by John D. Benedict

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

WILLIAM KEELER

The history of William Keeler has to do with one of the important businessenterprises of Oklahoma, for through many years he was actively connectedwith the cattle industry in Nowata county. He was a native son of thisstate, his birth having occurred, November 5, 1875, on a farm about fourmiles south of Bartlesville. His father was George B. Keeler, one of theprominent residents of Bartlesville, identified with the upbuilding anddevelopment of that city and of Oklahoma for many decades. He was one ofthe first white settlers in the Cherokee Nation and from that time forwardtook a helpful part in promoting Washington county and in utilizing thenatural resources of the state, leading to its substantial growth andprogress. He became a Cherokee by adoption and marriage and was well knownas a banker, oil man and real estate dealer. At all times his life wascharacterized by high purposes and absolute integrity. A native of Illinois,he was born at Hennepin, Putnam county, February 7, 1850, his parents beingAlson and Ann (McNamara) Keeler, who in 1856 removed to Wisconsin, so thatGeorge B. Keeler was a resident of that state for about ten years. Heafterwards returned to Illinois, settling at Belvidere, and his educationwas obtained in the town and country schools near his father's home. In1871 he arrived at the Osage agency, in the Indian Territory, and beganclerking 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 buyingbuffalo hides and robes and was also employed on the reservation at Osageagency. In 1872 he married Josie Gilstrap, a member of the Cherokee Nation.About three years later he began handling cattle on the open plains andcontinued farming and cattle raising until 1884. His next venture was withWilliam H. Johnstone, under the firm style of Johnstone & Keeler, proprietorsof a general merchandise establishment in Bartlesville, where they built thefirst store and in connection with this they did an extensive business inhandling cattle. After twelve years Mr. Keeler purchased his partner'sinterest and continued in merchandising alone until 1905. In 1900 he becameone of the directors and vice president of the First National Bank ofBartlesville, on its organization, and in 1903 he became an active factorin connection with the oil industry. Other business interests profited byhis cooperation and sound judgment and a notable monument to his enterpriseis the Sutton-Keeler building, a six-story reenforced concrete structurewhich was erected in the spring of 1915, being built and owned by Mr. Keelerand three business associates. Mr. Keeler also became a director of theBartlesville Water Works and was vice president of the BartlesvilleInterurban Railroad. In politics he was a lifelong republican, also athirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Woodmen of the World and ofthe Elks lodge.

By his first marriage George B. Keeler had several children, of whom WilliamKeeler was the eldest. William Keeler's youthful days were spent under theparental roof and his education was largely acquired at Vinita, Oklahoma.He early became familiar with farming and cattle raising and after attainingman's estate, became actively identified with the cattle business in Nowatacounty. There he carried on his operations to the time of his death and thesuccessful management of his interests made him one of the prosperousresidents of the district. He was also greatly interested in the oilindustry as a producer.

In the year 1899 William Keeler was united in marriage to Miss Lulu Carr, adaughter of N.C. Carr, who is now living in Bartlesville, where he has longbeen 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 importancealong that river. He was born in Wilton, Saratoga county, New York,September 2, 1844, and was reared on a farm at Fort Scott, Kansas, whereboth he and his mother entered a quarter section of land, his father havingpreviously passed away. He was only fifteen when he located on thatproperty and at the age of sixteen he enlisted for service at Fort Scott inJuly, 1861, becoming a member of Company B, of the Sixth Kansas Regiment,which in March, 1862, was transformed into the Sixth Kansas Cavalry. Whenthe war was over he became an employe in a store at Fort Scott, and in 1865returned to the state of New York, where he spent six months in study. InSeptember, 1865, he again went to Kansas and was once more employed in FortScott until February, 1866. He was afterward a pioneer of Oswego, Kansas,and he also owned a half interest in the trading post. A strong friendshipsprang up between Mr. Carr and a Cherokee Indian named Rogers and,eventually, Mr. Carr visited the Rogers' home, where he first met MissAnnie Rogers, the daughter of his Indian friend. They were married on the25th of August, following, and removed from Oswego to Big Caney. Therethey experienced all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, butthey bravely met the conditions and prosperity came to them as the yearspassed by. About 1907 Mr. Carr built a comfortable home in Bartlesvilleand afterward purchased a more commodious and handsomer residence. Mr.and Mrs. Carr and their family have exerted a wide influence over thematerial, intellectual, social and moral progress of their community andstate. Mr. Carr belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and has been aMason since 1866. He is also a member of the Baptist church. The historyof himself and his estimable wife is inseparably interwoven with the recordof 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 yearsof age; and Joe, a little lad aged three. The family circle was broken bythe hand of death when on the 10th of May, 1921, Mr. Keeler was called tohis final rest, his demise being deeply regretted by many friends, for hissterling worth of character had gained for him the respect, confidence andgoodwill 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. Likeher husband, she is a representative of one of the old and honored pioneerfamilies of Oklahoma and has long occupied an enviable social position here,her home being the abode of warm-hearted hospitality which is greatlyenjoyed by a legion of warm friends. 

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