Joseph B. Keeler

KEELER, STREETER, ANDERSON, HINMAN

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 2/1/2010 at 04:43:54

JOSEPH B. KEELER

Joseph B. Keeler was at different times active in various fields of endeavor, but for a few years before his death lived retired save for the supervision which he gave to his investments. He was well known not only in Lake Mills but throughout the entire county and his demise was the occasion of much sincere regret. He was the first white child born in Bristol, Worth county, Iowa, his natal day being October 15, 1859. His parents were James and Cornelia (Streeter) Keeler, the former a native of Norwalk, Connecticut. They removed to Worth county, Iowa, in 1859, being numbered among its earliest settlers^ and there the father practiced medicine until 1896, when he took up his residence in Lake Mills. He lived retired here until his death, which occurred in June, 1899. He was survived by his widow until January, 1913.

Joseph B. Keeler passed his boyhood and youth in Worth and Osage counties, Iowa, and is indebted for his education to the district schools. He devoted several years to farming in Worth county, but at length removed to Lake Mills and turned his attention to banking, being a stockholder and the vice president of the Farmers State Bank. Later he engaged in the insurance business, in which he was also successful, writing a large number of policies. During the last years of his life he confined his business activity to taking care of his investments. His death occurred on the 2d of January, 1914, after an illness of about a year's duration. He was a stock raiser and buyer for several years, farmed extensively and was interested in many of the local industries that proved factors in the development of the community.

In February, 1895, Mr. Keeler was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Anderson, who was born in Lake Mills and educated in the public schools. She is a daughter of L. Sigman and Olive (Hinman) Anderson, an account of whose lives appears in the sketch of L. S. Anderson, which is given elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Keeler were born ten children, of whom five died in infancy, the others being: Milford D., who is attending the Iowa State College at Ames; and Florence Majel, Harold B., Helen G. and Olive C., all at home.

Mr. Keeler was a stanch republican and served as a member of the town council, while for many years he was treasurer of the school board. In religious faith he was a Methodist and his fraternal connection was with the Yeomen. He believed that Lake Mills offered excellent advantages, was financially interested in a number of its business enterprises and was always willing to do all in his power to extend its trade connections and promote its civic interests, and in fact advance the general welfare in any way possible. His generous wholehearted nature won him the warm friendship of those with whom he came in close contact and his memory is still cherished.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 181-182.