KEYHOE, Mrs. Harry P.

KEYHOE, GILMORE, SMITH, HELFER

Posted By: Debbie Clough Gerischer, IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 1/14/2009 at 11:17:58

Harlan, Edgar Rubey.
A Narrative History of the People of Iowa.
Vol IV. Chicago: American Historical Society, 1931

MRS. HARRY P. KEYHOE is a women of whom the City of Ottumwa is particularly proud, reflecting her intellectual gifts and more than that her splendid devotion to work and to organizations that reflect the enlightenment and spiritual progress of the city.

Mrs. Keyhoe is the wife of Mr. Harry P. Keyhoe, who was born at Beverly, Ohio, a son of Ephraim and Malvina (Gilmore) Keyhoe. he settled at Ottumwa in 1876, and for many years has been a master mechanic and active in the business life of the city. For eight years he served on the City Council.

Mrs. Keyhoe's maiden name was Dora Smith. She was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, and was married to Mr. Keyhoe in June, 1885. Her father, John B. Smith, was born in 1835 and came to Iowa about 1855. he married Margery Helfer, who was born in 1830. John B. Smith was a pioneer educator and was the first instructor to bear the title of principal in Ottumwa's schools.

Mrs. Keyhoe graduated from the Ottumwa's High School in 1880. All through the years she has been a student of literature and history and is recognized as an authority on the history of Wapello County and of the state at large. Frequently she has delivered addresses on Iowa history before organizations in different cities. As a writer she has contributed to a number of publications. Mrs. Keyhoe has been a busy homemaker, mother, and through all these activities has maintained an intimate touch with literary and religious and civic organizations. She is an active member of the Shakespeare Club of Ottumwa, next to the oldest of Iowa's women's clubs. In 1928 she represented the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution at its national congress in Washington and is a past regent of Elizabeth Ross Chapter, and at the present time a member of the state committees of the Daughters of the American Revolution. A service for which she is particularly honored has been through the public library, working among children. She was prominent in organizing and conducting the ever popular Story Hour and is known to the children as "The Story Lady." The Republican party has frequently honored her by appointment on various committees and as delegate to county and stare conventions, and at the present time she is one of the three members of the Wapello County Jury Commission. her most consecutive interest over a long period of years has been her church. For forty years or more she has been a teacher in its Sunday School, and her class of women is one of the outstanding organizations in the church.

Mr. and Mrs. Keyhoe had a family of four children. Their daughter Winifred is an artist and language teacher. Katherine is the wife of Baxter Smith, of Ottumwa, and their children, the four grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. Keyhoe, are Baxter, Jr., Annette, Barbara and John. The other daughter is Miss Constance. The only son, John, is deceased