KECK, Joseph A.; 1827-1913

KECK, EBERT, DAUGHERTY, ELY, EASTER, JACK, THORNILEY

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri (email)
Date: 6/25/2013 at 13:06:18

Joseph A. Keck

Thursday evening of last week, Feb. 6, 1913, out at his western home in Seattle, Washington, Hon. Joseph A. Keck passed away from life in this world to the life beyond. Three or four years ago he sold his large farm in Cedar township, this county, and a short time afterwards with his wife moved to Seattle, Washington, where two married daughters resided. Last fall, during Old Settlers time Mr. and Mrs. Keck returned to Van Buren county and visited for several weeks with relatives, spending two or three days in Keosauqua with Mr. and Mrs. I.B. Day, former neighbors in Cedar township. Then Mr. Keck was apparently in good health, though intimate friends understood he was afflicted with Bright's disease. While on his way back to Seattle he lost the use of his legs and had to be conveyed from the depot in Seattle to his home in a chair, and never afterward was able to walk. The burial was in Seattle by the side of his daughter, Mrs. Mary Daugherty, who died last summer, which was the first death in this large family for over 50 years, his body being cremated, as was the body of this daughter.

Joseph Keck was a splendid type of sturdy and upright American citizenship. He was straight-forward in principle, a devoted adherent of the Methodist church and a thorough going republican, being a member of the Fremont Voters Club of this congressional district, and its first president. He told us once he was aconsecrated to three things more than anything else, viz, his family, his church and his party. He wa a near and dear friend of the writer, and we loved and revered him almost as a father. When we parted with him last September at the head of the stairs leading down from the REPUBLICAN office, as he clasped our hand in good-by, he remarked: "John, this is perhaps the last time I will ever hold your had." And it was.

Joseph A. Keck was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., in 1827, making his age at death 86. Inn 1846 he moved with his parents to Van Buren county, Iowa, settling near Utica, where he spent all his life until he moved to Washington, except during a sojourn in California for about a year during the gold excitement in the early Fifties, crossing the plains with an ox team. In the spring of 1853 he became the husband of Miss Ingaba Ebert, who survives. To them were born twelve children, all of whom are yet living except Mary Daugherty, previously named in this article, and William, who died when two years old. The living children are Hugh G., Catherine B. Ely, Rose E. Easter, George C, Lida Jack, John H., James E, Allie J. Thorniley, Charles R. and Robert R. All these children were born in Cedar townsip and are men and women of high respectability.

In 1899 Van Buren county honored Mr. Keck by electing him to the legislature and he filled honorably and commendably the position. Other positions of trust and responsiblity were conferred on him and for several years he served as president of the Van Buren county Agricultural Society. He is gone, but his life in this world was not wasted.

**I research the KECK lineage.**

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 119, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA

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