Spottswood M. Keller
Spottswood Mosby Keller (January 1, 1826 – February 15, 1898)[1] was a business owner and served on the Charlottesville Town Council. In 1888, he served as first Chief of the Charlottesville Police Department. His annual salary was $600. Following Chief Keller's death in office,[2] R. S. Woods was made acting chief of police. On March 10, 1898, from a pool of 11 applicants, the council elected Frank P. Farish Chief of Police to fill the unexpired term of the late Capt. Keller.
Bio
His father, John L. Keller, [3]was an officer in the British army, and was in the engagement at Waterloo, and was awarded a cavalry-metal for gallantry in that action. His mother was Mary Ann Foushee of Stafford county.
Keller learned the trade of painting, which he followed a number of years. He subsequently went into the mercantile business, which he conducted up to the war. He was a sergeant of the Monticello Guard when the company was ordered to Harper’s Ferry, and was afterwards a lieutenant in one of the local companies. He was one of the first Aldermen of the town under reconstruction, which position he held sometime in the 1880s. During Mayor R. F. Harris’s administration he was elected chief-of-police, and had (with the exception of one term) continuously held that position. He was a member of the Baptist church (since 1842), the Odd Fellows and was a Mason.
Keller died on February 15, 1898 (aged 72). The funeral took place from the Baptist church, and the remains were interred with Masonic honors at Maplewood Cemetery.
Family
Keller was born in Alexandria City, Virginia.[4] In 1849, he married Georgianna Balthis (1826-1905), together they had eight children. His brother, Thomas S. Keller, was elected Sergeant of the Town of Charlottesville for the term of two years, commencing on the 1st Day of July 1885.
Capt. S. M. Keller died in Charlottesville and is buried in Maplewood Cemetery. The Council passed a Resolution that the City Hall be draped in Morning for 30 days in respect for the memory of the late Chief S. M. Keller.
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References
- ↑ Web. [1], Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, Daily Progress, Wednesday February 16, 1898
- ↑ Web. VIRGINIA NEWS, Alexandria Gazette. (Alexandria, D.C.), 16 Feb. 1898. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
- ↑ Web. [2]
- ↑ https://search.lib.virginia.edu/sources/uva_library/items/uva-lib:2074344