Valentine S. "V.S." "Val" Keppel (February 21, 1865 – September 7, 1940) was an American farmer and politician. Born in

La Crosse County, Wisconsin La Crosse County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. At the 2020 census, the population was 120,784. Its county seat is La Crosse. La Crosse County is included in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area with ...

in Mormon Coulee, Keppel went to the public schools. He was a farmer and lived in Long Coulee near

Holmen, Wisconsin Holmen is a village in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 10,661 as of the census of 2020. It is part of the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area. History Holmen was settled by Norwegian immigrants ...

. He was the manager and secretary of the Holmen Cooperative Creamery and was also secretary of the Holmen Telephone Company. Keppel was also one of the directors of the Holmen Bank. Keppel was a supporter of United States Senator

Robert M. La Follette, Sr. Robert Marion "Fighting Bob" La Follette Sr. (June 14, 1855June 18, 1925), was an American lawyer and politician. He represented Wisconsin in both chambers of Congress and served as the 20th Governor of Wisconsin. A Republican for most of his ...

and the

Wisconsin Progressive Party The Wisconsin Progressive Party (1934–1946) was a political party that briefly held a dominant role in Wisconsin politics. History The Party was the brainchild of Philip La Follette and Robert M. La Follette, Jr., the sons of the famous Wiscon ...

. Keppel served on the grade school and high school board. He also served on the La Crosse County Board and was chairman of the county board. During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, Keppel served on the local draft board. From 1907 to 1909, Keppel served in the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Representatives are elected for two-year terms, ...

. Then, from 1925 to 1933, Keppel served in the

Wisconsin State Senate The Wisconsin Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Together with the larger Wisconsin State Assembly they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin. The powers of the Wisconsin Senate are modeled after t ...

and was a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

. Keppel died in Holmen, Wisconsin as a result of a stroke.'Tribute Is Paid To V.S. Keppel,' La Crosse Tribune and Leader Press, September 10, 1940, pg. 8

Notes

1865 births 1940 deaths People from La Crosse County, Wisconsin Businesspeople from Wisconsin Farmers from Wisconsin Wisconsin Progressives (1924) 20th-century American politicians County supervisors in Wisconsin School board members in Wisconsin Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly Republican Party Wisconsin state senators {{Wisconsin-WISenate-stub