George H. Keith

George H. Keith
Keith c. 1858
Postmaster of Minneapolis
In office
April 15, 1871 – June 15, 1882
Appointed byUlysses S. Grant
Governor
Preceded byCyrus Aldrich
Succeeded byOrlo M. Laraway
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 4th District
In office
December 2, 1857 – December 6, 1859
Serving with
GovernorSamuel Medary
Henry Hastings Sibley
Personal details
BornGeorge Hackett Keith
(1825-05-04)May 4, 1825
Randolph, Vermont, U.S.
DiedJune 15, 1882(1882-06-15) (aged 57)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Resting placeLakewood Cemetery
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Other political
affiliations
Whig
Republican
EducationKimball Union Academy
Vermont Medical College (1852)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch/serviceUnion Army
Years of service
1862–1865
Rank Captain (Surgeon)
Commands2nd Military District of Minnesota
Battles/wars

George Hackett Keith (May 4, 1825 – June 15, 1882) was an American physician, politician, and soldier who served a single term in the Minnesota Legislature and was thrice appointed by President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant as the postmaster of Minneapolis.

Early life and education

Keith was born on May 4, 1825, in Randolph, Vermont, he was the son of Bethuel Keith and Mary Keith (née Pearson).:245 Keith was educated in local district schools until the age of sixteen when he left to study at the Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire where he studied for four years and worked as a teacher.:245

Keith later moved to Indianapolis, Indiana where he worked as a teacher for a private school, he was later appointed as the superintendent of the preparatory department at Franklin College before moving to Dover, New Hampshire and studying medicine under his brother.:246 Keith continued to study medicine until 1852 when he graduated from the Vermont Medical College in Woodstock, Vermont, afterwards moving to New York to begin a medical practice.:246

Medical career

Keith briefly worked in New York for one year before moving to Minnesota Territory in 1855 and settling in Minneapolis.:246 Keith's primary medical focus was in dentistry.:246 Keith would practice medicine in Minneapolis for the majority of his career.:246 Beginning on November 1, 1865, Keith entered a partnership in practicing dentistry with Dr. Abner Bausman of Minneapolis, which continued until Keith's retirement in 1870.:939

Political career

Keith began his political career in 1857 when he campaigned for a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives representing Minnesota's 4th House district. At the time the district included Hennepin County, Minnesota. Keith won the October 13, 1857 election and served during the 1st Minnesota Legislature, a protracted session, from December 2, 1857, to December 6, 1859. During his term Keith was a member of the banks committee.

Beginning in 1871 Keith was appointed by President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant as the postmaster of Minneapolis and was reappointed in 1875.:246 Keith served three terms as the postmaster of Minneapolis.:275 According to the United States Postal Service, Keith served from April 15, 1871, until his death on June 15, 1882.

While the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library does not list Keith's political affiliation during his career, the book The United States Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-Made Men. Minnesota Volume, states that Keith was "originally a Whig, and afterward a strong Republican".:246

Military service

Keith in a Union Army officers uniform c. 1862

During the Dakota War of 1862 Keith served in the Union Army as a surgeon and was part of the relief force which relieved the besieged troops at Fort Abercrombie.:246 Keith was later appointed in 1863 as the provost marshal of Minnesota's 2nd Military District, a position which he held until the end of the war.:246

Later life and death

During his later life Keith was the president of the Bristol Silver Mining Company.

Keith died on June 15, 1882, in Minneapolis, he is buried in Lakewood Cemetery.

Personal life

During his lifetime Keith had a total of two wives and three children.:247 Keith's first wife was Anna Judson, whom he married on July 2, 1851, in Indianapolis, Anna died on August 28, 1862.:247 Keith's second wife was Henrietta P. Jewett, whom he married on June 30, 1866.:247

In his personal life Keith was an advocate of the temperance movement and was the president of the Hennepin County Temperance League.:359 Keith was an active Freemason and was part of the Knights Templar.:246

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 The United States Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-Made Men. Minnesota Volume (PDF). New York and Chicago: American Biographical Publishing Company. 1879.
  2. ↑ Atwater, Isaac (1893). History of the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Vol. 2. New York: Munsell & Company.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "George H. Keith". Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. Retrieved 14 October 2026.
  4. 1 2 Stevens, John H. (1890). Personal Recollections of Minnesota and its People, and Early History of Minneapolis. Minneapolis: Tribune Job Ptg. Co.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Death of Dr. Keith of Minneapolis". The Northern Pacific farmer. 22 June 1882. p. 2. LCCN sn90059028. Retrieved 14 October 2026.
  6. ↑ "Postal History - Postmaster Finder: Postmasters by City". About.usps.com. Retrieved 14 October 2026.
  7. ↑ "In Memoriam: Resolutions of Respect to the Memory of Dr. Keith". The Tribune. 21 June 1882. p. 6. Retrieved 14 October 2026.
  8. ↑ "Gone to His Reward". Daily globe. 17 June 1882. p. 2. LCCN sn83025287. Retrieved 14 October 2026.
  9. ↑ "THE LAST RITES: The Funeral of Dr. George H. Keith". The Tribune. 18 June 1882. p. 6. Retrieved 14 October 2026.