, Mary Virginia Harper, Edward Powell, Mrs. Fred D. Cook, Carmi Smith and Harry Fox.
Mr. Delano was a member of the Niles commandery. He assisted Herman, the magician, at one time. A story is told of his appearing with Herman the famous box mystery. Delano was locked in a box and it was Herman's task to bring him out. Something went wrong with the mechanism of th box. Herman whispered through the air hole and told Delano he couldn't extract him. To which the young assistant replied in an anxious whisper: “You've got to get me out. It's payday.”
At her funeral Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Price and Kiger funeral home, Charles Kitterer will read the Christian Science service. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
Niles Daily Star, Saturday, October 12, 1935, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library
Niles News in Brief: KEEP FUNERAL FRIDAY
Funeral services for Fanny Delano Keep were held Friday afternoon in the Price and Kiger chapel, Charles Kitterer reading the Christian Science service at the chapel and at Silverbrook cemetery where interment was made. Pallbearers were John Francis, James Patterson, Frank Skalla, C.S. Quimby, Max Quimby and Grant Boulton.
Note: DOB/DOD from Michigan Death record for Anna Mary Keep. Silverbrook records have name recorded as Anna Delano. Per Death Record, her father was John Sutter. However, she was knows professionally as Fanny May Peak and Fanny Delano.