History of Michigan, / by Charles Moore. [Vol. 3]

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

1301

represented the First Ward on the Board of Aldermen, and during that
time has been honored with the presidency of the council six different
times. In not one single instance has it ever been possible to question the
disinterested motive of Mr. Keeley in his civic attitude toward all municipal matters. For the past sixteen years his support has been thrown
to many movements having a vital relation with the general welfare of the
citizens, and the permanent improvement of the city. Naturally a leader
and a man of great force of character, and with an established business
reputation, Mr. Keeley has taken the initiative in several important measures. 'Most noteworthy of these was the establishment of the beautiful
Keeley Park, where Jackson citizens find their recreation and which for
its varied facilities of amusement is distinctly a credit to this large industrial center, with its thousands of workmen who needjust such a place
to spend their leisure hours. This park was named in honor of Mr. Keeley
because of his long and persistent fight as a member of the Board of Aldermen to secure its. transfer from county ownership to the city. The
grounds were for many years the old Jackson county fair grounds, and
comprised a beautiful wooded tract of thirty-eight acres, situated entirely
within the corporation limits. One of the features which have been preserved from its former use is the half-mile race track, one of the best in
the country, and also a large grandstand. This track has made it possible
to use the park for all kinds of racing, horse races, automobile and motorcycle contests. A portion of the grounds are also reserved for a baseball
and football area, and in addition to the facilities afforded for wholesome
outdoor sports, it also presents the quieter features of a city park, with
trees, flowers, and well-kept walks and lawns. It is a source of pride to
every Jackson citizen, and every one using it has reason to be grateful
to the man who year after year carried out a systematic campaign, in the
face of a great deal of strenuous opposition in order to preserve this
ground against the encroachments of private enterprise in behalf of the
general welfare of all. On April 6, 1914, Mr. Keeley was elected a member of the Jackson City Council for the ninth time from the First Ward,
winning a victory over his opponents after a most spirited political contest. With nine victories to his credit, and with but one defeat in ten
campaigns, his almost unbroken record is, perhaps, without a parallel in
Jackson's municipal politics. Mr. Keeley is a Democrat in politics, is a
member of St. John's Roman Catholic church, and is affiliated with the
Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Fraternal
Order of Eagles, and the Knights of the Maccabees.
On September 25, I889, he married Miss Katherine Sullivan, who has
been his devoted wife for the past twenty-four years. She was born near
Newark, Ohio. They have no children.
JOHN JAY CARTON. This prominent banker and lawyer of Flint has
had so many distinctions outside his profession and his private business
that his name is well known in all parts of the state. In Genesee county
he got into politics soon after reaching manhood and held a number of
offices at the gift of his fellow citizens. Perhaps his greatest public life
and the one which has made him familiar to Michigan people was his
election as president of the last constitutional convention of Michigan.
No man in the state has attained to higher honors in the Masonic Order
than Mr. Carton.
John J. Carton was born in Clayton township, Genesee county, Michigan, November 8, 1856. His father, John Carton, was a native of Ireland, who came to America in 1830 and to Michigan in 1842, was one of
the early settlers,, and all his active career followed farming. His death
occurred in November, I892, at Flint, when eighty-five years of age. John