JOHN W. KEELER

KEELER, EWING, ARTT, ALBAUGH, BASSETT

Posted By: Nancee Seifert (email)
Date: 3/3/2010 at 17:09:48

Decatur County Journal
Leon, Iowa
Thursday, June 11, 1914

JOHN W. KEELER was born in Dodsonville, Ohio, Jan. 10, 1839, and departed
this life at Weldon, Iowa, June 6, 1914, being 75 years, 4 months and 26
days of age. When the deceased was only a small boy, his mother died,
leaving him to the care of an aunt in Shelbyville, Ill. It was here he grew
to manhood and enlisted with the 51st Illinois infantry, serving his country
through the entire four years of war. Returning to Shelbyville, he was
married Sept. 13, 1866, to REBECCA EWING. To this union seven children were
born, four girls and three boys, two of the girls dying in infancy. The
surviving children are: Mrs. RILLA BASSETT, Wichita, Kansas; B.W. KEELER,
Weldon, Iowa; D.J. KEELER, of Mt. Hebron, Cal.; Dr. E.E. KEELER, of Salt
Lake City, Utah; and Mrs. MINNIE ALBAUGH, of Leon, Iowa.

In 1873 Mr. KEELER came to Leon, Iowa, on the first passenger train that
pulled into the town and started a clothing store, continuing in business
twelve years. He then moved to a farm south of Leon, remaining there until
the death of his wife, Feb. 9, 1902. He returned to Leon, where he married
to LAURA ARTT in the fall of 1907. This was his residence until the death
of his second wife, October 5, 1909, since which time he has made his home
with his son, B.W. KEELER, near Weldon.

Mr. KEELER was a Christian. A member of the Presbyterian Church, probably
since his youth, as the recollections of his oldest child, is of a man of
prayer. His latest expressed attitude toward death was one of calm
readiness. He leaves a rich heritage of fond memories, as example of loyal
service, and many sympathizing friends to those who mourn his loss.

The funeral services were conducted from the B.W. KEELER home near Weldon,
Tuesday at nine o'clock, and at the old home in Leon, which is now the home
of the daughter, Mrs. ALBAUGH, at 11 o'clock, with interment in the Leon
Cemetery. Services were in charge of Mr. Carney, of the Weldon Christian
Church, and the Leon Post G.A.R.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Card of Thanks ~

We wish to express through the columns of the Journal our sincere
appreciation of the sympathy and many kindnesses shown us during the illness
and death of our beloved father, John W. Keeler.

--THE CHILDREN.
---------------------------------------------------------
Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
March 2, 2010
iggy29@grm.net