KELLER, Samuel L. - Putnam

KELLER, Samuel L, PO Cloverdale, Farmer, Sec 20; was born in Greencastle, Aug 4, 1839; son of Lewis and Susan Keller, who settled in this county in 1838. Mr. Keller was married oct 11, 1864 in this township to Francis McGinnis; has one child, Lewis.

SAMUEL L. KELLER, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Jefferson Township, residing on section 17, was born in Putnam County, August 4, 1839, son of Lewis and Susanna Keller, natives of Virginia. In 1838 his parents and three children came to the county, coming the entire distance with two horses and a wagon, occupying about six weeks of time. They were obliged to camp out wherever night overtook them. They first located in Greencastle, and his father being a blacksmith, followed his trade in that place until 1851, when he removed to Cloverdale Township and bought a farm east of the village. He subsequently bought a farm one-half mile east of Belle Union, where he lived until his death, September 1, 1875. His wife survived until March, 1887. They were the parents of twelve children -- Frances E., wife of Martin Hancock, of Jefferson Township; Mary A., deceased; Eliza, wife of Joel Dobbs, of Mill Creek Township; Josephine, wife of J. D. Parker, of Cass county, Missouri; Samuel L., John A., of Greencastle, Indiana; Hiram E., of Cloverdale Township; William H. of Jefferson Township, Emma, deceased; Joanna, wife of W. T. Scott, of Belle Union; Alice, wife of Eli Pruett, also of Belle Union, and Agnes, wife of S. W. McIninch, of Coatsville, Indiana. The parents lived to see all of their twelve children married and having families of their own. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, the father having served as class-leader. Lewis Keller was a Republican in politics, and a strong advocate of the temperance cause. He came here in limited circumstances, but has been very successful in his business. Samuel L. Keller has been reared to manhood in the county, and was educated in the schools of Greencastle. He enlisted in July, 1863, in Company K, Fifty-fifth Indiana Infantry, and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. After serving four months he reenlisted in the Twenty-fifth Indiana Battery of Artillery, as a private, but was promoted to Corporal. He fought at Nashville, and in several skirmishes; was with General Hood in his retreat to Alabama. He served on year and was honorably discharged July 16, 1865. He then returned home and has since resided in the county. He was married in September, 1864, to Frances E. McGinnis, also a native of Putnam County, a daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth McGinnis, also a native of Putnam County, a daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth McGinnis, early settlers of Putnam County. To this union one child has been born -- Lewis J., born April 9, 1869. Mr. Keller owns eighty acres of well cultivated land. He is a Republican in politics, and is a member of Cloverdale Post, G. A. R., where he officiates as senior vice-commander. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist church, and has officiated as clerk of that church about fourteen years. Two of his brothers, John A. and Hiram E., were soldiers in the late war, and both returned in safety to their homes. N. J. Skinner White