Source:
An Illustrated History of Stevens, Ferry,
Okanogan and Chelan Counties,
State of Washington
Western Historical Publishing Company, Publishers
1904
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HENRY KELLER
resides about two miles south from Calispell. In addition
to being one of the earliest pioneers of the valley, Mr.
Keller is at the present time one of the heaviest land
owners and is a leading and prominent citizen. He was born
in Jefferson county, New York, on Feb. 24, 1835, the son of
Matthew and Catherine (Zemmerman) Keller, natives of New
York. In 1856 they moved to Dodge county, Minnesota, where
they resided for twenty years, then made another move to South
Dakota. Nine children, named as follows, were born to
them, Barbara A., Henry, Mary, James, Benjamin F., Darwin,
Isaac, Betsey and George. His ancesters
came to this country over two hundred years
ago and participated in the struggle for independence. The
mother’s grandfather was taken prisoner in the Revolution and
suffered the loss of his scalp, but even with this loss
survived.
Our subject received his education in the common and
select schools. At the age of twenty-one he settled on
government land in ‘Minnesota and for twenty-five years followed
farming and threshing. In 1862 he enlisted in the Tenth
Minnesota Volunteers and fought the Indians one year, then went
south and continued in the service until August 21, 1865, having
participated in many battles, among which were Mobile and
Nashville. He was mustered out at Fort Snelling and
carries the mark of a wound received on his head.
Following the war, he returned to agricultural pursuits and also
became interested in the manufacture of cheese. Later he
was employed by a harvester company in Minneapolis, after which
he operated a summer resort at Lake Minnetonka. In 1886 Mr.
Keller came to Spokane and operated a meat market for one
year. It was in 1887 that he settled on his present place,
put up a large amount of hay and shipped stock clear from the
east. From that time until the present Mr. Keller has devoted
himself to the related industries of farming and dairying and
now owns four hundred acres of fine land together with much
stock. His son and son-in law own enough land adjoining to
make the sum total one thousand acres.
In 1872 Mr. Keller married Miss
Margaret Harper, whose parents were natives of
Ireland. Mr. Harper is dwelling in Illinois and is
about ninety years of age. The following children have been born
to this couple: Bertha, Roy H. and Nina.
Mr. Keller is a stanch Republican and cast his
first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has always
taken great interest in the affairs of his party and has held
various responsible positions such as county commissioner,
school director, etc. Mr. Keller is a member of the
A. F. and A. M.
Source: An Illustrated History of Stevens, Ferry,
Okanogan and Chelan Counties, State of Washington - Western
Historical Publishing Company, Publishers - 1904 - Page 183 |
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