Edwin W. Keightley
Encyclopedia
Edwin William Keightley was a politician from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
Keightley was born on a farm near Scott
in Lagrange County, Indiana
. His parents, Peter L. and Elizabeth (Winter) Keightly, emigrated from Lincolnshire
, England
; the former in 1831, and the latter in 1828. They settled on the farm in Van Buren township in 1836, soon after they were married. Keightley attended the local common school
s, Lagrange Academy, and Valparaiso Collegiate Institute
. He was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan
at Ann Arbor
in 1865 and was admitted to the bar
. He commenced practice at White Pigeon, Michigan
, several miles northwest of his family home in Scott. While practicing law, he was also editor of the White Pigeon Republican, a staunch advocate of Republican Party
views and policy.
In 1867, Keightley moved to Constantine, Michigan
, and entered into a law partnership with Judge S. C. Coffinberry, which ended in 1869, on amicable terms. He was married on July 14, 1868 to Mary Mitchell, the daughter of Thomas Mitchell, a long-time resident of Constantine, and closely identified with its manufacturing and material interests.
In 1872, he was elected prosecuting attorney of St. Joseph County
, serving until January 21, 1874 when he was appointed by Michigan Governor John J. Bagley
to be judge of the 15th circuit court of Michigan, comprising the counties of St. Joseph and Branch County
. He was elected to the position in the spring of 1875.
In 1876, he was elected as a Republican from Michigan's 4th congressional district
to the 45th United States Congress
, serving from March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1879.
Keightley was appointed by U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes
as the Third Auditor of the United States Treasury Department and served from April 30, 1879 to April 30, 1885 when he resigned. He resumed the practice of his profession in Chicago, Illinois. He moved to Constantine, Michigan
, in 1899 and engaged in agricultural pursuits unti his death there. He was interred in Constantine Cemetery.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Keightley was born on a farm near Scott
Scott, Indiana
Scott is a small unincorporated town in Van Buren Township, LaGrange County, Indiana.-Geography:Scott is located at on the Pigeon River near the Indiana Toll Road, just about a mile south of the state border with Michigan....
in Lagrange County, Indiana
LaGrange County, Indiana
LaGrange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana and in the Northern Indiana region known as Michiana. As of 2010, the population was 37,128. The county is located about east of South Bend, west of Toledo, Ohio, and northeast of Indianapolis. The area is well known for its large...
. His parents, Peter L. and Elizabeth (Winter) Keightly, emigrated from Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
; the former in 1831, and the latter in 1828. They settled on the farm in Van Buren township in 1836, soon after they were married. Keightley attended the local common school
Common school
A common school was a public school in the United States or Canada in the nineteenth century. The term 'common school' was coined by Horace Mann, and refers to the fact that they were meant to serve individuals of all social classes and religions....
s, Lagrange Academy, and Valparaiso Collegiate Institute
Valparaiso Collegiate Institute
Valparaiso Collegiate Institute was an institution of secondary education in Valparaiso, Indiana. It was opened in 1861 by the Presbyterians in the community after the Methodists on September 21, 1859, had opened the Valparaiso Male and Female College .The Collegiate Institute was located on the...
. He was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
in 1865 and was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
. He commenced practice at White Pigeon, Michigan
White Pigeon, Michigan
White Pigeon is a village in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,627 at the 2000 census. The village is located within White Pigeon Township.-Geography:...
, several miles northwest of his family home in Scott. While practicing law, he was also editor of the White Pigeon Republican, a staunch advocate of Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
views and policy.
In 1867, Keightley moved to Constantine, Michigan
Constantine, Michigan
Constantine is a village in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,095 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Constantine Township. It is on U.S. Highway 131, leading to Kalamazoo to the north and to the Indiana Toll Road six miles to the south. The...
, and entered into a law partnership with Judge S. C. Coffinberry, which ended in 1869, on amicable terms. He was married on July 14, 1868 to Mary Mitchell, the daughter of Thomas Mitchell, a long-time resident of Constantine, and closely identified with its manufacturing and material interests.
In 1872, he was elected prosecuting attorney of St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,422 people, 23,381 households, and 16,600 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 people per square mile . There were 26,503 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile...
, serving until January 21, 1874 when he was appointed by Michigan Governor John J. Bagley
John J. Bagley
John Judson Bagley was a politician from the US state of Michigan, as well as its 16th Governor.-Early life in New York and Michigan:...
to be judge of the 15th circuit court of Michigan, comprising the counties of St. Joseph and Branch County
Branch County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 45,787 people, 16,349 households, and 11,575 families residing in the county. The population density was 90 people per square mile . There were 19,822 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile...
. He was elected to the position in the spring of 1875.
In 1876, he was elected as a Republican from Michigan's 4th congressional district
Michigan's 4th congressional district
Michigan's 4th congressional district is a United States Congressional district that currently includes portions of Northern and Central Michigan, consisting of all of...
to the 45th United States Congress
45th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:-Senate:*President: William A. Wheeler *President pro tempore: Thomas W. Ferry -House of Representatives:*Speaker: Samuel J. Randall -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
, serving from March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1879.
Keightley was appointed by U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution...
as the Third Auditor of the United States Treasury Department and served from April 30, 1879 to April 30, 1885 when he resigned. He resumed the practice of his profession in Chicago, Illinois. He moved to Constantine, Michigan
Constantine, Michigan
Constantine is a village in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,095 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Constantine Township. It is on U.S. Highway 131, leading to Kalamazoo to the north and to the Indiana Toll Road six miles to the south. The...
, in 1899 and engaged in agricultural pursuits unti his death there. He was interred in Constantine Cemetery.