IOWA IN THE CIVIL WAR  

BIOGRAPHIES AND OBITUARIES

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Surnames beginning with "K"

History of Iowa
Volume IV
1903

JOHN H. KEATLEY was born in Center County, Pennsylvania, December 1, 1838.  He secured his early education by his own exertions, working on a farm to earn money to pursue his studies until able to teach school. While preparing for his chosen profession in the law, he earned his living by working on a farm during the summers and teaching winters.  He was admitted to the bar in 1862, Mr. Keatley enlisted in the One Hundred Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania Regiment which was soon after engaged in the second Battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, Anteitam, Chancellorsville, and in the Gettysburg campaign he was assistant Adjutant-General on the staff of General Higgins.  In 1864-5 he was actively engaged in the last battles under General Grant which resulted in the capture of General Lee and his army.  Before his return home Colonel Keatley was elected District Attorney of Blair County.  After the close of the war he was detailed by General Terry to take charge of the Freedman's Bureau for five counties in southeastern Virginia, and was a judge of the military court at Norfolk.  He served as District Attorney of Blair County until 1867, when he decided to remove to Iowa, locating at Cedar Falls.  In 1868 he went to Council Bluffs and soon after became editor of the Daily Nonpareil, serving until April, 1870, when he accepted the position of assistant assessor of Internal Revenue.  In 1872 he united with the Liberal Republicans and was made chairman of the State Central Committee, conducting the campaign on behalf of Horace Greeley for President against General Grant.  In 1874 he was nominated for Attorney-General by the Antimonopoly party and the Democrats, but was defeated.  In 1876 he was elected mayor of Council Bluffs, and in 1878 he was the Democratic candidate for Congress in the Eighth District.

RACINE D. KELLOGG was born in Fayetteville, Onondaga County, New York, on the 9th of March, 1828.  He removed to Iowa in 1854, locating at Garden Grove in Decatur County, where he engaged in farming and dealing in real estate.  He was a Democrat in politics and an eloquent public speaker.  In 1859 he was elected to the House of the Eighth General Assembly of which he was one of the youngest members.  He soon formed an intimate friendship with Ex-Governor N. B. Baker who was a member from Clinton County.  Mr. Kellogg acted with the Democratic party during the regular session but when the Rebellion began and his party divided upon the question of sustaining the National administration in crushing armed resistance to the enforcement of the laws, he did not hesitate to stand by the administration.  At the extra session called by Governor Kirkwood in May, 1861, to organize the military forces of the State, Mr. Kellogg became one of the leaders of the ";War Democrats" and with Governor Baker, Senator Bussey and others, declared for the preservation of the Union at all hazards.  At the opening of the session he introduced resolutions (found in another place) pledging unqualified support to the Government, State and National, in suppressing the Rebellion.  Governor Kirkwood recognized his patriotism by appointing him major of the Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteers where he rendered good service in the Union army.  He became a Republican during the war when his party passed under control of men not in sympathy with the war for the Union and has often been urged to become a candidate for some of the highest offices in the State but was unwilling to resort to modern methods to secure a nomination.  He has long been an honored member of the Pioneer Lawmakers' Association, before which he has delivered several interesting addresses.

DANIEL KERR was born at Ayrshire, Scotland, June 18, 1836.  He graduated at McKendree College in 1858, and came to America with his father's family in 1841, locating in Madison County, Illinois.  In 1860 he was a teacher in a high school.  He read law with Governor A. C. French and was admitted to the bar in 1862.  When the War of the Rebellion began he enlisted as a private in Company G, of the One Hundred Seventeenth Illinois Volunteers, serving through the war and winning promotion to first lieutenant.  He was in the battles of Pleasant Hill, Nashville and Fort Blakely.  After the war he again taught in the schools of Alton.  In 1868 he was elected to the Illinois Legislature, serving until 1870.  At the close of his term he removed to Iowa, becoming a resident of Grundy Center where he engaged in farming and the practice of law.  In 1883 he was elected Representative to the House of the Twentieth General Assembly.  In 1886 he was elected a Representative in Congress from the Fifth District, serving two terms.

WILLIAM H. KINSMAN was a native of Nova Scotia where he was born in 1832.  He was a sailor in early life and later entered the Columbia, New York, Academy.  After attending law school in Cleveland,, Ohio, in 1858 he went to Council Bluffs where he entered the law office of Clinton & Baldwin.  He was admitted to the bar of Pottawattamie County and was employed on one of the city papers.  When the Civil War began he assisted in raising the first military company organized in that county and was chosen second lieutenant.  The company was assigned to the Fourth Iowa Infantry and became Company B.  Kinsman was soon promoted to captain of the company which he led in the Battle of Pea Ridge.  In July, 1863, he was placed on the staff of General Dodge and in August was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-third Iowa Volunteers.  In December he was promoted to colonel and commanded the regiment in the early battles of Grant's Vicksburg campaign.  While gallantly leading a charge at the Battle of Black River Bridge he fell mortally wounded and died upon the field.