KESHLEAR, James C.

KESHLEAR, RIGGS, CLARK, BOLON

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/10/2014 at 17:39:17

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.

Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith
Supervising Editors

The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. Pp. 259-60. Chicago. 1915.

JAMES C. KESHLEAR

Since 1911 James C. Keshlear has devoted his time to farming in New Buda township and has met with gratifying success in his work. He was born in Jackson county, Missouri, near Pink Hill, August 4, 1856, a son of Jacob and Sarah B. (Riggs) Keshlear. The father was born in Missouri, of German ancestry, and the mother was born in Kentucky, of Scotch stock. They were married in Missouri and the father followed agricultural pursuits in that state. He passed away at the age of forty-five years, when our subject was a child of five years. The mother lived to be eighty-nine years of age and died in Kansas City in 1907 at the home of her son, W. G. Keshlear, a detective of that city.

James C. Keshlear attended the district schools and also the schools of Independence, Missouri. After his textbooks were put aside lie devoted his entire time to the work of the homestead, remaining there with his mother until he was about thirty years of age. He then removed to Decatur county, Iowa, and engaged in the mercantile business here from 1885 until 1900. He clerked for his brother, G. B. Keshlear, for three years and when the latter sold out our subject opened a store, which he conducted successfully until 1900. In that year he went to Kansas City and worked with his brother, who operated a private detective agency there. James C. Keshlear remained in that business until 1911 and made an excellent record as a detective. He then returned to Davis City and purchased his present farm of eighty acres on section 3, New Buda township. He carries on general farming and stock-raising and derives a good annual income from his business. His farm is well improved and everything is kept in excellent repair and in his work he is always ready to use new and improved methods and machinery.

On the 1st of November, 1891, Mr. Keshlear was united in marriage to Miss Althea Bolon, a daughter of James F. and Elizabeth (Clark) Bolon, further mention of whom occurs elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Keshlear have four children. William, who was born March 18, 1894, was graduated from the Davis City high school with the class of 1915 and is at home with his parents. Tassie Elizabeth died when six months old. Garland Riggs, who was born October 12, 1898, and Susan Blenadine, born August 10, 1900, are both attending the Davis City high school.

Mr. Keshlear is a democrat and for two terms served on the council of Davis City, while for three years he was a member of the school board. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and Homesteaders of Davis City and has many friends both within and without those organizations. In all that he has attempted he has been successful and his sterling character has won him the sincere respect and esteem of all who have come in contact with him.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014