Edwin William Keightley (August 7, 1843 – May 4, 1926) was a politician from the U.S. state of

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

. Keightley was born on a farm near

Scott Scott may refer to: Places Canada * Scott, Quebec, municipality in the Nouvelle-Beauce regional municipality in Quebec * Scott, Saskatchewan, a town in the Rural Municipality of Tramping Lake No. 380 * Rural Municipality of Scott No. 98, Saska ...

in Lagrange County, Indiana. His parents, Peter L. and Elizabeth (Winter) Keightly, emigrated from

Lincolnshire Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs.) is a county in the East Midlands of England, with a long coastline on the North Sea to the east. It borders Norfolk to the south-east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south-west, Leicestershire ...

, England; the former in 1831, and the latter in 1828. They settled on the farm in Van Buren township in 1836, and soon after they were married. Keightley attended the local common schools, Lagrange Academy, and Valparaiso Collegiate Institute. He was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan at

Ann Arbor Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna (name), Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah (given name), Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie (given name), ...

in 1865 and was admitted to the

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. He commenced practice at White Pigeon, Michigan, several miles northwest of his family home in Scott. While practicing law, he was also editor of the ''White Pigeon Republican'', a staunch advocate of

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

views and policy. In 1867, Keightley moved to Constantine, Michigan, and entered into a law partnership with Judge S. C. Coffinberry, which ended in 1869, on amicable terms. He was married on July 14, 1868, to Mary Mitchell, the daughter of Thomas Mitchell, a long-time resident of Constantine, and closely identified with its manufacturing and material interests. 1441 and 1443 Q Street, NW

In 1872, he was elected prosecuting attorney of St. Joseph County, serving until January 21, 1874, when he was appointed by Michigan Governor

John J. Bagley John Judson Bagley (July 24, 1832 – July 27, 1881) was a politician from the US state of Michigan, as well as the 16th governor of Michigan. Early life in New York and Michigan Bagley was born in Medina, New York to John and Mary M. (Smith) B ...

to be judge of the 15th circuit court of Michigan, comprising the counties of St. Joseph and Branch County. He was elected to the position in the spring of 1875. In 1876, he was elected as a Republican from

Michigan's 4th congressional district Michigan's 4th congressional district is a United States congressional district that from 2003 to 2013 included portions of Northern and Central Michigan, consisting of all of Clare, Clinton, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Mecosta, Midland, ...

to the

45th United States Congress The 45th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1877, ...

, serving from March 4, 1877, to March 3, 1879. Keightley was appointed by U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes as the Third Auditor of the United States Treasury Department and served from April 30, 1879, to April 30, 1885, when he resigned. He resumed the practice of his profession in Chicago, Illinois. He moved to Constantine, Michigan, in 1899 and engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death there. He was interred in Constantine Cemetery.

References

The Political Graveyard
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Keightley, Edwin William 1843 births 1926 deaths Michigan state court judges People from LaGrange County, Indiana People from Constantine, Michigan University of Michigan Law School alumni Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Michigan People from White Pigeon, Michigan