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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
The subject of this sketch, an attorney and abstractor, who is well informed in all branches of the law and with a large clientage in both departments of his business, is a native of Boston, Massachusetts, his parents being William and Mary L. (Crawford) Keating; the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Nova Scotia, Canada. In the spring of 1863, he removed with his parents from the city of his nativity and settled near the northeast corner of Poweshiek county, Iowa. Here was spent almost the entire married life of his parents, who are both laid to rest in the cemetery near their home. His parents were among the pioneers of that district, which was uncultivated, except here and there at great distances could be seen the log cabin or small house and prairie stables with thatched roof of the home-seekers of that early day. The family consisted of six children: Mary L., who died in infancy, W. H., of this review, George J. and John E., both deceased, Charles A., who is a practicing osteopath, of Des Moines; and Sarah J., who is the wife of William Nitsch, of Marshalltown, Iowa. Mr. Keating of this review entered the district schools at the usual age, but being the oldest child, he was compelled to assist in the cultivatibn of the farm, so that after ten years of age he could attend school only during the winter terms. His parents financial condition was such that they could not give him a course in college and he was forced to procure his education by his individual efforts, he having remained at home until the spring of 1884 and pursued his studies when the day's work was over by the aid of the open fireplace, tallow candle and later by kerosene lamp, until the year 1884, at which time he had mastered all the branches of learning taught in the public schools, a complete course of the English classics, the higher mathematics and literature. He entered the law department of Drake University, at Des Moines, Iowa, in the spring of 1884, graduating in June, 1885, with honors, and was admitted to the practice of his profession with his class in May, 1886. Four years later, in 1890, he came to Oskaloosa, where he has since made his home. He is well versed in all branches of the law and his devotion to his clients interest is proverbial. He has the professional patronage of many of the leading citizens of Oskaloosa and Mahaska county. On November 30, 1892, Mr. Keating was married to Miss Christine Monteith, a daughter of Thomas and Christine Monteith, of Albany, Oregon. They now have one child, Charlotte. In his home life he is a devoted husband and an indulgent father, and in religion, a Presbyterian. He has a kind word for every one, believing that a true life is the helping of others to pluck out the thorns and plant a flower, that its beauty and fragrance may soothe the trials and sweeten life's patbway wherever it can be done. Mr. Keating is prominent in local affairs, being much interested in city improvement and municipal reform. In politics he is a democrat, and fraternally is connected with the Masons, Eastern Star, Woodmen of the World and Court of Honor. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he was captain of Company F of the Fifty- first Regiment of Iowa Infantry and did active duty with the United States forces for nineteen months, ten of which were in the Philippines, and of the seventeen engagements in which the regiment took part. he participated in sixteen without receiving an injury or wound. On August 9, 1899, during the advance of the American forces on Tarlac, Luzon island, he was ordered by General McArthur to protect the right flank of the army and to hold the Philippine forces in check where the latter were heavily entrenched in front of the town of Mexico. For this purpose,in addition to his own company, there were assigned to him Company K, of the Iowa regiment, and a battery of six guns from the Sixth United States Artillery. The insurgent forces numbered over four hundred, heavily entrenched, while the Americans were compelled to fight in an open field and numbered only eighty men. So successfully was this order performed that General McArthur in person complimented Captain Keating and conferred upon him the command of the town of San Fernando, in which had been established the hospitals for the sick and the base of supplies for the forces in the field north of Malolos. While returning to America on the steamer "Senator," the Vessel encountered a fierce gale off the coast of Japan, which compelled the closing down of all her machinery and hatchways, and being cast adrift for about twenty hours. The storm carried away a part of the rigging and a lifeboat from the vessel which happened to drift near a passenger steamer which had, left Japan a few days subsequent to the departure of the "Senator" and arrived at San Francisco, California, some days prior to the "Senator." So that when the subject of this review arrived at San Francisco, he was astonished to learn that the vessel and all on board had been reported lost. As a citizen, Mr. Keating is public spirited, as manifested in his active and able service in connection with various movements for the public good. By earnest effort, close application, and the exercise of his native talents, he has won a prominent position at the Oskaloosa bar and has the entire respect and confidence of his professional brethren.
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy