[2] Born in Woodville, Mississippi in 1868, he was the son of Charles E. and Agnes (Phares) Keller.

He received his early education in Dallas, Texas, attending the public schools there until the age of 14.

[2] Following the line of interests pursued by his father, Keller went into street paving and grading contracting in Dallas and Waco, Texas, which he forsook in 1888 to come to San Diego, California.

[2] Besides being president of the Globe Grain and Milling Company, Mr. Keller is president of the Valley Ice Company at Fresno and Bakersfield, Cal., which does all the car icing for the Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe Railroads; president of the Globe Ice and Cold Storage Company at El Paso, Texas; president of the San Joaquin Valley Farm Lands Company, controlling sixty-five thousand acres known as the James ranch; director of the Ralston Iron Works, San Francisco, and of the Merchants’ National Bank, Los Angeles.

[2] Keller was a Mason, a member of the Southern California Lodge, Signet Chapter, Golden Gate Commandery, San Francisco, and belonged to the Shrine in Los Angeles.