User:WilyD/William Case/Sylvanus Keeler

Sylvanus Keeler was a Methodist preacher.

He converted to Methodism while living in Elizabethtown, Upper Canada. From a poor family, Keeler received no schooling, and was barely literate when he began preaching. He dedicated himself to learning to read and write. A shy speaker at first, with practice his speaking voice became clear and strong with practice. He was received on trial in 1795, and assigned the Bay of Quinte circuit to ride. For unknown reasons, he retired from the church after one year. However, it may have related to a marriage and the beginnings of his family. He was again received on trial in 1800, and stationed again on the Bay of Quinte circuit, where he was assigned again in 1801. That year, he was received into full connexion. In 1802 he was assigned to the Oswagotchie and Ottawa circuits. These circuits were also ridden by Seth Crowell and Nehemiah U. Tomkins. In 1803, he rode the Long Point and Niagara circuits. In 1804 he rode Quinte again, and in 1805 Oswagotchie, by then free of Ottawa. In 1806 he returned to the United States, riding the St. Lawrence Circuit in New York.