Chester W. Keatts

Keatts was born into slavery in Little Rock, Arkansas on September 25, 1854.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mosaictemplarscenter.com/mta-members/keatts-chester-w |title=Keatts, Chester W. |website=Mosaic Templars Center |access-date=May 27, 2018}} Slavery was abolished in 1865, following the American Civil War.{{cite web|url=https://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/13th-amendment|title=13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Abolition of Slavery|website=National Archives|date=27 January 2016|access-date=May 27, 2018}} He completed his common school education in 1874.{{cite book|author=Randy Finley|title=From Slavery to Uncertain Freedom|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=McSa1IlRaxIC&pg=PA13|year=1996|publisher=University of Arkansas Press|isbn=978-1-61075-166-7|pages=13–16}}{{efn|Public education was offered to African Americans in Pulaski County beginning in the Reconstruction era. John E. Bush, also educated by the system, became a Little Rock Capital Hill school principal.}}

He farmed up to 1875,{{cite web|url=http://arkansascivilrightsheritage.org/2016-economic-advancement/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320052407/http://arkansascivilrightsheritage.org/2016-economic-advancement/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=March 20, 2017|title=2016 Economic Advancement|website=Arkansas Civil Rights Heritage|date=26 January 2017|access-date=May 27, 2018}}{{efn|It is also said that he was a farmer until he was 24 years of age.}} when he became a clerk for the U.S. Railway Mail Service, a position he held until 1890, during which time he was promoted three times.

Keatts was a Republican politician. In the 1890s, he was elected Pulaski County Circuit Clerk by an overwhelming majority, but was "counted out by the opposing party". Judge Henry Clay Caldwell appointed him to the position of crier and messenger of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Judge John A. Williams of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas appointed him receiver of the Little Rock Traction and Electric Company in 1895, which required him to make a bond of $40,000 ({{Inflation|US|40,000|1895|fmt=eq}}). He was able to make the bond due to his stature in the community and personal holdings.

In 1896, he was made U.S. Deputy Marshall of the Eastern District of Arkansas. He was also Deputy Constable of Big Rock Township for several years. He ran for Little Rock police court judge,{{efn|Merriam Webster defines police court as "a court of record that has jurisdiction over various minor offenses (such as breach of the peace) and the power to bind over for trial in a superior court or for a grand jury persons accused of more serious offenses."{{cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/police%20court|title=Police court|website=Merriam-Webster Dictionary|access-date=May 27, 2018}}}} a position he won by a large majority, but was counted out, like his election to Circuit Clerk.

{{quote box|align=right|width=33%|They chose the name Mosaic Templars to reflect their religious motivations: they sought to provide leadership and succor for African Americans in the years after Reconstruction just as Moses had done for the Children of Israel during the escape from Egypt in the biblical story of Exodus.|—Nina Mjagkij, Organizing Black America}}

With his friend, John E. Bush, he founded the Mosaic Templars to provide life and burial insurance, in 1882. The organization was incorporated in Arkansas on May 24, 1883. They were initially motivated by the sight of former slaves having to beg for money to help overcome illness or pay for the burial of family members.{{cite book|author=Fon Louise Gordon|title=Caste and Class: The Black Experience in Arkansas, 1880-1920|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JhG_zXfK6l8C&pg=PA76|date=January 1, 2007|publisher=University of Georgia Press|isbn=978-0-8203-3130-0|pages=76–77}} Local temples were established to accept members, who were initiated into the group by conferring of eight secret initiation degrees. In August 1883, chambers were established for female members, having their own organizational rites and rituals. It became one of the largest African American organizations.{{cite book|last=John William|title=From Slavery to Uncertain Freedom |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=McSa1IlRaxIC&pg=PA13|year=1996|publisher=University of Arkansas Press|isbn=978-1-61075-166-7|pages=vii–xi|chapter=Introduction}} The organization also came to offer support to individuals who wanted to start their own business and savings and loan services.{{cite book|author=Nina Mjagkij|title=Organizing Black America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=56KH2aisL_UC&pg=PA301|date=May 13, 2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-58123-7|page=301}} Keatts served as Grand Mosaic Master until his death.

In 1881, he was married to Mary Warren. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America, and Prince Hall Freemasonry. He was a trustee of the First Baptist Church in Little Rock.

Beginning in 1905, he was afflicted with dropsy.{{Cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/149117835/?terms=Chester%252BKeatts |title=Colored Mail Clerk Dead |date=January 17, 1908| page=3 |newspaper=Arkansas Democrat |via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2018}} Keatts died at his home of pneumonia on January 16, 1908{{cite book|last=John William|title=From Slavery to Uncertain Freedom |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=McSa1IlRaxIC&pg=PA13|year=1996|publisher=University of Arkansas Press|isbn=978-1-61075-166-7|page=xix}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/138347157/?terms=Chester%252BKeatts |title=Prominent Negro Politician Dies|date=January 18, 1908|page=7 |newspaper=Daily Arkansas Gazette |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=May 27, 2018}} and was buried at the Oakland-Fraternal Cemetery in Little Rock.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mosaictemplarscenter.com/collections/image-chester-w-keatts |title=Image - Chester W. Keatts |website=Mosaic Templars Center |access-date=May 27, 2018}} In his will, Keatts left his estate to his wife, Mary. His mother, Mariah Wisham, contested the will a week after his death, suing for financial support.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/138346947/?terms=Chester%252BKeatts |title=Sues for Maintenance | date=June 21, 1908| page=5 | newspaper=Daily Arkansas Gazette |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=May 27, 2018}}{{efn|In an obituary, his mother and wife were the only named survivors.}}

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Category:1854 births

Category:1908 deaths

Category:American Freemasons

Category:19th-century American slaves

Category:African-American politicians during the Reconstruction Era

Category:African Americans in law enforcement

Category:American civil servants

Category:Law enforcement officials from Arkansas

Category:Politicians from Little Rock, Arkansas

Category:United States Marshals

Category:20th-century African-American people