SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Albert Keach, Page 602

ALBERT KEACH, merchant and Postmaster of Greenbush, has been a resident of this place since the spring of 1850.  Mr. Keach is a native of Rhode Island, born October 10, 1840, in Woonsocket, and is a son of Erastus and Harriet (Taft) Keach.  His father was born in Thompson, Conn., July 16, 1816, and his mother in Statersville, of the same State, in 1818.  They emigrated from Rhode Island to Wisconsin in 1850, and settled in the town of Greenbush, Sheboygan County.  Mr. Keach, Sr., was a farmer and merchant, besides owning and operating a sawmill.  In this county both parents passed the last years of their lives.  The mother died February 15, 1879, and the father August 25, 1893.  Unto Mr. and Mrs. Keach seven children were born, as follows:  Clarence, who died at the age of two years; Albert, the subject of this sketch; Susan, who became the wife of Herman Sultze, and died September 2, 1863; Harriet, who died January 13, 1866; Caroline, whose death occurred October 13, 1881, and who was the wife of Albert Ehle; Cyrus, who wedded Mary Sweet, and is a farmer of Greenbush Township; and William, who married Nettie James, and resides in St. Cloud, Fond du Lac County, Wis.  Of this family but four sons survive.  Mr. Keach, Sr., was a Democrat in his political sentiments.  He served several terms as Chairman of the Town Board of Greenbush.  Socially, he was a member of Acassia Lodge No. 176, A. F. & A. M., of Plymouth; and a member of Greenbush Lodge No. 78, I. O. O. F.  He was a man much respected, and had many warm friends among the old settlers.

    Albert Keach came to Greenbush with his parents in the spring of 1850, when but ten years of age.  He attended the public schools, and in 1855 began his business experience as clerk in his father's store, the same store in which he is now doing business.

    Mr. Keach was one of the patriotic boys who responded to the first call of President Lincoln for troops to suppress the rebellion.  He enlisted in April, 1861, as a member of Company C, Fourth Wisconsin Infantry, and took part in all the battles and engagements in which his regiment participated, until he was captured at Baton Rouge, La., in July, 1863.  He was confined in Confederate prisons until the fall of that year, when he was exchanged at Vicksburg and sent to Cairo.  His term of enlistment having expired, he re-enlisted in Company H, Sixteenth Wisconsin Infantry, and served until discharged, because of physical disability, in October, 1863, at Jefferson Barracks, Mo.  On becoming convalescent, while in the East, he again entered the service, in November, 1864, as a member of the Twentieth Maine Infantry, Company H, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out at Washington August 1, 1865.

    On the 1st of September, 1866, in Greenbush, occurred the marriage of Mr. Keach and Sarah Sweet, a daughter of Thomas and Catherine Sweet.  Mrs. Keach was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., and came to Greenbush with her parents in 1848.  See sketch of her parents elsewhere in this work.  Mr. and Mrs. Keach have two children, a son and a daughter, Clarence Edward and Harriet.

    In 1883 Mr. Keach engaged in merchandising at Greenbush, in company with Wilson Adams, that connection continuing three years.  He was then out of business a year, and in 1875 bought in again, and has since been in business alone, keeping a general store.  In politics, Mr. Keach is a Democrat, and has held various offices.  He has been a member of the Town Board, and in June, 1893, was appointed Postmaster at Greenbush by President Cleveland.  He is a member of Greenbush Lodge No. 78, I. O. O. F.