Amos F. Keller

As printed in 1902

AMOS F. KELLER.

Rising above the heads of the masses are many men of sterling worth and value, who by sheer perseverance and pluck have conquered fortune, and by their own unaided efforts have risen from the ranks of commonplace to eminence and positions of respect and trust. It is to his perseverance and indomitable energy that Amos F. Keller owes his success in life, as well as to his keen and brilliant mind. He has continued through life a diligent student, being now one of the best informed men on general subjects in Crawford county, and as an orator he also stands in the front rank.

A native son of the Buckeye state, Mr. Keller was born in the house where he still resides, his parents being Phillip and Hannah (Stucker) Keller. He acquired his early education in the common schools of the neighborhood, supplementing the knowledge there gained by a scientific course under Professor Churchill, of Oberlin University, and for eight years thereafter he also pursued the Ohio> teachers' reading course. At the age of nineteen years he began teaching in the district schools, which profession he followed for eighteen years during the winter months, while in the summers he worked in field and meadow. When twenty-one years of age he and his brother, John H., took charge of the home farm, which they conducted on the shares for two years, after which our subject had entire charge of the old homestead, the brother removing to another farm. On the 30th of October, 1895, Mr. Keller was united in marriage with Miss H. Maudesta Carrothers, a daughter of James B. Carrothers, of Vernon township and a sketch of whom will be found on another page of this work. This union has been blessed with three children, — Constance Rebecca, John Carrothers and Robert Warren.

In political matters Mr. Keller was reared in the faith of the Republican party, and his first vote was cast in its favor, but in later life he has identified himself with the Labor party. In 1894 he was a candidate on the People3 ticket for congress, and in 1896 and again in 1900 he stumped this entire section of the country for Bryan. He has also held the position of organizer of labor under Powderly one year. Mr. Keller is a great reader, and in recent years his study has largely been confined to philosophical and historical works, while at the present time he is engaged in reading law. He has one of the largest and most complete general libraries in Crawford county. Religiously he is an active member of the German Reformed church, in which he is at the present time serving as an elder, and he is as broad-minded and liberal in his religious views as upon all other subjects. With a capacity and experience which would enable him to fulfill any trust to which he might be chosen, he has never sought to advance himself in office, but has been content to do his duty where he could and leave the self-seeking to others. Viewed in a personal light, he is a strong man, of excellent judgment, lair in his views and highly honorable in his relations with his fellow men. He is a man of very strong convictions, and his integrity stands as an unquestioned fact in his career. He has always been a student, and the scope and amplitude of his knowledge render him a charming conversationalist. He is in full sympathy with all the great movements of the world about him, and watches the progress of events with the keenest interest.

As printed in A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.