Biographical History of Pottawattmie Co., IA

. H. KELLER is one of the intelligent, enterprising and successful citizens of Grove Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. He came to this place in the fall of 1880, and has since made it his home. Mr. Keller was born near Newark, Licking County, Ohio, February 4, 1848. His father, H. M. Keller, also a native of Licking County, is a son of Jacob Keller, a Pennsylvania Dutchman, who came to Ohio from Pennsylvania in 1796, and was one of the early settlers of eastern Ohio. The mother of our subject, nee Anna Henton, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio. Her father, John Henton, was a native of Virginia and a descendant of an old family of that State. Mr. and Mrs. Keller still reside in Licking County, where they have a competence. They reared a family of three sons and three daughters, the subject of this sketch being the third born, and the only one in the State of Iowa. He was reared on a farm and received his education in the public schools. He learned the trade of plasterer, at which he worked at intervals for a number of years.

In 1880 Mr. Keller came to this county and bought his present farm of Henry Eiseman. Since that time he has spent much money in the improvement of his place, having built a house and done a large amount of fencing. His house is situated on a beautiful building site; is 16 x 30 feet, two stories high, and has an addition 20 x 26 feet. It is surrounded by a grove and orchard comprising four acres. The whole farm is well cultivated and everything about the place shows the thrift and good taste of the owner. Of the 200 acres in his farm, 160 acres are in section 8 and forty acres are in section 20. Mr. Keller feeds to his stock all the grain he raises, usually keeping about forty head of cattle besides hogs.

September 29, 1870, is the date of Mr. Keller's marriage with Miss Emma R. Debolt, a native of Licking County, Ohio. She is the daughter of William and Barbara (Moore) Debolt, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. To them were born six daughters and four sons. Mrs. Debolt died in Ohio, and Mr. Debolt is still living in that State. Mr. and Mrs. Keller have six children, viz.: Maud, Benjamin, Ina, Viola, Clyde and Oliver. Mr. Keller, his wife and eldest daughter are members of the Christian Church. He is a Republican and has served the public as a member of the School Board. He is a man of the strictest integrity, and is frank and open in his manner. He is considered socially, morally and financially one of the best citizens of Grove Township.

Thanks for visiting!
You are visitor number since the move to homepages.rootsweb.com!

Return to the Table of Contents for the Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa