Oscar David Keller; Allen Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller


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Oscar David Keller, purchasing agent for the industrial Lumber Company 
at Elizabeth, became identified with the lumber industry as a yard worker 
in Iowa and from there came South and for nearly twenty years has, been 
connected with the lumber companies operating in East Texas and Southwest 
Louisiana.  Mr. Keller has a prominent part among organizations and individuals
working for the general benefit and development of that rich and attractive 
section of the country surrounding the town of Elizabeth, in Allen Parish, 
a locality where specialized farming and related business activities are 
now sharing an increasing part in what was formerly a lumber section.

Mr. Keller was born at Ponca, in Dixon County, Nebraska; July 3, 1887, 
son of Robert David and Mary Jane (Kriffield) Keller.  His parents were 
born in Clay County, Illinois, and his mother is still living.  His father, 
who died in 1917 at the age of sixty-five, was a carpenter by trade. He 
followed the contracting business in Illinois, went out to Nebraska and 
in 1897 located at Clarinda, Iowa, and from there moved to Sioux City, 
Iowa, in 1907, living there until his death. He was active in the Methodist 
Church.

Oscar David Keller, fifth in a family of twelve children, acquired his early 
education in public schools at Clarinda, Iowa.  Since the age of thirteen he 
has been on his own responsibilities. His first employment was with the 
Clarinda Poultry, Butter & Eggs Company, and he spent six years with that 
business, beginning as office boy and subsequently as bookkeeper and receiving
clerk.  On February 1, 1906, Mr. Keller became bookkeeper in the retail yard 
of the Wisowa Lumber Company at Waterloo, Iowa.  This company subsequently 
transferred him to its mill near Village Mills, Texas, on October 1, 1906, 
and in September, 1908, he left the service temporarily to take a course 
in the Tyler Commercial College.

Mr. Keller has been continuously with the Industrial Lumber Company since 
January 15, 1909.  He began as timekeeper in the woods department, and 
since March 15, 1913, has been purchasing agent, with headquarters at 
Elizabeth.  He is also a director of the Calcasieu Manufacturing Company, 
is secretary and sales manager of the Producers' Turpentine Company at 
Elizabeth, and is secretary and a director of the Elizabeth Ice Company.  
He is a director of the Louisiana Investment and Development Company, 
investment bankers at Oakdale.

Mr. Keller is chairman of the Allen Parish Democratic Executive Committee 
for the term 1924-28. He is a member of the Elizabeth Golf Club, the Ten 
Mile Outing Club, Yellow Pine Lodge No. 282, Free and Accepted Masons, 
and holds degrees in the Royal Arch Chapter, Knights Templar Commandery, 
the Scottish Rite Consistory and the El Karubah Temple of the Mystic Shrine 
at Shreveport.  He was active in all the patriotic campaigns during the 
World war, and is chairman of the board of deacons of the Baptist Church 
at Elizabeth.

Mr. Keller married at Call, Texas, Miss Leatha Fae Richardson, on May 24, 
1908, who was born and reared at 'village Mills, Texas, daughter of Stephen 
A. Richardson, a retired farmer there. Mrs. Keller is an. active worker in 
the Baptist Church.

They have a son, Oscar David, born July 15, 1919.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 260-261, by Henry E. Chambers.  
Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.