Samuel J. Keller
Samuel J. Keller was born on December 10, 1825, in Miami County, Ohio, to John Keller and Rachel Jamison. His father died around 1834. His mother eventually remarried, and Keller moved to Lancaster, Indiana, with them around 1843. He served in Company K of the 2nd United States Infantry during the Mexican American War.
 
By 1850, he was working as a laborer in Bluffton, Indiana, and he owned $500 of real estate. He married Melvina E. Wolleat on March 14, 1852, and they had at least eight children: William, born around 1853; Samuel, born around 1855; Mary, born around 1858; Catherine, born around 1861; Emma Adaline, born around 1866; Rebecca, born around 1868; Lydia, born around 1871; and John, born around 1874. The family moved to Rice County, Minnesota, around 1854, but they returned to Bluffton in 1858.
 
By 1860, Keller was working as a brick maker, and he owned $1,200 of real estate and $200 of personal property. Keller enlisted in the Union army on October 10, 1861, and mustered in as a captain in Company H of the 47th Indiana Infantry. The regiment took part in the Vicksburg campaign, the Red River campaign, and the Battle of Sabine Crossroads. In February 1862, he declared that he “want[ed] to see the war over I want to see the last Rebel hung or own up his alegiance to this union.” Later that month, he added, “my olde grandfather fought and suffered the privations of a soldiers life and I ame proude of him my children in years to come can say my father was in that war and my deare wife will you not think more of me for turning out and fighting for our Country and leaving all behind that I holde moste deare in this worlde.”
 
In October 1863, he explained, “I am a Democrat and in favor of putting down Rebels and Traitors where ever they may be Northe or South.” He noted that he “was never an abolitionist…and I believe it never was designed that [African Americans] should be on an equality with white men.” He “hope[d] to see the day when there is not a Negro in all our land,” and he “woulde vote [to] send them to Africa.” He argued that “Slavery is and alwas has been a curse to this Country,” but he was “in favor of letting it alone untill the people in the States where it exists seen proper to dispose of it.” In the election of 1864, he initially supported Democratic candidate George B. McClellan. Keller, however, fiercely opposed the “Peace” wing of the Democratic Party, and this ultimately led him to oppose McClellan. As he explained to his wife, “McClellan ought to be beate also and any other Man who would be suported by or nominated by traitors.” Still, he was “no admier of olde Abe either.” Keller mustered out on December 15, 1864.
 
He returned to Bluffton after leaving the army. By 1870, he was working as a farmer and brick maker, and he owned $4,500 of real estate and $1,200 of personal property. The family moved to San Jose, California, in 1876 and settled in Portland, Oregon, soon afterward. They returned to Bluffton around 1880, and Melvina died there that same year. He received an appointment as postmaster in 1884 and held the position for the next two years. He applied for a federal pension in December 1900 and eventually secured one. His daughter Catherine lived with him until at least 1900. Keller remained in Bluffton for the rest of his life, and he died there on July 22, 1911.
883
DATABASE CONTENT
(883)Keller, Samuel J.1825-12-101911-07-22
  • Conflict Side: Union
  • Role: Soldier
  • Rank in: Captain
  • Rank out: Captain
  • Rank highest: Captain
  • Gender: Male
  • Race: White

Documents - Records: 118

  • (2342) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, undated
  • (2343) [recipient] ~ Philip Harter to Samuel J. Keller, 8 October 1861
  • (2344) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 25 November 1861
  • (2345) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 10 December 1861
  • (2346) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 15 December 1861
  • (2347) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to William N. Covert, 21 December 1861
  • (2348) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 28 December 1861
  • (2349) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 2 January 1862
  • (2350) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 9 January 1862
  • (2351) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 17 January 1862
  • (2352) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 17 January 1863
  • (2353) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 23 January 1862
  • (2354) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 4 February 1862
  • (2355) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 9 February 1862
  • (2356) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 18 February 1862
  • (2357) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 4 March 1862
  • (2358) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 21 March 1862
  • (2359) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Philip Harter, 23 March 1862
  • (2360) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 23 March 1862
  • (2362) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 30 March 1862
  • (2363) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Samuel Keller Jr. et al., 6 April 1862
  • (2364) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 6 April 1862
  • (2365) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 6 April 1862
  • (2366) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 19 April 1862
  • (2367) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 21 April 1862
  • (2368) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 16 May 1862
  • (2369) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 18 May 1862
  • (2370) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 5 June 1862
  • (2371) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 8 June 1862
  • (2372) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 11 June 1862
  • (2373) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 23 July 1862
  • (2374) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 1 August 1862
  • (2375) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 15 August 1862
  • (2376) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 25 August 1862
  • (2377) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 29 August 1862
  • (2378) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 2 September 1862
  • (2379) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 3 September 1862
  • (2380) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 6 September 1862
  • (2381) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 7 September 1862
  • (2382) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 15 September 1862
  • (2383) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 18 September 1862
  • (2384) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 21 September 1862
  • (2385) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 22 September 1862
  • (2386) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 23 September 1862
  • (2387) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 26 September 1862
  • (2388) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 30 September 1862
  • (2389) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 14 October 1862
  • (2390) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 24 October 1862
  • (2391) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 4 November 1862
  • (2392) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 7 November 1862
  • (2393) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 16 November 1862
  • (2394) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 30 November 1862
  • (2395) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 30 November 1862
  • (2396) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 2 December 1862
  • (2397) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 24 December 1862
  • (2398) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 26 December 1862
  • (2400) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 4 January 1863
  • (2401) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 10 January 1863
  • (2402) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 17 February 1863
  • (2403) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 19 February 1863
  • (2404) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 22 February 1863
  • (2405) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 28 February 1863
  • (2406) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 2 March 1863
  • (2407) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 6 March 1863
  • (2408) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 15 March 1863
  • (2409) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 22 March 1863
  • (2410) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 27 March 1863
  • (2411) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 28 March 1863
  • (2412) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 8 May 1863
  • (2413) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 24 May 1863
  • (2414) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 25 May 1863
  • (2415) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 28 May 1863
  • (2416) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 5 June 1863
  • (2417) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 13 June 1863
  • (2418) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 19 June 1863
  • (2419) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Philip Harter, 26 June 1863
  • (2420) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 29 June 1863
  • (2421) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 4 July 1863
  • (2422) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 4 August 1863
  • (2423) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 15 August 1863
  • (2424) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 23 August 1863
  • (2425) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 4 September 1863
  • (2426) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 6 September 1863
  • (2427) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 12 September 1863
  • (2428) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 1 October 1863
  • (2429) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 2 October 1863
  • (2430) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 7 October 1863
  • (2431) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 11 October 1863
  • (2432) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 6 November 1863
  • (2433) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 8 November 1863
  • (2434) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 19 November 1863
  • (2435) [recipient] ~ John H. Whitmer to Samuel J. Keller, 25 January 1864
  • (2436) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 27 March 1864
  • (2437) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 13 April 1864
  • (2438) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 15 April 1864
  • (2439) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 16 April 1864
  • (2440) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 22 May 1864
  • (2441) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 5 June 1864
  • (2442) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 22 June 1864
  • (2443) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 23 June 1864
  • (2444) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 1 July 1864
  • (2445) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 4 July 1864
  • (2446) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 12 July 1864
  • (2447) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 21 July 1864
  • (2448) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 22 July 1864
  • (2449) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 25 July 1864
  • (2450) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 27 July 1864
  • (2451) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 13 August 1864
  • (2452) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 15 August 1864
  • (2453) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 23 August 1864
  • (2454) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 13 September 1864
  • (2455) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 18 September 1864
  • (2456) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 16 October 1864
  • (2457) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 11 November 1864
  • (2458) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 15 November 1864
  • (2459) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 30 November 1864
  • (2460) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 4 December 1864
  • (2464) [writer] ~ Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, undated

People - Records: 8

  • (884) Keller, Melvina E. is the [wife of] (883) Keller, Samuel J.
  • (907) Whitmer, John Hiram is the [friend of] (883) Keller, Samuel J.
  • (908) Harter, Philip is the [friend of] (883) Keller, Samuel J.
  • (920) Covert, William N. is the [friend of] (883) Keller, Samuel J.
  • (1016) Keller, Samuel Jr. is the [child of] (883) Keller, Samuel J.
  • (1017) Keller, William H. is the [child of] (883) Keller, Samuel J.
  • (1018) Keller, Mary Ellen is the [child of] (883) Keller, Samuel J.
  • (1019) Keller, Catherine is the [child of] (883) Keller, Samuel J.

Places - Records: 2

  • (320) [birth] ~ Miami County, Ohio
  • (807) [death] ~ Bluffton, Wells County, Indiana

Show in Map

Regiments - Records: 1

  • (283) [officer] [H] ~ 47th Indiana Infantry

Groups - Records: 1

  • (1) [member/supporter] ~ Democratic Party
SOURCES

1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, and 1910 United States Federal Censuses, available from Ancestry.com; Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865, available from Ancestry.com; General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934, available from Ancestry.com; Indiana Marriage Collection, 1800-1941, available from Ancestry.com; Indiana Deaths, 1882-1920, available from Ancestry.com; Biographical and Historical Record of Adams and Wells Counties, Indiana (Chicago, IL: Lewis Publishing Company, 1887), 884-885; Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 9 February 1862, DL0522.014, Nau Collection; Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 18 February 1862, DL0522.015, Nau Collection; Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 1 October 1863, DL0522.087, Nau Collection; Samuel J. Keller to Melvina E. Keller, 15 November 1864, DL0522.117, Nau Collection