My Genealogy Hound

Samuel Keel, though occupied with his present duties as clerk of the Circuit Court of Crittenden County but for a short time, has ably demonstrated his fitness for the position. He was born in Memphis, Tenn., in 1847, and is the third of a family of eight children born to E. T. and Louisa C. (Grace) Keel. The father was a native of North Carolina who moved to Tennessee in 1830, settling in Memphis, where he worked in a saw-mill for a time. In 1840 he formed a partnership with I. T. Gibson and embarked in the saw-mill business which he continued for several years. About 1850 he started a soap factory, and in 1852 opened a grocery store, this receiving his attention till he died at the age of sixty-one years, of yellow fever, in 1879. The Graces, of whom Samuel Keel’s mother is a descendant, settled in this county when it was first opened, and are of Spanish origin. A Mr. Grandee who was living here at the beginning of the nineteenth century, and who was a Spanish officer, is one of her ancestors. Lake Grandee, which lies beside Marion, is named after this old settler. Samuel Keel was brought up and educated in Memphis, and at the age of eighteen years commenced to clerk in his father’s store, and later he was engaged with Arbuckle, Richardson & Co. In 1880 he came to Crittenden County and began planting on a farm inherited from his father, and which is situated one mile north of another very fine place of 375 acres, 200 being under cultivation. Since he took charge of this farm he has made many valuable improvements, among others a fine house that cost him about $1,700, a large and modern barn, and has cleared over 100 acres. Mr. Keel has been married three times; first, to Miss Mary Avery, a native of Tennessee, who died in 1873 of yellow fever, having borne one child, also deceased. He was married to his present wife, Miss Mary Moffett, a native of New York, in 1882. Mr. Keel has taken considerable interest in politics, and was elected clerk in 1888. He is a gentleman of winning manners and pleasant address, and all who know him are profited by the acquaintance of a worthy and honorable gentleman. He owns one of the finest and most productive farms in this county, which has become such by his skillful management. He is therefore prominent as a farmer, a citizen and a county official.