John H. Keller, 1909 - 2002 John H. Keller was a well-known person in Allen County, Ohio. He was highly respected by all that knew him. John’s family moved to Lima, Ohio from Illinois when John was a young boy. His interest and support of labor unions was fostered by his father’s experiences in the 1922 railroad shopmens’ strike, and his extended layoff after the Baltimore & Ohio closed the Lima car shops in 1928. Upon graduation from Bluffton College in 1931, Mr. Keller worked for a number of years as a union organizer. The 1930s were a dangerous time to engage in this sort of work, as business owners used any means possible to prevent unions from organizing workers. Mr. Keller hired on with the Nickel Plate in 1941. He said that he accepted employment as a “brakeman” because he was one year over the age cut-off for locomotive fireman. Less than a year later, with wartime labor shortages, “They’d hire anyone as a fireman who wore trousers.” Mr. Keller became active in the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and later, the United Transportation Union. He worked tirelessly to improve the working conditions of his fellow employees and in the interest of rail safety. Much of his railroad service found him serving in official union positions as well. He retired from the railroad in 1974. Besides his employment and union activity, Mr. Keller was very civic minded and routinely attended city council meetings, as well as those of the county commissioners. In 1948 he ran for Governor of Ohio on the Christian Socialist ticket. He served on the board of the Allen County Historical Society for fifty years. During that time he worked to build the railroad collections held by the Society. It was through his efforts that the Nickel Plate Railroad donated the Berkshire 779, caboose 1091, and official car #5 for the Lincoln Park Railway exhibit in 1966. Mr. Keller served on the Board of the Nickel Plate Road Historical and Technical Society from 1966 until his death. For many years he was the Past National Director. In July of 2004, the Lima based railroad exhibit was renamed and rededicated in John’s memory. Today it is known as the John H. Keller Memorial Lincoln Park Railway Exhibit.

John H. Keller, 1909 - 2002

John H. Keller was a well-known person in Allen County, Ohio. He was highly respected by all that knew him. John’s family moved to Lima, Ohio from Illinois when John was a young boy. His interest and support of labor unions was fostered by his father’s experiences in the 1922 railroad shopmens’ strike, and his extended layoff after the Baltimore & Ohio closed the Lima car shops in 1928.

Upon graduation from Bluffton College in 1931, Mr. Keller worked for a number of years as a union organizer. The 1930s were a dangerous time to engage in this sort of work, as business owners used any means possible to prevent unions from organizing workers.

Mr. Keller hired on with the Nickel Plate in 1941. He said that he accepted employment as a “brakeman” because he was one year over the age cut-off for locomotive fireman. Less than a year later, with wartime labor shortages, “They’d hire anyone as a fireman who wore trousers.” Mr. Keller became active in the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and later, the United Transportation Union. He worked tirelessly to improve the working conditions of his fellow employees and in the interest of rail safety. Much of his railroad service found him serving in official union positions as well. He retired from the railroad in 1974.

Besides his employment and union activity, Mr. Keller was very civic minded and routinely attended city council meetings, as well as those of the county commissioners. In 1948 he ran for Governor of Ohio on the Christian Socialist ticket. He served on the board of the Allen County Historical Society for fifty years. During that time he worked to build the railroad collections held by the Society. It was through his efforts that the Nickel Plate Railroad donated the Berkshire 779, caboose 1091, and official car #5 for the Lincoln Park Railway exhibit in 1966.

Mr. Keller served on the Board of the Nickel Plate Road Historical and Technical Society from 1966 until his death. For many years he was the Past National Director. In July of 2004, the Lima based railroad exhibit was renamed and rededicated in John’s memory. Today it is known as the John H. Keller Memorial Lincoln Park Railway Exhibit.

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