John Keller

John Keller moved to Van Wert, Ohio from Columbiana County, Ohio in 1885 and he learned his trade as a finished photographer. In 1886, he moved to Nappanee. He had a kind friend that loaned him $200 and that helped him purchase a photographer's outfit and set up a business for himself.

Mr. Keller was Nappanee's first photographer and he started his business in 1888 at the corner of Main Street and Walnut Street. He is known for creating the Keller Albums. They are 324 photographs of Nappanee before 1900. He would have taken those photographs from 1888 to 1900. Mr. Keller had a "branch studio" in Bremen. He devoted Friday and Saturday of each week to it.

When bicycles first came into existence Keller began manufacturing them in 1891. His bicycle was known as the "Nap" It had a wooden frame. He quit making bicycles when concerns about mass production increased. Mr. Keller then started to sell the Ariel Bicycle and had a repair shop. He participated in many bicycle races and would take trips to Columbiana County, Ohio from Nappanee which is a 750 miles round trip.

In 1900, he advertised his photography studio for sale in a St. Louis and Canadian Photographer magazine. The 1900 census reported his occupation as a bicycle dealer. W.R. Carr was named as the successor to his photography business.

In 1904, Mr. Keller announced the closing of his bowling alley, pool, and restaurant. He was entering the sporting goods business including fishing tackle, baseball supplies, motorcycles, and sewing machines and supplies. He built wheels for bicycles, made repairs of all kinds including light machinery.

He was an agent for Cadillac Automobile. He sold seven Cadillacs, including his own, which was more than any other make in town.

In 1916, Mr. Keller received a patent for a spark plugs tester. The apparatus was for electrical trouble on an automobile and stationary engines, which was met with the approval of all garage men who saw it.

In 1919, he sold his home in Nappanee and moved to Franklin, Indiana, and eventually settled in Rochester. After moving to Rochester, he invented and manufactured Keller Lures. He opened Keller Inn on Lake Manitou and allegedly he was making and selling liquor during prohibition from 1920 to 1933.