Page 863, transcribed by Carolyn Ward from History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas: embellished with portraits of well known people of these counties, with biographies of our representative citizens, cuts of public buildings and a map of each county / Edited and Compiled by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott. Iola Registers, Printers and Binders, Iola, Kan.: 1901; 894 p., [36] leaves of plates: ill., ports.; includes index.



 

  WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS. 863 cont'd

S. GRANT KECK.

Among the younger business men of Yates Center is numbered S. Grant Keck, a member of the well known mercantile firm of Keck & Young. He was born in Loogootee, Martin County, Indiana, on the 30th of May, 1868, and is a son of A. A. and Jane Keck. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Philip Keck, a native of Germany, who founded the family in the United States. His son, A. A. Keek, was born in Martin County, Ind., in 1838, and married Miss Jane McArter. In 1880 he came with his family to Woodson County and was afterward elected and served as sheriff here.

S. Grant Keck, his fourth child, spent his boyhood days on the home farm, working in the field from the time of early spring planting until after the crops were gathered in the autumn. The public schools afforded him his educational privileges in addition to two years in the Kansas Normal College at Ft. Scott, and when his school days were ended he followed farming for seven years, after which he removed to Toronto, in October, 1899, and was there engaged in the hardware business, also dealing in hay. In 1900 he came to Yates Center and has since carried on business as a member of the firm of Keck & Young, the partnership having been formed in 1898.

In October, 1892, in Yates Center, Mr. Keck, was united in marriage to Miss May Baker, a daughter of B. P. Baker, of this place. Two children grace their union: Cecil B. and Charles. The parents enjoy the warm regard of many friends and their own home is celebrated for its hospitality. Socially Mr. Keck is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America, and he exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, but has never sought or desired office, preferring to devote his time and attention to his business in which he is meeting with creditable success.


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