Nowata Co., Oklahoma - Bio for William Keeler
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Submitted by:  Vivian Brinker      vivianb@coffeyville.edu
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MUSKOGEE AND NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA:
Including the counties of Muskogee, McIntosh, Wagoner, Cherokee,
Sequoyah, Adair, Delaware, Mayes, Rogers, Washington, Nowata, Craig,
and Ottawa. Vol. II.

by John D. Benedict

1922
The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago 
Page 330

WILLIAM KEELER

The history of William Keeler has to do with one of the important
business enterprises of Oklahoma, for through many years he was
actively connected with the cattle industry in Nowata county. He
was a native son of this state, his birth having occurred,
November 5, 1875, on a farm about four miles south of Bartlesville.
His father was George B. Keeler, one of the prominent residents of
Bartlesville, identified with the upbuilding and development of
that city and of Oklahoma for many decades. He was one of the first
white settlers in the Cherokee Nation and from that time forward
took a helpful part in promoting Washington county and in utilizing
the natural resources of the state, leading to its substantial
growth and progress. He became a Cherokee by adoption and marriage
and was well known as a banker, oil man and real estate dealer. At
all times his life was characterized by high purposes and absolute
integrity. A native of Illinois, he was born at Hennepin, Putnam
county, February 7, 1850, his parents being Alson and Ann (McNamara)
Keeler, who in 1856 removed to Wisconsin, so that George B. Keeler
was a resident of that state for about ten years. He afterwards
returned to Illinois, settling at Belvidere, and his education was
obtained in the town and country schools near his father's home. In
1871 he arrived at the Osage agency, in the Indian Territory, and
began clerking for Lewis P. Chouteau, an Indian trader. It was in
October, 1871, that he began working and his employer was killed
the following December. Later Mr. Keeler was employed by the firm
of Dunlap & Flora, Indian traders, and for part of two years he
was on the western plains engaged in buying buffalo hides and robes
and was also employed on the reservation at Osage agency. In 1872
he married Josie Gilstrap, a member of the Cherokee Nation. About
three years later he began handling cattle on the open plains and
continued farming and cattle raising until 1884. His next venture
was with William H. Johnstone, under the firm style of Johnstone &
Keeler, proprietors of a general merchandise establishment in
Bartlesville, where they built the first store and in connection
with this they did an extensive business in handling cattle. After
twelve years Mr. Keeler purchased his partner's interest and
continued in merchandising alone until 1905. In 1900 he became one
of the directors and vice president of the First National Bank of
Bartlesville, on its organization, and in 1903 he became an active
factor in connection with the oil industry. Other business
interests profited by his cooperation and sound judgment and a
notable monument to his enterprise is the Sutton-Keeler building,
a six-story reenforced concrete structure which was erected in the
spring of 1915, being built and owned by Mr. Keeler and three
business associates. Mr. Keeler also became a director of the
Bartlesville Water Works and was vice president of the Bartlesville
Interurban Railroad. In politics he was a lifelong republican, also
a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Woodmen of the
World and of the Elks lodge. 

By his first marriage George B. Keeler had several children, of
whom William Keeler was the eldest. William Keeler's youthful days
were spent under the parental roof and his education was largely
acquired at Vinita, Oklahoma. He early became familiar with
farming and cattle raising and after attaining man's estate,
became actively identified with the cattle business in Nowata
county. There he carried on his operations to the time of his
death and the successful management of his interests made him one
of the prosperous residents of the district. He was also greatly
interested in the oil industry as a producer. 

In the year 1899 William Keeler was united in marriage to Miss
Lulu Carr, a daughter of N.C. Carr, who is now living in
Bartlesville, where he has long been prominently known. He has
been termed "the pioneer of Big Caney," owing to the fact that
he was the first white settler of any real importance along
that river. He was born in Wilton, Saratoga county, New York,
September 2, 1844, and was reared on a farm at Fort Scott,
Kansas, where both he and his mother entered a quarter section
of land, his father having previously passed away. He was only
fifteen when he located on that property and at the age of
sixteen he enlisted for service at Fort Scott in July, 1861,
becoming a member of Company B, of the Sixth Kansas Regiment,
which in March, 1862, was transformed into the Sixth Kansas
Cavalry. When the war was over he became an employe in a store
at Fort Scott, and in 1865 returned to the state of New York,
where he spent six months in study. In September, 1865, he
again went to Kansas and was once more employed in Fort Scott
until February, 1866. He was afterward a pioneer of Oswego,
Kansas, and he also owned a half interest in the trading post.
A strong friendship sprang up between Mr. Carr and a Cherokee
Indian named Rogers and, eventually, Mr. Carr visited the
Rogers' home, where he first met Miss Annie Rogers, the
daughter of his Indian friend. They were married on the 25th
of August, following, and removed from Oswego to Big Caney.
There they experienced all the hardships and privations of
pioneer life, but they bravely met the conditions and 
prosperity came to them as the years passed by. About 1907 Mr.
Carr built a comfortable home in Bartlesville and afterward 
purchased a more commodious and handsomer residence. Mr. and
Mrs. Carr and their family have exerted a wide influence over
the material, intellectual, social and moral progress of their
community and state. Mr. Carr belongs to the Grand Army of the
Republic and has been a Mason since 1866. He is also a member
of the Baptist church. The history of himself and his estimable
wife is inseparably interwoven with the record of progress in
Bartlesville and in Washington county. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. William Keeler was blessed with
three children: Mrs. Blanche Adams, who is a resident of
Bartlesville; Wayne, thirteen years of age; and Joe, a little
lad aged three. The family circle was broken by the hand of
death when on the 10th of May, 1921, Mr. Keeler was called to
his final rest, his demise being deeply regretted by many
friends, for his sterling worth of character had gained for
him the respect, confidence and goodwill of all who knew him.
Mrs. Keeler is a member of the Baptist church, in which she is
an active worker and she belongs to the Eastern Star. Like her
husband, she is a representative of one of the old and honored
pioneer families of Oklahoma and has long occupied an enviable
social position here, her home being the abode of warm-hearted
hospitality which is greatly enjoyed by a legion of warm
friends. 

************************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced
in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons.  Persons or organizations desiring to use this material,
must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal
representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb
archivist with proof of this consent.

The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb archivist to store
the file permanently for free access.

Submitted by:  Vivian Brinker      vivianb@direct-net.net
************************************************************************