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         GEORGE R. KELLER, of the firm of Keller & Ong, druggists, of Wapello, Iowa, was born at Abingdon, Knox Co., Ill., Jan. 4, 1840, and is a son of Philip and Charity (Rynearson) Keller. His father was born in Mercer County, Ky., in 1801, removed to Pennsylvania in early life, and later emigrated to Knox County, Ill. From there he went to Des Moines County, Iowa, in 1845, where his death occurred four years later. Mrs. Keller, the mother of our subject, was born in 1803 in the same county as her husband, and was the mother of nine children, five of whom are living at this writing, three sons and two daughters: Henry D., the eldest, residing at Wapello, married Miss Addie Stillman; John H. wedded Miss Caroline Minton, and lives at LaCrosse, Wis., Ellen is the . . .

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. . . wife of Albert Coonrad, of Arkansas City, Kan.; Mary M. is the wife of Peter B. Butler, a resident of Ames, Iowa.

George R., the subject of this sketch, received a common-school education in his native town, and came to Wapello, Iowa, in 1853, where he was employed as a merchant’s clerk until 1859. He then went to Leavenworth, Kan., where he was employed for a short time as clerk, and then returned to Wapello and bought out his brother’s drug business, which he carried on alone until 1867, when he formed the existing partnership with F. M. Ong. This firm has a well stocked and popular drug-store, and carries a full line of drugs, medicines, wall-paper and toilet articles.

On the 4th of November, 1874, Mr. Keller was united in marriage with Miss Margaret E. Sprague, daughter of Robert Hamilton and Margaret R. (Trimble) Sprague. Mrs. Keller was born in Louisa County, Iowa, her father, who was a member of the Masonic fraternity, having settled in Port Louisa Township, Louisa Co., Iowa, in 1841. Mr. and Mrs. Keller have three children, one son and two daughters: Clara, aged thirteen years, Vinnie, aged eleven, and Bert G., aged eight.

Mr. Keller is a member of the following-named secret societies: I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W., L. of H. and V. A. S. He is a Republican in politics, and has served ten years as City Treasurer of Wapello, being the present incumbent, has also been a member of the City Council, and was a member of the School Board for nine years, being President one term.