BIO: Daniel Schneck KELLER, Centre County, Pennsylvania Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja and Marlene Ford Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ _______________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _______________________________________________ COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, pages 56-57 COL. DANIEL SCHNECK KELLER, late of Bellefonte, Centre county, closed an honored career as citizen, soldier and lawyer on August 12, 1894. The Kellers have lived in Centre county for nearly a hundred years. Jacob Keller (1), the great-grandfather of Col. Keller, who was born in 1753, came to Potter township, Centre county, in 1806, hailing from Dauphin county, of this State. He purchased what was known as the Red Mill property. He was a patriot of the Revolution, having served in Capt. Daniel Oldenbruch's company of militia in 1777. He was an elder in the Reformed Church, and did much to advance the work of that Church in Centre county. One of the sons of Jacob Keller (1) was also named Jacob, and of his seven children, Henry Keller, later of Boalsburg, was the father of our subject. He was for a time engaged in the foundry and mercantile business, and later in farming. His wife was Margaret Schneck, whose brother, Rev. Benjamin S. Schneck, D.D. was a distinguished divine in the Reformed Church. The late Col. Keller was born at Oak Hall, in Harris township, September 5, 1844; he attended the public schools of his native township, and Boalsburg Academy, where he prepared for College, and was expecting to enter in September, 1862; but before this time the long-suppressed antagonism between the North and the South broke out into open warfare, and being too patriotic to remain a mere spectator he joined in the contest, enlisting, in 1862, in Company G, 148th Regiment, P.V.I. He was made a corporal in the battle of Chancellorsville, May 3, 186(?) he was shot in the shoulder, and the wound proving serious, a tedious period in hospital followed. On February 15, 1864, he was transferred to the 112th Company, 2nd Battalion, Veteran Reserve Corps, and remained in the service until peace was established, being charged by general order August 19, 1865. During is term of service he was detailed for special duty in the office of the Quartermaster-general of the army at Washington, D.C., and later developed such facility and accuracy in his work that he was retained in that office, and subsequently in the Census Bureau, where he was chief of a division until 1873. In the meantime he was pursuing a course in the Columbia Law School, and by night study prepared himself for the practice of his profession; having completed a full course in that institution, he was admitted to practice in the District of Columbia. In 1873 he resigned his position in the Bureau, and returning to his native county settled in the charming little city of Bellefonte. On April 29, 1873, he was admitted to the Br of Centre County, and began an independent practice in which he succeeded remarkably, building up a large business in connection with the Orphans' Court. He continued his professional work until about two years before his death, which ended at a comparatively early age, a life that seemed destined to reap higher honors. He was prominent in the councils of the Republican party in this State, though never anxious for official position. He was an active member of Gregg Post, and of the Masonic fraternity, holding rank in the latter as past master of the lodge, and past high priest of the Chapter. He acquired his military title as assistant adjutant-general of the 5th Division of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He served in this capacity, and subsequently as assistant adjutant-general of the 4th and 2nd Brigades of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, almost continuously from 1873 to 1887, upon Gen. Beaver's staff. In these relations, as in all others he sustained in life, he was faithful, diligent and conscientious in the discharge of every duty. "As a member of the Bar his strength was in his conscience, and in his ability, by close and searching analysis, to reach the foundation principles of the subject, and when he reached a conclusion, he was irresistible in following to the legitimate results what he believed to be right. He devoted himself without stint to the interests of his clients. It can be said without reserve that in all his relations, personal and professional, he was absolutely honest. "As a citizen he was faithful in the discharge of every duty. He followed his convictions as he followed the flag of his country, without wavering, and with an eye single to what he felt to be duty. His chairmanship of the committee, who had in charge the conduct of the campaign at the time of the submission of the constitutional amendment prohibiting the manufacturing and sale of intoxicating liquors, is an illustration of the manner in which he followed his convictions, and of the faith in which he met and discharged every duty. As a result of that campaign, which was due very largely to his leadership, and to the active work of his associates on the committee, the county gave a majority of 2,000 in favor of the prohibitory amendment." Col. Keller was a member of the Reformed Church, and was sound in faith, and believed that the cause of temperance and sobriety was one of God's laws. He had been a Sabbath-school superintendent, deacon and elder in his Church. He always had the welfare of Bellefonte at heart-was one who always did his part toward its prosperity. In May, 1866, Col. Keller married his first wife, Miss Martha E. Huestis, a native of Vermont, who was born January 5, 1842, and died March 17, 1876. A second matrimonial union was formed, in 1878, with Miss Martha E.R. Schroeder, of Reading, Penn., who survives him. By the first marriage there were four children, of whom Harry is the eldest. (2) William H. is now a successful attorney at Lancaster, Penn. He is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, where he took the highest honors of his class, and of Columbia Law School. His wife, formerly Miss Anna Dickey, is a daughter of Hon. Oliver J. Dickey, who for many years served as Congressman from the Lancaster District, and was at one time a law partner of Thaddeus Stevens. William Keller has two children-Daniel S. and Elizabeth. (3)Martha E. died in 1892, at the age of twenty. (4) Ellen Margaretta died in infancy. There were three children by the second marriage: Daniel S., Jr., Rose Louise and John S., all of whom are now living. Harry Keller is a native of Washington, D.C. where he was born December 22, 1866. He was carefully educated, his course in the public schools being supplemented by further study in a private school. Making early choice of the legal profession under his father's guidance, he began his preparation; but his course was partially interrupted from 1887 to 1890 by a term as clerk in the office of the adjutant-general at Harrisburg. Returning home, he was admitted to the Bar, April 16, 1891, and at once began to practice with his father. Since the death of his father he has continued alone and while making a specialty of practice in the orphan's Court he has also a large general practice. He is a steadfast Republican in politics. Socially he is prominent, and belongs to the F. & A. M., the R.A. and the K.T. On May 7, 1891, he was married to Miss Anna Orvis, daughter of Judge John H. Orvis, of Bellefonte. Four children have blessed this union-John Orvis, Martha (who died at the age of six months), Henry, Jr., and Ellis Orvis.