Henry Keets Biography


	This biography appears on pages 328-331 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				HENRY KEETS.  

	Henry Keets is the president of the American National Bank at 
Spearfish and has other business interests which to some degree claim 
his time and attention. His activities have always been directed along 
lines in which the public has been the beneficiary, while he has 
promoted his individual success. He has passed the seventy-fifth 
milestone on life's journey but still remains active in business and 
his sound judgment and experience are proving elements in the success 
of his different interests. He was born in New York city, December 30, 
1839, a son of John and Mary (Kada) Keets, the former a native of 
England, while the hatter was born in the state of New York, of German 
parentage. When a young man John Keets came to the United States and 
when in New York was a skipper on an old-time sailing vessel. After 
many years devoted to that life he was lost at sea. His wife passed 
away in New York city.  

	Henry Keets, their only child, attended the public schools of the 
eastern metropolis and at the age of fifteen years began working for 
others on farms. He went to Kentucky and in that state enlisted as a 
private in the First Kentucky Cavalry, in which he served for two years 
and eleven months, becoming a noncommissioned officer. He was mustered 
out at Lebanon, Kentucky, after rendering valuable and loyal service to 
the Union. He was never wounded nor confined in a hospital and yet he 
was often in the thickest of the fight. When the war was over he 
enlisted in the regular army, becoming a member of the Fifth United 
States Cavalry, with which he served for nearly four years.  

	When his military experience was over Mr. Keets engaged in the 
stock business in Wyoming, near Cheyenne, continuing in that business 
until 1904. At about that time he became connected with an electric 
plant at Redwater, South Dakota, where he built a hydraulic plant and 
transmitted power to Deadwood and Lead. He sold the plant to the 
General Electric Company about 1909 and since that time has been 
occupied with his duties as president of the American National Bank. He 
is the owner of stock farms and fruit farms in South Dakota and from 
his property interests derives a substantial annual income but devotes 
the greater part of his attention to his banking interests.  

	In September, 1877, Mr. Keets was united in marriage to Miss Emma 
Leppla, who was born in Boone county, Iowa, a daughter of Jacob and 
Mary (Zella) Leppla, both of whom were natives of Bavaria, Germany. 
They became early residents of Iowa and afterward removed to Spearfish, 
South Dakota, where the father lived in practical retirement from 
business, both he and his wife spending their remaining days in 
Spearfish. To Mr. and Mrs. Keets were born six children: Florence, the 
wife of Dr. Bernard Bettelheim, who is engaged in sheep growing near 
Spearfish; Charles, who married Miss Maud Bell and resides in Arizona, 
where he is engaged in mining; and four children who have passed away.  

	Mr. Keets is a Mason and has advanced from the blue lodge to the 
Shrine. He attends the Congregational church and in politics is a 
democrat. He has held various local offices, including that of mayor of 
the city of Spearfish, and his efforts have been a potent element in 
advancing those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and civic 
pride. He stands for progress at all times and in every connection, and 
his life work has been an element of advancement in the various 
localities in which he has made his home.