John James Keller

JOHN JAMES KELLER is one of the best known men around Walcott. Not only has he become prominent in a business way, but he has public spiritedly devoted himself to doing everything in his power for the good of his county, his state and his country.

He was born July 30, 1967, at Leavenworth, Kansas. His father, John Keller, was born in Switzerland in 1832 and came to this country when he was a young man. When the Civil war broke out he enlisted in the army and served during the entire war. After peace was declared he located in Leavenworth, where he married Margaret Fitzpatrick, a young Irish girl who had come to America when she was a child. In 1871 John Keller, senior, came to Wyandotte county, Kansas, where he engaged in the grocery business. He died in 1901 and his wife is now a resident of Walcott, Kansas.

John James Keller has spent practically all of his life in Wyandotte county, as he was taken there with his parents when he was only four years of age. He attended the district school and helped his father in the grocery business. After the death of his father he started a grocery and general store at Walcott, having charge of the post office at the same time. For the past ten years he has been township clerk and for the past five years he has been postmaster. He has built up a very fine business and has a large, fully equipped store.

In 1886 he married Fanny Bentley, a native of Wyandotte county, Kansas. They have three children, Albert, Eva, now the wife of Charles Agers, and Viola. Mr. Keller is a Democrat in politics and is a very influential man. His wide circle of friends have made it possible for him to come in contact with many people and he is a most enthusiastic politician. He is a Catholic in religion. He is a member of three fraternal orders, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Eagles and the Modern Woodmen of America. Both Mr. and Mrs. Keller have been in Wyandotte county for so many years that they might almost feel as if they owned the county, and the county might well feel that it owned them. As a matter of fact Mr. and Mrs. Keller are both leaders around Walcott and in Prairie township. They never lose an opportunity to speak a good word for their county or to do it a good turn. It is because of the presence of such men as John James Keller that the county has the reputation it has at present.