Every life means somebody's plans, dreams, hopes, major or minor achievements, and smaller or bigger disappointments. Every life is filled with a kaleidoscope of emotions. One of those lives was the life of Otto Adolphus Keller.
He was born in the family of Karl P Keller, stock raiser, and trader, and his wife, Caroline Keiser, on 24 October 1879. The family lived in Precinct #4, Mason County, Texas. In June 1880, a few-month-old baby Otto was registered by a census clerk, together with his parents, a year older brother, Charles, and his grandfather John who was born in Germany. At that time, the family hired a farmhand in the person of 22-year-old Christopher Figa and had a boarder, William Bierschwale, who worked as a store clerk (1).
Otto grew up on his father's ranch who passed when the boy was about 10. Nine years later, on 17 November 1898, 19-year-old Otto Adolphus enlisted in the Army to fight in the War with Spain. The young man served with Company L 4th Texas Infantry. After four months, Otto was honorably discharged on 9 March 1899. He must have been injured during the fights as he was later granted a veteran's pension and issued a War in Spain invalid certificate (2).
After the war experience, Otto continued his education. On 4 June 1900, he and his 2-year-younger brother Henry William, were renting rooms at Mrs. M Hill's in Dallas City Ward 6, Dallas County. They had been students, for 4 months (3).
By 1913, Otto had become a dentist/dental surgeon.
Clipping source: The Llano News. (Llano, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 9, 1913, newspaper, October 9, 1913; Llano, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth817480/: accessed July 23, 2021), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Llano County Public Library.
On 14 January 1914, Otto Adolphus, age 34, married 20-year-old Miss Jean B Weaver in Gillespie County (4).
The two made their home in San Antonio. Soon, on 12 November 1914, their first child, Wallace Otto was born (5).
Dr. Otto Adolphus Keller practiced dentistry at 305 Brady Boulevard in the city of San Antonio.
Clipping source: Freie Presse für Texas. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 51, No. 262, Ed. 1 Monday, June 28, 1915, newspaper, June 28, 1915; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1087314/: accessed July 23, 2021), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .
When WW1 came, Otto was registered. At that time, the dentist (a short, stout man with brown eyes and dark hair) lived at 237 Wilkinson, San Antonio (6).
The rooster of Company C 73rd Infantry informs that Private Otto Adolph Keller (3198219) served with the unit since 1st August 1918 (7,8). Was it Dr. Keller or just a coincidence regarding his name?
After the war, on 29 July 1920, at 5 PM, a daughter was born to Otto and Jean (9). They called her Jean Venilda.
The family lived then at 231 Warwick Boulevard. Otto worked as a promoter (?).
Unfortunately, Otto and Jean's marriage did not survive, they got divorced.
At the end of his earth's existence, Dr. Keller lived at 103 Buena Vista Street. Otto lived 55 years 6 months and 20 days. His life was cut short by gas gangrene of his left arm and related to that myocarditits. Otto Adolphus Keller died at 6 PM on 14 May 1936 at Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio. He was buried at Mission Burial Park in San Antonio on the next day.
The person who gave personal information for Otto's death certificate was his brother Henry. By mistake, the late doctor's birth year was registered as 1880, not 1879 (10).
Resources:
1. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFJM-BJM : 20 February 2021), Charles Keller, Precinct 4, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 104, sheet 498D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,319.
2. fold3.com
3. "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3LC-PFT : accessed 23 July 2021), Otto Keller in household of Mrs. M Hill, Dallas city Ward 6, Dallas, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 108, sheet 3B, family 67, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,625.
4. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-9595 : 22 December 2016), Otto A. Keller and Jean B. Wever, 16 Jan 1914; citing , Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,803.
5. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLQD-PP5 : 1 March 2021), Otto Keller in entry for Wallace Otto Keller, 12 Nov 1914; citing San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, United States, certificate 38801, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,192,606.
6. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXY-JLR : 23 February 2021), Otto Adolphus Keller, 1917-1918.
7. "United States, Enlisted and Officer Muster Rolls and Rosters, 1916-1939", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:873T-YZW2 : 17 May 2021), Otto Adolph Keller, 1918.
8. "United States, Enlisted and Officer Muster Rolls and Rosters, 1916-1939", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:87WS-3Z3Z : 17 May 2021), Otto Adolph Keller, 1918.
9. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2Y9-T5F : 1 March 2021), Otto Keller in entry for Jean Venilda Keller, 29 Jul 1920; citing San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, United States, certificate 33941, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,516,091.
10. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSBL-PJT : 20 February 2021), Otto A Keller, 14 May 1936; citing certificate number 24175, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,116,864.
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