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Permanent LinkRepresentative John Henry Keatley View All Years
JOHN H. KEATLEY was born in Center county, Pa., Dec. 1, 1838; he died at Washington, D. C., June 20, 1905. Col. Keatley grew up on a farm and educated himself through his own exertions. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1860. Soon after commencing his legal practice he became editor of The Blair County Whig, a newspaper which supported the administration of Abraham Lincoln. When the call for 300,000 volunteers came, he enlisted in the 125th Pa. Infantry, which was soon after engaged in the second battle of Bull Run, at South Mountain, and Antietam. He participated in the Gettysburg campaign, where he was assistant adjutant general on the staff of Gen. Higgins. Later, he was actively engaged in the campaigns with General Grant which resulted in the capture of Gen. Lee and his army. After the war he was connected for a time with the freedman’s bureau for five counties in southeastern Virginia, and later became a judge in the military court at Norfolk. He removed to Iowa in 1867, locating at Cedar Falls. In 1868 he settled in Council Bluffs, where he became editor of The Nonpareil, serving until April, 1870. In the campaign of 1872 he supported Horace Greeley for President against Gen. Grant. He ran for attorney-general in 1874, and in 1878 for congress in the 8th district, but was both times defeated. In 1876 he was chosen Mayor of Council Bluffs. In 1892 he was appointed commandant of the Iowa Soldiers’ Home at Marshalltown, which position he held for two years. Since he retired from the Soldiers’ Home he has held a civil service position in the Treasury Department at Washington. Col. Keatley was an active and influential politician, a man of very considerable ability, who made an excellent record in the public positions which he held from time to time. He was one of the well known editors of this State.