Benjamin KELLER is engaged in farming and stock-raising, on section 14, Grant Township, where he has eighty acres, and on section 15 where he has 120 acres, making a fine farm of 200 acres. Mr. KELLER is a native of Ohio, born May 12, 1833 [Guernsey County], his parents, Benjamin and Eleanor [(BROTHERS)] KELLER, being natives of the same State. He was reared to the vocation of a farmer, and has followed agricultural pursuits through life.

He was married February 9, 1860 [at Diagonal, Iowa] to Miss Sarah E[llen]. TALLEY, who was born in [Thornville, Perry County] Ohio, July 28, 1843, a daughter of A. G. and Sarah TALLEY who were both natives of Delaware. Of the twelve children born to Mr. and Mrs KELLER, ten are living - Mary V[asti]., born November 3, 1862; Rosa B., November 1, 1864; George E., September 29, 1866; E. K., December 21, 1868; John N. (sic, should be John H.), April 10, 1871; Sarah E., April 18, 1873; Eva J., February 28, 1877; Jessie F., January 21, 1880; Carrie E., March 18, 1882, and Benjamin A[dam]., born March 9, 1885. Their eldest child, C. E. was born November 24, 1860, and died December 4, 1864; and C[atherine]. J. was born October 24, 1875, died March 28, 1876 [interment Bethel Cemetery near Diagonal, Iowa].

Mr. KELLER is one of the active and enterprising citizens of Grant Township, and during his residence here has filled the offices of justice of the peace, township trustee and school director. He was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting [as a Private on February 27, 1864 at age 30] in Company M, Third Iowa Cavalry. He was mustered out [on August 9, 1865] at Atlanta, Georgia, and discharged at Davenport, Iowa, August 19, 1865.

Mr. KELLER has been identified with the interests of Ringgold County since 1855, living with his father until 1860, in which year he built a hewed-log house, in which he lived a number of years, and which has now been replaced by his present more commodious and substantial residence. Mr. and Mrs. KELLER with their family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his political views Mr. KELLER is a Republican.

NOTE: Benjamin KELLER died May 6, 1905, Diagonal, Iowa at the age of 71 years. Sarah Ellen (TALLEY) KELLER died October 26, 1921, Diagonal, Iowa, at the age of 78 years. They were interred at Bethel Cemetery near Diagonal, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Benjamin's father, Benjamin KELLER was born at Wheeling Creek, Ohio County, Viriginia, on September 17, 1797, the son of George KELLER (1766-1826) and Sarah (GREENWOOD) KELLER (1767-1821). He married in Seneca County, Ohio, on April 18, 1820 to Eleanor BROTHERS, born November 7, 1797, Greene County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of John BROTHERS, Sr. (1759-1843) and Mary "Polly" (HEDGES) BROTHERS (1771-1830). Benjamin KELLER Sr. died January 13, 1860, Diagonal, Iowa, at the age of 62 years. Eleanor (BROTHERS) KELLER died at the age of 58 years on October 22, 1856, Grant Township of Ringgold County, Iowa. Benjamin and Eleanor were interred at Keller Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Mary Vasti KELLER, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Ellen (TALLEY) KELLER, was born November 3, 1862, Diagonal, Iowa, and died at the age of 88 years on February 21, 1951, Swift, Roseau County, Minnesota. She married on September 20, 1880, Goshen, Iowa, to John Mitchell BENTLEY, who was born at Cinncinnati, Ohio, on March 3, 1859, and died at the age of 69 years on May 13, 1928, Frederic, Monroe County, Iowa.

Rosa B. KELLER, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Ellen (TALLEY) KELLER, died in 1934 with interment at Bethel Cemetery near Diagonal, Ringgold County, Iowa.

George E. KELLER, son of Benjamin and Sarah Ellen (TALLEY) KELLER, died in 1950 with interment at Bethel Cemetery near Diagonal, Iowa.

John H. KELLER, son of Benjamin and Sarah Ellen (TALLEY) KELLER, died on April 21, 1897, with interment at Bethel Cemetery near Diagonal, Iowa.

Eva J. KELLER, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Ellen (TALLEY) KELLER, died in 1944, with interment at Bethel Cemetery near Diagonal, Iowa.

Benjamin Adam KELLER, son of Benjamin and Sarah Ellen (TALLEY) KELLER, died in December of 1971, with interment at Clearfield Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 324-25, 1887.

American Civil Soldiers Database, ancestry.com

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z