Adelphus Bartlett Keith History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894 May be copied for non-profit purposes. USGENWEB Montana Archives Adelphus Bartlett Keith, Private Secretary to the Governor of Montana, was born in Appleton Maine, April 24, 1855. His early life was spent on a farm with his parents where he was able to acquire the rudiments of an education in the country schoolhouse of the period. At the age of sixteen with parental consent he left home and began for himself the struggle of life. Devoting his nights and Sundays to close, systematic study, he added to acknowledge of the practical details of the printing trade and newspaper work a mastery of shorthand writing and a course in reading law. Becoming the proprietor of a newspaper, journalism seemed to offer better advantages than the practice of law and he devoted himself energetically to that work. His experience in journalism covers a wide field and he has successfully filled the various positions from that of reporter to that of managing editor and proprietor. He supplemented his journalistic experience with metaphysical studies and while in New York City graduated at the American Institute of Phrenology, taking a course in mental philosophy and anatomy and physiology. Some of the more eventful years of his life were spent in Iowa where he acquired a wide reputation as a newspaper man and politician, as well as a lecturer before popular audiences and educational bodies. He had early identified himself with the Democratic party and his prominence as a writer and speaker led to his unanimous nomination to the office of Secretary of State by the Democratic State convention of Iowa in 1880. Mr. Keith was then twenty-five years of age but as the head of the State ticket he made a vigorous campaign running ahead of his ticket in the State and taking his place as one of the prominent leaders of the party in Iowa. He subsequently served on important committees and in 1884 was an alternate to the national convention in Chicago and in 1888 represented Iowa as a delegate to the international convention in St. Louis. He gave to the Denison (Iowa) Bulletin more than a State-wide reputation, established Der Demokrat, a German paper and other newspaper enterprises in that State. At a later date he was associated with Judge Dinne now of the Supreme Court, in the publication of the Des Moines Daily Leader. Having retired from practical politics in deference to sentiments long cherished, Mr. Keith in April 1889 located in Helena Montana taking the editorship of the Montana Farming and Stock Journal. At the close of the State campaign that year he yielded to the earnest solicitation of Hon. Russell B. Harrison and accepted the managing editorship of the Helena Daily Journal, which he conducted with success through the memorable Precinct 34 contest and the legislative muddle that followed. After a year's absence, recuperating health and energy, he resumed work on the Journal, remaining until Mr. Harrison's unfortunate business complications in the East led to the closing down of the big printing house immediately after the defeat of his father, president Harrison in 1892. Shortly after this Mr. Keith accepted the position of private secretary to the Governor, tendered by Governor J.E. Rickards, of Montana. Outside the office hours Mr. Keith's taste for journalism finds expression in the managing editorship of the Montana Mining Area, a semi-monthly non-partisan magazine devoted to the mining interests of the State and recognized as the organ of that industry. He is prominent in the advocacy of silver, with both pen and voice, and proves his faith by liberal investments in mining enterprises. Interested in mining matters, Mr. Keith lectures occasionally under the auspices of the Northwestern Lecture bureau. Referring to one of his humorous productions, the New York Mail and Express said, "A new humorist has dawned in the West." The New York Journalist spoke of him as another Bill Nye, while the Helena Dailey Herald commented upon a humorous lecture as follows: "Brains" How to Make a Few Go a Long Way Without Using Any." was the subject of a most interesting lecture at the Y.M.C.A. rooms last evening. July 3, 1875 Mr. Keith was married to Miss Carrie Bieber, a native of Columbus, Ohio and they have had seven children, of whom five are living. USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format forprofit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express writtenpermission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist.