Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-05-27

general facts of his life are well
known to all of us; yet it is natural
and right at the close of so noble a
life that we recall to our memory the
noblest and best of the qualities of
the departed Uncle Jesse Keith may
have had his faults, for who has not?
There has never been but one per-
feet life on earth, and weakness and
frailty are the common heritage of
men. But we are free to say that
whatever his faults may have been
they were not discovered.
Jesse Collins Keith was born in
Warren county, Ohio April s, 1922.
He moved with his parents to Shelby
County, Indiana when he was five
years of age HS4 he remained with
his father on the farm until the war
with Mexico broke out in 1916 and
he enlisted in Company II. 3rd Reg
iment Indiana Volunteers and served
his country In that trying time almost
year. During his service he was en-
gagged in the battle of Buena Vista.
At the close of the war he returned
to his fathers farm near Shelbyville,
Indiana.
In 1857 he left Indiana and came
to Davis county, Iowa. Later he
moved to Fremont, Mahaska county
Iowa and was among those who saw
lowa's fertile soil, its splendid
streams, its magnificent resources;
and realized that it would become a
veritable garden. The struggles of
such pioneers as Uncle Jesse Keith is
the story repeated over and over
again of the people who have convert
ed by dauntless courage, integrity,
and energy the virgin soil of the west
into the fairest and best producing
agricultural lands of our country.
many of the pioneers who entered
Iowa at that early date. He was priv
LEGGED to live to see many changes
not only in southeastern Iowa, but
right here in Audubon county where
he located in 1882.
He was married to Mary Canon
November IL, 1861 at Fremont, Iowa
by William Halliday. Presbyterian
minister. While living near Fremont
he obeyed the Gospel of Christ under
the ministery of H. E. Cory but a
short time before his marriage.
When the deceased came to Aud
ubon county in 1882 he located in
Viola township where he remained
two years. He then moved to Mel
vile township where he remained un-
til 1892 when with his family he To-
Gated in the thriving town of Audi
bon where he remained until his
death.
Was Oldest Mason I'm Iowa
Uncle Jesse was the oldest Mason
N ca 40 A
years before coming west he Joined
the Masonic fraternity and through
out the 81 intervening years he re-
NAMED faithful and upright men,
Der of that order. On July II, 1914
the Masonic order of Audubon cele-
brated the event of his being so years
a Mason. The lodge paid high trib-
ute to him and the occasion was one
that brought much satisfaction and
pleasure to him and MS family. 1t
was indeed wonderful event. The
records show that Mr.. Keith was
made Mason in Shelby Lodge No.
2S at Shelbyville. Ind. May 20, 1854.
He took an active part in lodge work
until about two years ago when he
was compelled to give up the position
he held for many years. He loved
his lodge but he did not put 1t ahead
OF his church. He was member of
the church SIS years.
Many of His Children Survive
Mr.. Keith was the father of thir-
teen children eight of whom with his
companion servive. Those living are
Marshall Z. Keith, Bedford. Iowa; o,
d. Keith, Great Falls. Mont, Preston
j. Keith of Audubon; Mrs. Minnie
Hunter. Glidden; Mrs. Nellie McIn-
tyre, Oklahoma City. Okla, B. A.
Keith, Mabel Keith of Audubon and
Gus c. Keith of Montana, all of
whom were present at the funeral
but the two sons in Montana. There
are also eighteen grandchildren and
eleven great grandchildren.
He was model in all tender rela-
lions of domestic life. From him,
wife and children always received that
solicitious consideration, that anxious
ldesire for convenience and comfort.