Samuel J. Keys
{{short description|American politician and businessman (1847–1924)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Samuel J. Keys
| image = Sketch of Samuel J. Keys (1894).png
| alt =
| caption = Sketch of Keys in 1894 newspaper
| state_delegate = Maryland
| district = Cecil County
| term_start = 1910
| term_end = 1912
| alongside = George W. Cosden and Adam Peeples
| term_start2 = 1904
| term_end2 = 1906
| alongside2 = William T. Fryer and Cecil Kirk
| term_start3 = 1900
| term_end3 = 1901
| alongside3 = Frank H. Mackie and John H. Kimble
| birth_name =
| birth_date = August 1847
| birth_place = Vienna, Maryland, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1924|5|12|1847|8|}}
| death_place = Elkton, Maryland, U.S.
| resting_place = Elkton Cemetery
Elkton, Maryland, U.S.
| party = Democratic
| spouse = {{marriage|Mary H. Hopkins|1873}}
| children = 1
| relatives =
| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|businessman}}
| signature =
}}
Samuel J. Keys (August 1847 – May 12, 1924) was an American politician and businessman from Maryland. He served as mayor of Elkton, Maryland, from 1898 to 1900. He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Cecil County from 1900 to 1901, in 1904 and in 1910.
Early life
Samuel J. Keys was born in August 1847 in Vienna, Dorchester County, Maryland, to Ann M. (née Spedden) and Samuel Keys. His father was a shoe manufacturer and salesman.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-midland-journal-samuel-j-keys-23-m/127097226/ |title=Samuel J. Keys |date=1924-05-23 |newspaper=The Midland Journal |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-06-25}}{{Open access}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cecil-whig-samuel-j-keys-national/127098691/ |title=Samuel J. Keys, National Representative of State Council |date=1894-04-21 |newspaper=The Cecil Whig |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-06-25}}{{Open access}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-cecil-county-18-oct-1/127099865/ |title=Cecil County |date=1899-10-18 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-06-25}}{{Open access}}{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/portraitbiograph00chap_5/page/n437/mode/2up |title=Portrait and Biographical Record of Harford and Cecil Counties, Maryland |year=1897 |pages=273–274 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2023-10-16}}{{Open access}} He attended public schools and Vienna Academy.
Career
File:Keys & Miller Lumber Company (1909) (cropped).png
Keys worked in the produce business in Vienna. Keys moved to Elkton in 1872 or 1873 and worked in the produce business. He later purchased Mr. Miller's interest in the Davis & Miller Lumber Company. The business was renamed Davis & Keys with his partner Colonel I. D. Davis until Mr. Miller re-entered the business and it was named Davis, Keys & Co. In 1890, the business was incorporated as The Keys & Miller Lumber Company was Keys as president. He served in that role until his death. He also owned additional real estate in Elkton.
Keys served as town commissioner in Elkton. Keys ran for mayor of Elkton in 1896, but lost. He was elected as mayor of Elkton in 1898, defeating incumbent George B. Kerfoot.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-elkton-election-12-ap/127099475/ |title=Elkton Election |date=1898-04-12 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-06-25}}{{Open access}} He assumed office on May 10, 1898, and served until May 1900.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-news-elkton-notes-15-apr-18/127099660/ |title=Elkton News |date=1898-04-15 |newspaper=The Morning News |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-06-25}}{{Open access}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-maryland-items-4-may/127100364/ |title=Maryland Items |date=1900-05-04 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-06-25}}{{Open access}}
Keys was a Democrat. He was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Cecil County, from 1900 to 1901, in 1904 and in 1910.{{cite web |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/speccol/sc2600/sc2685/house/html/cehouse.html |title=Historical List, House of Delegates, Cecil County (1790-1974) |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |date=2000-02-01 |access-date=2023-06-25}}
Keys served as director of the Cecil Mutual Fire Insurance Company and the Mutual Building Association. He was a trustee and member of the board of the Elkton Methodist Episcopal Church.
Personal life
Keys married Mary H. Hopkins, daughter of Ezekiel Hopkins and cousin of Johns Hopkins, in 1873. Keys had one daughter, Mabel (who married John B. Hinckley). He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Keys died on May 12, 1924, at his home in Elkton. He was buried in Elkton Cemetery.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Keys, Samuel J.}}
Category:People from Dorchester County, Maryland
Category:People from Elkton, Maryland
Category:Politicians from Cecil County, Maryland
Category:American businesspeople in timber
Category:Mayors of places in Maryland
Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates
Category:19th-century American businesspeople
Category:20th-century American businesspeople
Category:19th-century Maryland politicians
Category:19th-century mayors of places in Maryland
Category:20th-century mayors of places in Maryland
Category:20th-century members of the Maryland General Assembly