Elias Keyes (April 14, 1758 – July 9, 1844) was an American politician and judge. He served one term as a U.S. Representative from Vermont from 1821 to 1823.

Elias Keyes
Member of the
United States House of Representatives
from Vermont's 4th district
In office
March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823
Preceded byWilliam Strong
Succeeded byDaniel Azro Ashley Buck
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office
1793–1796
1798–1802
1818
1820
1823–1825
Personal details
Born(1758-04-14)April 14, 1758
Ashford, Connecticut Colony, British America
DiedJuly 9, 1844(1844-07-09) (aged 86)
Stockbridge, Vermont, U.S.
Resting placeStockbridge's Maplewood Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic-Republican
ProfessionPolitician, Judge

Biography edit

Keyes was born in Ashford in the Connecticut Colony. He attended the common schools and later read law.

Revolutionary War edit

Keyes enlisted in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, and rose to the rank of sergeant major.[1]

In 1780 he moved to Barnard, Vermont. In 1785, he accepted an offer of 400 acres for whoever constructed the first gristmill and sawmill in Stockbridge, Vermont, and he was one of the town's first settlers.[2][3]

Political career edit

Keyes served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1793 until 1796, 1798 until 1802, 1818, 1820 and 1823 until 1825.[4]

He was a member of the Governor's council from 1805 until 1813 and from 1815 until 1817.[5] In 1814 Keyes was a member of the Vermont state constitutional convention.[6] From 1803 until 1814 he served as assistant judge of the Windsor County, Vermont Court,[7] and from 1815 until 1818 he served as judge of Windsor County.[8]

Keyes was elected a Democratic-Republican to the Seventeenth United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1821 until March 3, 1823.[9]

Later career edit

Business reverses and debts after his term in Congress caused Keyes to move to Norfolk, New York. He later returned to Stockbridge and was able to restart his gristmill and sawmill.

Death and burial edit

He died in Stockbridge on July 9, 1844, and was interred in Stockbridge's Maplewood Cemetery.

References edit

  1. ^ Gazetteer and Business Directory of Windsor County, Vt., for 1883-84. The Journal Office. 1884. pp. 237. elias keyes Windsor County vermont.
  2. ^ "About Stockbridge". Ancestry.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2010. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  3. ^ "Stockbridge Vermont". Vermont County. Archived from the original on November 22, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  4. ^ Vermont, Eliakim Persons Walton, Vermont. Conventions, Vermont. Council of Safety, Vermont. Governor, Vermont. Supreme Executive Council, Vermont. Board of War, 1779-1783 (1876). Records of the governor and Council of the state of Vermont. Steam press of J. & J.M. Poland. p. 368.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Congressional Biography, Elias Keyes". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  6. ^ Vermont: Records of the governor and Council of the state of Vermont. J & J M Poland. 1876. pp. 368. elias keyes Vermont state judge.
  7. ^ "Stockbridge Vermont". Vermont County. Archived from the original on November 22, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  8. ^ Vermont. General Assembly. House of Representatives (1810). Journals of the General Assembly of the State of Vermont. Vermont. General Assembly. House of Representatives. p. 30.
  9. ^ "Rep. Elias Keyes". Govtrack.us. Retrieved December 10, 2012.

Further reading edit

  • "Gazetteer and Business Directory of Windsor County, Vt., for 1883-84, Volume 1", printed by The Journal Office, 1884.

External links edit


U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
District created
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Vermont's 4th congressional district

March 4, 1821–March 3, 1823
Succeeded by