Keifer, J. Warren (Joseph Warren), 1836-1932

<p>KEIFER, JOSEPH WARREN, a Representative from Ohio; born near Springfield, Bethel Township, Clark County, Ohio, January 30, 1836; attended the common schools and Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio; studied law; was admitted to the bar and began practice in Springfield, Ohio, January 12, 1858; enlisted in the Union Army on April 19, 1861; commissioned major in the Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry April 27, 1861; lieutenant colonel February 12, 1862; colonel of the One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry September 30, 1862; brevetted brigadier general of Volunteers October 19, 1864; promoted to major general April 9, 1865; mustered out June 27, 1865; resumed the practice of law in July 1865; member of the State senate in 1868 and 1869; commander of the Ohio Department of the Grand Army of the Republic in 1871 and 1872; trustee of Antioch College; delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1876; elected as a Republican to the Forty-fifth and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1877-March 3, 1885); Speaker of the House of Representatives (Forty-seventh Congress); chairman, Committee on Rules (Forty-seventh Congress); unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1884; was a major general of Volunteers in the Spanish-American War from June 9, 1898, to May 12, 1899; first commander in chief of the Spanish War Veterans in 1900 and 1901; elected to the Fifty-ninth, Sixtieth, and Sixty-first Congresses (March 4, 1905-March 3, 1911); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1910 to the Sixty-second Congress; resumed his law practice; president of the Lagonda National Bank of Springfield, Ohio, for more than fifty years; died in Springfield, Ohio, April 22, 1932; interment in Ferncliff Cemetery.</p>

<p>Joseph Warren Keifer was a prominent nineteenth century Ohio political and military leader.</p>

<p>He was born on January 30, 1836, in Clark County, Ohio. Keifer graduated from Antioch College and began practicing law in Ohio in 1858. With the outbreak of the American Civil War, Keifer left his practice and enlisted in the Union Army. He was originally commissioned a major in the Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. During the war's first two years, Keifer primarily served in Tennessee, Kentucky, and western Virginia. From 1863 to 1865, he was in the East and battled Confederate forces in Virginia and North Carolina. He was present at Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, and at Joseph Johnston's surrender in North Carolina. Keifer was wounded on four separate occasions during the war and rose to the rank of brigadier-general of volunteers.</p>

<p>Following the Civil War, the federal government offered Keifer a position in the regular army as a lieutenant colonel, but he refused. Keifer did return to the military in 1898, when President William McKinley appointed him a major general in the regular army. Keifer commanded the United States force that captured Havana, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War. He was mustered out of the service in 1899.</p>

<p>Keifer returned to his law practice in Springfield, Ohio, in 1865. He also played an active role in his community. Keifer was involved with several organizations including the Grand Army of the Republic, the Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home, the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, the Order of the Loyal Legion, and the Organization of Spanish War Veterans. He also served as a member of the board of trustees of Antioch College.</p>

<p>Keifer also became active in national and state politics in the years following the Civil War. He served in the Ohio Senate from 1868 to 1869 as a member of the Republican Party. From 1877 until 1885, he represented Ohio in the United States House of Representatives. From 1881 until 1883, Keifer served as the Speaker of the House. He was the first Ohioan to hold this position. He returned as a representative to the House from 1905 to 1911.</p>

<p>Keifer died on April 22, 1932.</p>

<p>Joseph Warren Keifer (January 30, 1836 – April 22, 1932) was a major general during the Spanish–American War and a prominent U.S. politician during the 1880s. He served in the United States House of Representatives as a Republican from Ohio from 1877 to 1885 and from 1905 to 1911. From 1881 to 1883 he was Speaker of the House.</p>

<p>Keifer was born in Clark County, Ohio. He attended school at Antioch College then returned to his family's farm. While working as a farmer he devoted his spare time to studying law. He began his law practice in Springfield, Ohio on January 12, 1858.</p>

<p>He enlisted in the 3rd Ohio Infantry, a three-months regiment, being appointed major. He served in western Virginia fighting in the battles of Rich Mountain and Cheat Mountain and afterward was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the regiment. When his term expired, he joined the 110th Ohio Infantry and became its colonel. He served in the Eastern Theater leading his regiment at the second battle of Winchester. While the Union army was soundly defeated and most of it surrendered, Keifer's regiment was able to avoid capture. Following the battle of Gettysburg Keifer was assigned to brigade command in the III Corps and fought at the battle of Wapping Heights. After Robert E. Lee's army had retreated to safety in Virginia, Keifer and his regiment were dispatched to New York City to help suppress the draft riots.</p>

<p>Keifer returned to the Army of the Potomac in time for the Overland Campaign. He was wounded in the arm at the battle of the Wilderness, putting him out of action for a time. When he did return to active duty he was placed in command of the 2nd Brigade in James B. Ricketts's 3rd Division of the VI Corps. He led his brigade at the battles of Winchester and Fisher's Hill. During the battle of Cedar Creek, VI Corps commander Horatio G. Wright temporarily commanded the Army of the Shenandoah and Ricketts temporarily in command of the corps. This put Keifer in command of the 3rd Division in Ricketts's absence. When Philip H. Sheridan heroically returned to command the army in the midst of the battle, returning Wright to corps command, Ricketts had already been wounded leaving Keifer in command of the division for the rest of the battle. For his service during the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, on December 12, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln nominated Keifer for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from October 19, 1864, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on February 14, 1865.</p>

<p>When the VI Corps returned to the Army of the Potomac General Truman Seymour was placed in command of the 3rd Division and Keifer returned to command the 2nd Brigade, taking part in the breakthrough at Petersburg and the Appomattox Campaign.</p>

<p>Following the Civil War, Keifer returned to Springfield and resumed his law practice. From 1873 until his death, he served as a trustee of Antioch College. In 1876 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention and the next year went to Congress. From 1881 to 1883 during the 47th United States Congress, Keifer served as the 34th Speaker of the House of Representatives.</p>

<p>During the Spanish–American War, President William McKinley appointed Keifer major general of volunteers on June 9, 1898. He commanded the 7th Army Corps and the American forces that marched into Havana after Spanish forces withdrew on Jan. 1, 1899.</p>

<p>After returning to private life on May 12, 1899, he published Slavery and Four Years of War, in 1900. The book was both a commentary on the history of slavery in the United States as well as an autobiography of his experiences during the Civil War. He served as the first commander in chief of the United Spanish War Veterans from 1900 to 1901 and in 1903 and 1904 as the Ohio commander of the Loyal Legion.</p>

<p>He again ran and was elected to Congress and served from March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1911.</p>

<p>After his political career, Keifer again resumed his law practice and served as the president of the Lagonda National Bank in Springfield, Ohio. He died April 22, 1932 at the age of 96 in Springfield, and is buried in Springfield's Ferncliff Cemetery.</p>