Mr. Andrew Keesecker-1810-1870

KEESECKER, ROBERG, CARVER, KING, PHILLEO, SAWYER, BELDEN, WILSON

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 11/27/2018 at 14:44:44

Dubuque Daily Times, Tuesday, Apr 26, 1870

DEATH OF MR. ANDREW KEESECKER
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Short Sketch of His Early Life
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A load of sadness rests upon many a printer’s heart this morning. Yesterday a little bit of news fluttered out upon the street stating that Mr. Andrew Keesecker, the veteran compositor, employed in the Herald office, and the pioneer printer of the Northwest has yielded at last, to the strange swift summons, and departed upon that mysterious voyage from which no traveler returns. The rumor, alas, it is true, and the man who apparently a few hours ago was in the enjoyment of all reasonable heath and vigor, is now no more.

Yesterday morning Mr. Keesecker came down to the Herald at an early hour, as was his custom, to commence work. He walked up to the composing room and busied himself in distributing his case, but had not been employed at this bit a short time when he complained of a severe pain in his breast over the region of his heart. Feeling worse he laid down his stick and started for the job rooms below. At the bottom of the stairway he saw one of the proprietors, Mr. Carver, and told him he was very sick and he believed he was going to die. Mr. Carver and Mr. Ralph Sawyer, who happened to be in the job rooms at the time, at once rushed to his assistance. Mr. Keesecker desiring them to place him in one of the street cars and send him home. They saw at once the case was too serious to admit of such a thing, and after a brief consultation he was removed to the bed room of the mailing clerk and Dr. Belden sent for. The latter soon came and after a brief examination cupped the patient, administered some brandy and water and left him soon after, apparently feeling much better and respiring naturally. The doctor had not been gone but a short time when Mr. Sawyer, stepping in to administer to his wants, and saw at glance that he was much worse. Medical attendance was again summoned, but the physician had scarcely reached the bedside of the patient when there was a gasp, a convulsive shudder of the limbs and all was over, he breathed his last at 9 o’clock, having survived nearly two hours from the time he was first attacked.

The life and character of a man who had stood at the printers case over fifty-two years is deserving of more than a passing notice.

Mr. Keesecker was born in Shepardstown, Virginia, in the year 1810, where his mother, is believed, still resides. He commenced learning his trade at the early age of eight years, working for some months in the country office, and then removing top Baltimore where he where he became a journeyman printer at the age of fourteen. About this time it seems he became possessed with a desire to go to sea, and shipping as a sailor he made his home on the ocean waves for the term of five years. During his voyages he was in the Mediterranean Sea, and in the midst of the Greek revolution, which terminated in 1827. Returning to the United States, he resumed his trade, visiting Washington, New Orleans, Cincinnati and several other cities, working in the “arts preservation of all arts,” the art which now attempts to do honor and justice to his own history and memory. After the year 1830 he resolved to seek his fortunes in the new Northwest, before there was a permanent settlement in Iowa, he made a residence in Galena in 1832, and the next year visiting Dubuque, then a mining village less than a year old. In Galena he assisted Dr. Addison Philleo, in editing and publish the Galenian for several years. Our fellow citizen, John King, had determined, in 1835, to establish a newspaper in Dubuque. In the spring of 1836 he naturally looked for the mechanical assistance requisite for such a publication, and according visited Galena with the double purpose of obtaining a few newspaper not over two weeks old, (for the mails came only occasionally in those days) and to find a man who could make up a newspaper. Dr. Philleo informed Judge King that he had in his office a remarkable man, one who could edit a newspaper, set up the type, do the press work, and attend to the office business. “Let me see Him,” said the Judge. On repairing to the composing room, he was introduced to Mr. Keesecker, whose industry did not permit him to say more than “how do you do sir,” and resumed his rapid handling of type. Judge King engaged his services at once. Mr. Keesecker set up the press, arranged the type and in the first week of May, 1836, set up the first type in Iowa, on the “DuBuque Visitor,” which was published on the 11th of May in that year. A copy of that well proof read paper is still extant. He was engaged upon the next newspaper, the “Iowa News, “and became a part proprietor with David S. Wilson of its successor, “Miners Express,” in 1840. While engaged in the publication of this who had the faculty of setting up an editorial without reducing it to writing, the few men anywhere, by transferring his thought to type at the ”case” and ready for press. He continued to work upon Dubuque papers until the Express was merged with the Herald in 1855, since which time he has been mostly connected with the latter paper. He has probably set more type than any other three printers in the state of Iowa, and no man in the State has been more industrious for the last twenty-seven years. His example of industry, prudence and economy, were features of his character to be commended by all who knew him. In the times of speculation, ten or fifteen years, he bought considerable real estate, and at one time his property was assessed at $75,000. But his close attention to his daily avocation prevented him from being successful in the management of his property, though he has left a considerable estate to his heirs. His first wife was Clara Roberg, whom he married in 1838. She died in 1855, leaving three sons, Charles, Andrew and Edward, all printers, two of whom reside in this city and one at Vicksburg, Mississippi.

In his private character he was irreproachable, and known by everyone to be most scrupulously honest. Though a kind heated man, yet his manner was that of reserve, and to those who knew him slightly, he appeared unsocial, though, very genial to all his personal and intimate friends. Few have led such a long business life with so little reproach from his fellow man.

A meeting at the Dubuque Topographical Union, held last evening, the following resolution of sympathy and respect were unanimously adopted.

RESOLUTION OF RESPECT-I chose not to add this section because of length.

“His hands are folded on his breast,
There is no other thought expressed,
Than long disquiet merged in rest.”