KEIM, Edward T.

KEIM, Edward T. (Reading, PA, Aug. 8, 1844-- ). Superintendent and manager, Dubuque Telephone Exchange Company. Keim and his parents came to Dubuque in 1855. He grew up and attended school here, graduated from high school, and entered Beloit College.

After leaving college, Keim returned to Dubuque entered the bank of Babbage & Co. for one year. He then worked for American Express Company for about thirteen years. He brought telephone service to Dubuque as a result of his experience at the Philadelphia Exposition in 1876. At the Exposition, Keim had the opportunity of transmitting sounds over a telephone line and discussing the potential of the machine with its inventor, Alexander Graham Bell.

Keim returned to Dubuque but waited until 1878 to write to Theodore Vail, general manager of the National Bell Telephone Company of Boston, Massachusetts. Keim was told that to establish a telephone system in Dubuque, George Engle of Cedar Rapids would have to be contacted. Engle was National Bell's exclusive agent for a large part of Iowa.

Keim was joined in organizing the Dubuque telephone service by D. H. Ogden, a member of the Engle company. The firm of Keim and Ogden later was renamed the Dubuque Telephone Exchange Company.

Keim was the first Secretary of the Dubuque Building and Loan Association and held that office three years. He was also president of the Episcopal Church Building Association. Keim was interested in the study of natural sciences and his collection of mineral and fossil specimens took the first premium and three diplomas at the Northwestern Exposition in 1878.

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Source:

History of Dubuque County Iowa. Chicago: Western History Company, 1880