Albert Keep was a 19th-century American railroad official and financier. He was a former president and director of
the Chicago and North Western Railway

Chicago and North Western Railway

The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company was a Class I railroad in the Midwest United States. It was also known as the North Western. The railroad operated more than of track as of the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states before retrenchment in the late 1970s...

. For eighteen years he was director of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway

Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway

The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, sometimes referred to as the Lake Shore, was a major part of the New York Central Railroad's Water Level Route from Buffalo, NY to Chicago, primarily along the south shore of Lake Erie and across northern Indiana...

. He was born in Homer, New York

Homer, New York

Homer, New York may refer to either:*Homer , New York, located in Cortland County*Homer , New York, located within the Town of Homer...

, in Cortland County

Cortland County, New York

Cortland County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, named after Federico Van Cortlandt, president of the convention at Kingston that wrote the first New York State Constitution in 1777, and first lieutenant governor of the state. The county seat is Cortland...

.

Keep moved to Whitewater, Wisconsin

Whitewater, Wisconsin

Whitewater is a city in Jefferson and Walworth Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located near the southern portion of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Whitewater is the home of the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater.-Geography:...

, in 1846. He became a leading merchant there, working along with his brother, Henry, and Philander Peck. The Keeps and Peck relocated to Chicago, Illinois, in 1851. They were involved in trade and began to accumulate wealth. The brothers took an interest in promoting the Chicago and North Western Railway and Albert served as its director for fourteen years. As a result of his leadership the railroad became one of the best built, equipped, and managed in the midwest.