John L. Keck

John Keck was born July 31, 1837, in Keck's Church, Martin County, Indiana.  He married Mary Jane Ragle, the sister of his future commanding officer Jacob Ragle, on May 28, 1858.  Together they had 2 children.  

John and his family were residing in Kecksville, Indiana, when he enlisted on August 13, 1862, in what became Company K ("The White River Rangers") of the 80th Indiana.  That was the same day and location where Co. K was first organized.  Then or shortly thereafter John was elected as the company's 1st Sergeant by a vote of its members.  The 1st Sergt. (also known as Orderly Sergeant) was the highest non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank in a Civil War company, and essentially ran the company for its 3 commissioned officers.  The man first elected to such a rank was often a prominent, well-respected person who had played an important role in recruiting the company.  John served as 1st Sergt. for some 14 months until he was killed in action on May 14, 1864, at Resaca, Georgia.  John is said to be buried in the cemetery at Burns City, Martin County, Indiana. 

The photo shows John wearing a handsome, privately-purchased (not government-issued) uniform jacket and vest.  Both are presumably the standard dark-blue color of a Federal (Union) Army uniform.  On the jacket sleeves are the 3 stripes and diamond lozenge that indicate his rank.  Attached to the vest is a gold or silver chain which, in the fashion of that day, would have led to a key-wound metal watch tucked into a pocket of his vest (i.e., a pocket watch).  The purchase of a hand-tailored uniform suggests that John was at least moderately well-off financially.

The original photo is believed to have been taken between August, 1862, and April, 1864, during the American Civil War.  However, the above right copy was found pasted to a post-war poster about Co. K.  The poster belongs to Richard Logan Ragle, the Great Great Grandson of Captain Jacob Ragle who first commanded the company, and was provided by John Ragle, the Great Grandson of Alonzo O. Ragle, who also served in Co. K of the 80th.