1905 History of Crawford County Kansas

Among the representatives of professional life in Crawford county is numbered Dr. F. L. Keeler, a physician and surgeon of Farlington, Kansas, who has become well equipped for his chosen field of labor and in the exercise of his professional duties has displayed marked efficiency and skill. He was born in Wayneville, North Carolina, on the 28th of December, 1857, and is a son of Albert and Amanda (Henry) Keeler, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of North Carolina. The subject of this review was born during a visit which his mother was paying at her old home in her native state. Her death occurred in the year 1878 when she was forty-two years of age, but Albert Keeler is still living and now makes his home in Sevier county, Tennessee.

Dr. Keeler spent his early youth in Tennessee and pursued his education in the public schools, completing his education at Mountain Star Academy. He afterward engaged in teaching school for ten years, proving a capable educator who imparted clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired. On the expiration of that decade he took up the study of medicine in the office and under the direction of Dr. J. B. De Lozier, of Fairgarden, Tennessee, and after two years of preliminary reading he passed the state examination in 1892 and entered upon the practice of medicine. On the 7th of March, 1894, he arrived in Farlington, Kansas, and opened an office here, and the first day he received a call, and since that time his practice has constantly grown both in volume and importance. He has fully demonstrated his ability to cope with the the intricate problems which continually confront the physician because of the complications which arise from disease, and he is continually promoting his efficiency by reading and investigation along medical lines, so that he keeps in touch with the best thinking men of the profession.

On the 12th of December, 1878, Dr. Keeler was united in marriage to Miss Priscilla D. Inman, a daughter of Daniel Inman, of Fairgarden, Tennessee. To the Doctor and his wife have been born four children, namely: Florence, who is engaged in teaching school near Walnut, Kansas; Pearl, who is also a teacher; Lelia May, at home; and Cecil L., who died at the age of two years. The mother and her daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Dr. Keeler is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Fraternal Aid, both of Farlington, and also with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is now examiner for the second named, also for the Ancient Order of United Workmen and for the Modern Woodmen camp. His political support is given to the Republican party, but while he has firm faith in its principles and earnestly desires its success he has neither time nor inclination to seek office, preferring to give his time and attention to his professional duties, which now make heavy demands upon his energies, owing to the extent of his practice. He owns a fine residence and office in this place, and in addition he has two nice lots, upon which his house stands.