FRED KELLER, Galion, Ohio.
Fred Keller was a bright German lad of 15 when he came to this country. He was born in Baden, Germany, May 20, 1851. His father was Mathias Keller, a farmer, who died when Mr. Keller was quite young. The lad attended school in his native land until he was 15, when the family emigrated to America and settled at Galion. Mr. Keller learned the shoemaking trade and worked at it for about five years, when he abandoned it for an occupation demanding more activity. He secured a position as wiper in the shops of the Atlantic & Great Western in the spring of 1871, and shortly after was promoted to fireman. He fired freight three years and passenger four years, and in 1878 was promoted to engineer. For twenty-one years he has been engaged in the freight department, with occasional passenger duty. He now runs on through fast freight and has never had a collision and has never been in a wreck. He is regarded as a very competent engineer and stands high in the esteem of the officials and his associates. He is a member of B. of L. E., Division No. 16, owns good property at 133 South Riblet street and is a highly respected citizen.

He was married on October 20, 1873, at Bucyrus, Ohio, to Miss Louisa Reiff. She was the daughter of George Reiff of Wittenberg, Germany, and after his death she came to America in 1872. They have a pleasant family of four children; Henry F., aged 24, was educated in Galion and is now an operator for the Erie at Galion; Albert L., aged 22, was educated in Galion and is now employed in the Erie roundhouse; Otto E., aged 20, educated in Galion, is now employed in a bicycle factory at Cleveland; Fred M., aged 11, is now attending Galion Public School.

Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.

From the February, 1905 issue of the Locomotive Engineers' Monthly Journal, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers:
Galion, OH, Jan. 11, 1905, Brother Fred Keller, member of Div. 16, age 54, was scalded to death. He was admitted to the Brotherhood on Dec. 8, 1896. A $1,500 insurance payment was made to Louisa Keller, wife.

From the February issue of the Locomotive Engineers' JOurnal:
Engineer Fred Keller of Galion, member of B of LE Division 16, was scalded to death on Jan. 11, 1905 at age 54. He entered the Brotherhood on Dec. 8, 1896, and held a $1,500 insurance policy, his wife Louisa the beneficiary.