Mary Louisa (Keys) NAGLE

NAGLE, KEYS, CARTER, BROWN, ELLIS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/26/2008 at 10:47:05

Mary Louisa (Keys) Nagle of Clarion, Wright County, Iowa -- Sister of William E. Keys

WILLIAM E. KEYS

Saltillo has many beautiful homes, although the history of Nebraska is but in its early days and the first tier has hardly been placed above the surface line of its foundation, and the beautiful superstructure of its history has yet to be raised until it is completed with dome and spire, tower and minaret, the admiration and surprise of the Republic. Even in this early day its homes compare favorably in the point of architectural beauty, and the embellishments of the interior reveal a refinement, culture and artistic beauty equal to, if not surpassing, many of the bijou residences of older cities. Among those worthy of remark as exceedingly handsome and complete, is that of our subject, which is situated near the village of Roca.

Our subject is senior member of the firm of Keys Bullock, wholesale dealers in building stone, at Lincoln, and also is a successful farmer, whose property is situated on section 17, Saltillo Precinct. The family of which our subject is a member is of Scotch-Irish extraction, and as far back as the Colonial days of the pre-Revolutionary period, it was a name honored by all. When the question came up concerning the independence of the States, the maternal great-grandfather of our subject was one of those who decided that the American eagle would be strong enough to use its own wings and make its own way from the moment it was out of the shell; and therefore took his place in the Revolutionary War, and served most creditably throughout the same.

The parents of our subject were among the early settlers in Ohio, establishing their home near Akron. The name of his father was William M.; that of his mother Hannah F. (Carter) Keys. From Akron his parents removed, in 1847, to Clayton County, Iowa, where his father followed the pursuits of mercantile life until 1868, when they joined our subject at his present home. Mrs. Keys died at the age of seventy years, in the year 1875. His father is still living, and is aged eighty-three years. There have been five children born to their family, and of these two are now living: William E., our subject, and his sister, Mary Louisa, who is now the wife of C. N. Nagle, attorney-at-law at Clarion, Iowa.

Our subject was born Sept. 14, 1840, at Middlebury, Ohio. He began his schooling at that place at the age of five years, and was seven years old when he went to Iowa, attended school at Elkader, and assisted his father in his business. He then entered the University at Fayette of the same State, at the age of sixteen years, and was graduated two terms later. In the spring of 1864 he came to Nebraska to settle, having made in extensive trip of exploration the previous year, during his vacation. He purchased 320 acres of land on sections 17 and 20, and immediately set to work to the improvement of the same. While in Iowa our subject had become acquainted with a young lady whose many amiable qualities and feminine graces were such that as our subject became acquainted with them he was constrained by all that was ardent and ambitiously inspiring to make his own, with the pleasing result that, Dec. 30, 1863, he became the husband of Miss Eleanor G. Brown, a step which they have neither had cause to regret or desire altered. This lady is the daughter of George James Brown, who came from Canada to Iowa. Her parents were both originally from England. Their daughter Eleanor was born Feb. 9, 1839, close to Lake Champlain, in the Province of Quebec, and was between thirteen and fourteen years of age when tier parents removed to Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Keys are the happy parents of five children--Anna L., Oscar, Roy, Bernard and Percival. The eldest daughter is married to Mr. Ellis, of Marris, who is agent for the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, at Wahoo, and they are parents of one son, Ralph; Oscar is residing at home, and is a student at the university; Roy is also at home, and with his two brothers is attending school.

When our subject and his wife started to Nebraska it was by the slow and somewhat primitive method of locomotion where the power is furnished by the team, and the most comfortable carriage possible was the same wagon that held their personal and household effects. To older persons this would possibly have been very prosy and tiresome, but the glamour of novelty was cast about, it, and relieved the journey of everything that would be dull and suggestive of tedium. Upon arrival they started to keep house, and for some three or four years ran the Ranch House. In 1874 Mr. Keys opened up a quarry of magnesium limestone, and in company with his partner operated it in connection with a larger quarry. Among the buildings which have been erected from the material supplied by our subject are the State Asylum, Penitentiary, University and Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Keys and partner also operate large quarries in Auburn and Johnson, in Nemaha County, which has furnished stone for the Wesleyan University, at Lincoln, and the Memorial Hall. The payroll averages $1,500 weekly, a figure which represents about 100 employees. Their business has steadily increased from the first, and their goods are used, not only throughout Nebraska, but in adjoining States and territories, Mrs. Keys is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and one of the most active members of the W. C. T. U., of which organization she is the Secretary. Her place is naturally among the elite of the city, and in that circle her many rare qualities, accomplishments, winning manner and entertaining power as a conversationalist, mingled with the refinement, intelligence, poetry and grace of womanhood, make her at all times a welcome guest and agreeable hostess. Our subject has served as County Commissioner for three years, with much satisfaction to his party and fellow-citizens. He is an affiliate of the Republican party, which finds in him a very firm friend and vigorous supporter, a hard worker, firm in his adherence to the party principles, strong in argument and in its defense. We are enjoined to give honor where honor is due, and from whatever standpoint we view the history of our subject and his family, there is nothing, but what is worthy of remark upon that line.

Biographical Album of Lancaster County Nebraska, Chicago, IL, 1888, pages 234-236