Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

equirements of public-spirited citizen-
ship.
(IX) Samuel J. Keeler, son of Robert
Wellington and Ruth Zelda (Raymond)
Keeler (q. v.), was born in Wilton, Con-
necticut, November 2, 1888. He received
his education in the public schools of his
native town. He was employed for about
ten years by his father, and then opened
a real estate and insurance office in Wilton.
On January i, 1915, Mr. Keeler
purchased the Norwalk Agency, Incorporated,
of Norwalk. Later he bought
the Harry Smith Agency, of the same
place, and still later the Philip D. Mason
Agency. These combined concerns furnished
a large and strong foundation on
which to build a business which has been
steadily expanding ever since its incep-
tion. The insurance branch has been of
especially rapid growth and includes
every description of the business—life,
fire, accident, compensation, automobile
and others. Ever since the inception of
the Central Trust Company of Norwalk,
January i, 1920, Mr. Keeler occupied a
seat on its board of directors, and in 1919
was vice-president of the company. He is
one of the corporators of the Fairfield
County Savings Bank, and vice-president
of the Denver Coal Mines Company,
whose properties are situated in Kentucky
and Oklahoma. He affiliates with St.
John's Lodge, No. 6. Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons ; Washington Chapter,
Royal Arch Masons. He and his family
are members of the Christian Science
Church. Throughout the recent World
War, Mr. Keeler was a leader in the pa-
triotic activities of his community, serving
as secretary of the Liberty Loan committees
of Norwalk.
Mr. Keeler married, December 15, 1910,
Esther Gregory, daughter of Julian C. and
Anna M. (Condell) Gregory, of Wilton,
Connecticut, and they are the parents of
one child, Samuel, born June 26, 1916.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
383
KEELER, Anson Foster,
Iianndryman,
Since 1905 a resident of Norwalk, Mr.
Keeler is now the proprietor of the largest
laundry establishment in Southwestern
Connecticut. In addition to this he has
a long and honorable record of service
during the recent World War.
(IV) Timothy (2) Keeler, son of Timothy
(i) and Sarah (Couch) Keeler
(q. v.), was born in 1721, and settled in
Ridgefield. He married (first), in 1744,
Mary Hoyt, who died in 1777. He married
(second), in 1780, Widow Hannah
Dunning, and in 1799 he passed away.
(V) Jeremiah Keeler, son of Timothy
(2) and Mary (Hoyt) Keeler, was born
in 1760, in Ridgefield, and as a youth wit-
nessed Tryon's attack on his native vil-
lage. So moved was he by the heartrend-
ing spectacle that he immediately enlisted
in the Continental service and served to
the close of the war. As orderly-sergeant
under General Lafayette he was present at
the siege of Yorktown, and was one of
the first to scale the breastworks under
a murderous fire. In recognition of his
bravery he was presented by General La-
fayette with a sword which is still in the
possession of his descendants. Orderly-
Sergeant Keeler married Huldah Hull,
and settled in South Salem, New York.
He died in 1853.
(VI) John Ely Keeler, son of Jeremiah
and Huldah (Hull) Keeler, was born May
16, 1810. For many years he was estab-
lished in business in Brooklyn under the
firm name of J. E. Keeler & Son, Automatic
Steam Carpet Cleaning. He married
(first). May 14, 1839, in Troy, New
York, Almira Chapman, who died in 1848.
He married (second), Mary Elizabeth
Foster, whose ancestral record is appended
to this biography, and who died
in 1891, in Brooklyn. Mr. Keeler passed
away at the same place in 1892. He was