Keifer, J. Warren (Joseph Warren), 1836-1932

Joseph Warren Keifer was a prominent nineteenth century Ohio political and military leader, the first Ohioan to serve as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Born in Clark County, Ohio, Keifer attended local schools and Antioch College then returned to his family's farm, devoting his spare time to studying law. He began his law practice in Springfield, Ohio on January 12, 1858.

With the outbreak of the American Civil War, Keifer left his practice and enlisted in the Union Army. He enlisted in the 3rd Ohio Infantry, a three-months regiment, being appointed major. He served in western Virginia fighting in the battles of Rich Mountain and Cheat Mountain and afterward was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the regiment. When his term expired, he joined the 110th Ohio Infantry and became its colonel. He served in the Eastern Theater leading his regiment at the second battle of Winchester. While the Union army was soundly defeated and most of it surrendered, Keifer's regiment was able to avoid capture. Following the battle of Gettysburg Keifer was assigned to brigade command in the III Corps and fought at the battle of Wapping Heights. After Robert E. Lee's army had retreated to safety in Virginia, Keifer and his regiment were dispatched to New York City to help suppress the draft riots.

Keifer returned to the Army of the Potomac in time for the Overland Campaign. He was wounded in the arm at the battle of the Wilderness, putting him out of action for a time. When he did return to active duty he was placed in command of the 2nd Brigade in James B. Ricketts's 3rd Division of the VI Corps. He led his brigade at the battles of Winchester and Fisher's Hill. During the battle of Cedar Creek, VI Corps commander Horatio G. Wright temporarily commanded the Army of the Shenandoah and Ricketts temporarily in command of the corps. This put Keifer in command of the 3rd Division in Ricketts's absence. When Philip H. Sheridan heroically returned to command the army in the midst of the battle, returning Wright to corps command, Ricketts had already been wounded leaving Keifer in command of the division for the rest of the battle. For his service during the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, on December 12, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln nominated Keifer for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from October 19, 1864, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on February 14, 1865.

When the VI Corps returned to the Army of the Potomac General Truman Seymour was placed in command of the 3rd Division and Keifer returned to command the 2nd Brigade, taking part in the breakthrough at Petersburg and the Appomattox Campaign.

Following the Civil War, the federal government offered Keifer a position in the regular army as a lieutenant colonel, but he refused, returning to Springfield and resumed his law practice instead. From 1873 until his death, he served as a trustee of Antioch College. He also became active in national and state politics, serving in the Ohio Senate from 1868 to 1869 as a member of the Republican Party. In 1876 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention and was elected to the House of Representatives that November, serving to 1885. From 1881 to 1883, during the 47th United States Congress, Keifer served as the 34th Speaker of the House of Representatives.

During the Spanish–American War, President William McKinley appointed Keifer major general of volunteers on June 9, 1898. He commanded the 7th Army Corps and the American forces that marched into Havana after Spanish forces withdrew on January 1, 1899.

After returning to private life on May 12, 1899, he published Slavery and Four Years of War, in 1900. The book was both a commentary on the history of slavery in the United States as well as an autobiography of his experiences during the Civil War. He served as the first commander in chief of the United Spanish War Veterans from 1900 to 1901 and in 1903 and 1904 as the Ohio commander of the Loyal Legion.

In 1904, Keifer ran and was elected to a second stint in the House of Representatives, serving from March 4, 1905 until March 3, 1911.

After his political career, Keifer again resumed his law practice and served as the president of the Lagonda National Bank in Springfield, Ohio. He died April 22, 1932 at the age of 96 in Springfield, and is buried in Springfield's Ferncliff Cemetery.