His reputation and his involvement in cannibalism allowed him to be remembered as "the most infamous and vilified member of the Donner Party.

"[2] Johann Ludwig Christian Keseberg was born in Berleburg,[3] Germany, the son of a Lutheran minister.

[4] Keseberg spoke German, English, and French, as well as some Spanish,[6][7] and was "probably by far the most highly educated person in the company.

"[8] The Kesebergs, consisting of Lewis (32), his wife Philippine (23) and their daughter Ada (3), joined the Donner Party with two wagons.

They were accompanied by teamsters Karl "Dutch Charley" Burger (30) and a Belgian man whose forename is unknown, Hardkoop (60),[4][9] and further joined by their associates Joseph Reinhardt (30) and Augustus Spitzer (30), and merchant Jacob Karl Wolfinger (26) and his wife Doris (20),[9] all of whom were fellow Germans.

"[4] In the winter of 1846–1847, unable to proceed in the snow, members of the Donner Party camped at Truckee Lake.

Keseberg's wife Philippine, carrying their daughter Ada, left the camp with the relief party.

Ada died on the journey, and was buried by rescuers Reason Tucker and Daniel Rhoads in the snow.

[22][23] Keseberg stayed in the camp due to an incapacitating axe injury to his foot,[24] and he moved into the cabin of the Murphy family.

[25] The second relief party arrived near the end of February, which found Keseberg "lying in pain in his own excrement."

[27][28] Keseberg, still nursing his foot, did not leave with the relief party,[30] and stayed in the campsite along with Murphy and Tamsen Donner who refused to abandon her ailing husband, George, whose arm had become black with infection that travelled up from a seemingly minor cut.

[37] Keseberg eventually sued Edward "Ned" Coffeemeyer, one of his own rescuers, for allegedly defamatory statements.

Eddy did attempt to follow up on his promise to find and kill Keseberg, but was persuaded otherwise by fellow survivor James F.

[37] Immediately after his rescue, Keseberg worked briefly for John Sutter,[39] captaining the schooner Sacramento, taking wheat to San Francisco.

Keseberg later made some money during the California Gold Rush,[40] and in 1851 was able to buy and operate a small hotel, "The Lady Adams" in Sacramento.

[40] McGlashan wrote that Keseberg was afflicted by "misery and desolation," and was struggling to care for his daughters, two of whom had intellectual disabilities.

[6][42] According to McGlashan, he embraced Houghton, weeping, and his conviction, his tears were so genuine that they convinced McGlashlan, who, before meeting Keseberg, believed him to be guilty.