Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 4.djvu/301

  he has attained the highest rank in the Nation, having served as minister to Austria-Hungary and Germany. He was chairman of the United States Commission at the Samoan Conference at Berlin in 1889. During McKinley's administration he negotiated important reciprocal treaties with many foreign nations in the interest of our commerce. During the forty years of arduous and most valuable public services rendered to the State and Nation Mr. Kasson has found time to contribute to the highest grade of American periodicals and has written a History of Diplomacy, which will have world-wide interest. Among the eminent statesmen who for fifty years have reflected credit upon our State, none have ranked higher in notable achievements and intellectual endowment than John A. Kasson. BENJAMIN F. KEABLES was born in Genesee County, New York, November 30, 1828. He came to Iowa in 1850, entering the medical department of the State University which was then located at Keokuk and from which he graduated in 1852. He located at Pella where he began to practice medicine. The following year he was president of the school board and was influential in securing the building of the first brick schoolhouse in that part of the State. At the beginning of the Civil War Dr. Keables was appointed by Governor Kirkwood assistant surgeon of the Third Iowa Infantry. At the Battle of Hatchie the doctor was conspicuous for bravery and upon recommendation of his superior officers was promoted to regimental surgeon. In 1869 he was elected on the Republican ticket Representative in the House of the Thirteenth General Assembly and was a member at the extra session which adopted the Code of 1873. In 1871 he was reëlected, serving in the Fourteenth General Assembly. He was appointed a member of the Pension Examining Board under President Harrison; and is a member of the Army of the Tennessee, of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Pioneer Lawmakers' Association. JOHN H. KEATLEY was born in Center County, Pennsylvania, December 1, 1838. He secured his early education by his own exertions, working on a farm to earn money to pursue his studies until able to teach school. While preparing for his chosen profession in the law, he earned his living by working on a farm during the summers and teaching winters. He was admitted to the bar in 1860 and immediately began practice, at the same time acting as editor of the Blair County Whig, a newspaper supporting the administration of Abraham Lincoln. When the call for 300,000 volunteers came in 1802, Mr. Keatley enlisted in the One Hundred Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania Regiment which was soon after engaged in the second Battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, and in the Gettysburg campaign he was assistant Adjutant-General on the staff of General Higgins. In 1884-5 he was actively engaged in