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Pvt Edmund Keller

Birth	:	2 Nov 1841 Stark County, Illinois, USA
Death	:	10 Jul 1896 Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas, USA
Burial	:	Abilene Cemetery, Abilene, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate	:	38.9322014, -97.2217026
Description	:	Civil War Veteran--Pvt Co. K, 86th Illinois Edmund Keller was born on November 2, 1841 in Stark County, Illinois near Princeville, Illinois, one of at least 12 children born to Flory Keller and Catherine Elizabeth (Coleman) Keller. Sometime before 1850, though, Flory bought a farm just inside the Peoria County line, again near Princeville and it was there that Edmund and his brothers grew to manhood, farming the land in Peoria County beside their father. They can be found there in the 1850 and 1860 censuses. On August 7, 1862, 25 year old Andrew Keller, 20 year old Edmund... Read More	Civil War Veteran--Pvt Co. K, 86th Illinois Edmund Keller was born on November 2, 1841 in Stark County, Illinois near Princeville, Illinois, one of at least 12 children born to Flory Keller and Catherine Elizabeth (Coleman) Keller. Sometime before 1850, though, Flory bought a farm just inside the Peoria County line, again near Princeville and it was there that Edmund and his brothers grew to manhood, farming the land in Peoria County beside their father. They can be found there in the 1850 and 1860 censuses. On August 7, 1862, 25 year old Andrew Keller, 20 year old Edmund Keller, and 25 year old Emanual Keller went to Princeville together and volunteered for service in a company which was being raised by Princeville area School Teacher, John F. French. French was trying to raise a compamny of just Princeville area men for service in the Union Army. Two days later, 23 year old William H. Keller also went into town and signed his name to the Muster Roll of the growing list of volunteers. By the evening of August 12th, John F. French had a list of 100 volunteers, beside himself. On the morning of August 13, 1862, French led his group of 100 volunteers through the streets of Princeville and then marched them on to Peoria, Illinois, where they went into camp at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park. There on August 27, 1862, French and 95 of his Princeville volunteers were mustered into the service as Co. K of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. On September 7, 1862, over 1,800 men of the 85th and 86th Illinois marched out of the gates of Camp Lyon, and with much fanfare, marched through the streets of Peoria to the railroad depot. There they boarded the trains for Camp Joe Holt in Jeffersonville, Indiana, located just across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Two weeks later they were in the field as part of McCook's Brigade chasing the last Confederate troops is Kentucky. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade participated in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, during which the 86th Illinois suffered their first casualties. After the Battle of Perryville, a Union victory, the Confederate Army withdrew from Kentucky and McCook's Brigade marched on toward Nashville, Tennessee. They reached Nashville on Nov. 7th and went into winter camp. During the winter of 1862/63, over 300 men of the 86th became so sick that they either died or were discharged from the service by the government in hopes that they could return home and regain their health. One of these 300 men was Edmond Keller, who was discharged from the service on January 13, 1863 and returned to his home in Princeville. During the spring and summer of 1863, the men of the 86th remained in the Nashville area doing garrison duty and going on short marches throughout central Tennessee. Then during the late summer and fall of 1863, the men of the 86th participated in the Campaign for Chattanooga. During this period, the men of the 86th were engaged with the enemy during the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia. After the Confederates were finally driven out of the Chattanooga area for good, the men of the 86th went into winter camp across the river from Lee & Gordons Mills, just on the south of edge of the Chickamauga Battlefield in Georgia. In the late winter of 1863/64, the Union Army in the Chattanooga area, under the command of Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, began the opening movements of what would become the Campaign for Atlanta. On May 10, 1864, during a skirmish at Buzzard Roost Gap, Georgia, just north of Resaca, Georgia, the men of Co. K of the 86th were engaged in a short skirmish with the enemy holding the Gap. During this skirmish, Cpl. Emanual Keller was struck in the right arm by a Confederate Minie Ball, the ball lodging in the arm above the right elbow. He was sent to the rear to a Field Hospital and eventually was sent to an Army Hospital back in Jeffersonville, Indiana. He remained there until July. He then rejoined the 86th and the surviving members of Co. K somewhere in the Atlanta, Georgia area. From Corporal Levi A. Ross' diary and he made the following comment about Edmund, "On the evening of January 20, 1862, Corporal Levi A. Ross, a member of Co. K, sat and wrote to following in his journal. 'Edmund Keller was discharged and started for home today. He still has three brothers left in the Company. Sent $54 to George Andrews." "Edmund did return home and spent the next 15 months or so working around the Keller farm and regaining his strength. Edmond's illness however did not curb his great desire to serve his country. In May of 1864, a 100 day company was being raised to serve in the Union Army. On May 19, 1864, Edmund volunteered to serve in this company and on June 1, 1864, the men of this company were mustered into service as Co. F of the 139th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The men of this regiment actually ended up serving a little over the 100 days that they had volunteered for as about the time the men of this regiment were being to be mustered out of the service, Confederate General Sterling Price was leading a Confederate Army on a raid through Missouri, which threatened St. Louis. President Abraham Lincoln sent a message to the Colonel of the 139th asking him if the men might consider remaining in the service a little longer and go to the defense of the citizens of St, Louis. When the circumstances were explained to the men, they were ready to go. For their prompt response, President Lincoln, wrote a letter to the men expressing his thanks and commending them for their patriotism. Going by rail to St. Louis from Peoria, where they had gone to be mustered out, the regiment marched out from St. Louis out in the direction of Franklin, Missouri to meet General Price's Army. Several other Union regiments joined the 139th along the way and upon realizing the situation, General Price soon withdrew his troops to the southern part of the State without a fight. After a short time, and with the threat on St. Louis being gone, the 139th was again sent to Peoria to be mustered out of the service. Before this occurred, Edmund made the decision to reenlist in another unit to continue serving his country. On October 15, 1864, Edmund was mustered out of Company F of the 139th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry." Within days, Edmund Keller was mustered into Battery A of the 2nd Illinois Light Artillery. Edmund served out the remainder of the war in this unit as they are believed to have primarily involved with garrison duty in the midwest. Edmund was mustered out of the service on May 31, 1865 after having served his country for the majority of the previous 2 years and 9 months. He then returned to his home and family in Princeville, Illinois. On November 30, 1865, Edmund Keller was married to Mary Jane Hardin (Harding) in Peoria County. Mary Jane was born on February 4, 1846 in Illinois, the daughter of Richard and Sarah Hardin (Harding), who came to the Princeville area sometime before 1850. Eight children are known to have been born to Edmund and Mary Jane. They are; 1. Harriett "Hattie" Keller, born c. 1866 2. Albert Brian Keller, born 1868; died 1891 3. Amy Catherine Keller, born c. 1870 4. Ella Keller, born c. 1871 5. Edmund Eugene Keller, born June 27, 1872; died January 2, 1946; buried Abilene Cemetery; Corporal in Co. B, 3rd New Jersey Infantry in Spanish American War. 6. Cora Alice Keller, born 1873; died 1854 7. Charles Frank Keller, born c. 1876 8. Harrison Martin Keller, born c. 188__ In 1867, Edmund and Mary Jane moved west, where they settled in Dickinson County, Kansas. There they resided on a farm in Newbern Township farming and raising ever growing family. In 1891, Edmund and Mary Jane left the farm and moved into Abilene, Kansas, where Edmund served the citizens of Abilene, first as the City Weigher and then as the County Coroner. On August 27, 1887, the surviving members of the 86th Illinois held a reunion on the 25th Anniversary of the mustering in of the regiment. An E. Keller did attend this first reunion, but that is believed to be Edmund's brother, Emanual. However, Edmund did make the trip back to Peoria several times as the runions continued to be held annually until 1923, at which time the surviving members decided that they were too old and too few to continue the reunions. The last reunion that Edmund was able to attend was the reunion of 1893. On July 11, 1896, Private Edmund Keller, Co. K, 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry died of Stomach Cancer. His earthly remains were laid to rest in the Abilene, Kansas. After Edmund's passing, Mary Jane is believed to have moved to Ottawa, Kansas, where she is believed to have resided near or with one of her children. Mary Jane (Hardin) Keller died on March 12, 1903. Her earthly remains were laid beside her husband of over 30 years in the Abilene Cemetery. by Baxter B. Fite III

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Pvt Edmund Keller's memorial?
Pvt Edmund Keller's memorial is located at: Abilene Cemetery, Abilene, Dickinson County, USA.
When did Pvt Edmund Keller death?
Pvt Edmund Keller death on 10 Jul 1896 in Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Pvt Edmund Keller's memorial?
Latitude: 38.9322014
Longitude: -97.2217026

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Mary Jane Harden Keller

(1846 - 1902)

Siblings

Charles Wesley Keller

(1850 - 1933)

Children

Byron A. Keller

(1868 - 1891)

Corp Edmund E. Keller

(1872 - 1946)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Abilene Cemetery
Abilene, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9322014, -97.2217026

2. Mount Saint Joseph Cemetery
Abilene, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9442170, -97.2218690

3. Saint John's Episcopal Church Memorial Garden
Abilene, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9202700, -97.2137300

4. Dwight D. Eisenhower Municipal Building
Abilene, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9191100, -97.2155700

5. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum Chapel
Abilene, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9118450, -97.2129410

6. Brown Memorial Cemetery
Abilene, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8755950, -97.1993410

7. Farmington Cemetery
Abilene, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8707800, -97.1860200

8. Detroit Cemetery
Detroit, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9439300, -97.1255100

9. Union Cemetery
Buckeye, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0243988, -97.1856003

10. Mount Hope Cemetery
Enterprise, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8869019, -97.1121979

11. Zion Cemetery
Abilene, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0319240, -97.2045850

12. Prairie Mound Cemetery
Solomon, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9193993, -97.3527985

13. Scheiller Cemetery
Enterprise, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8669014, -97.1106033

14. Bethel Cemetery
Moonlight, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0022011, -97.1110535

15. Lutheran Cemetery #17
Enterprise, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9009209, -97.0734787

16. Prairiedale Cemetery
Talmage, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0471992, -97.2652969

17. Newbern Cemetery
Holland, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8133011, -97.2427979

18. Buckeye Cemetery
Buckeye, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0463070, -97.1665840

19. Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Enterprise, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8885150, -97.0749560

20. Mount Calvary Cemetery
Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9247017, -97.3891983

21. Harmony Cemetery
Holland, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.7985430, -97.2632760

22. Roggendorf Family Cemetery
New Cambria, Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8803940, -97.3926160

23. Lemcke Cemetery
New Cambria, Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8770730, -97.4022430

24. Indian Hill Cemetery
Chapman, Dickinson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9714012, -97.0327988