New-York tribune., 1874-01-01
OBITUARY.
RALPH KELLER.

| The TNBUNE dn ing tDe 'ast lew weeks at Santiago
de Cuba RalpT, 4. >eler had probably not an enemy
in the world and shA news OF his death will convey
a pang of genuine sosnow wherever he was known
| lilo was q of sph A'unny and cheerful nature.
such perfect health and q tive frame, such genial
and hopeful views Of life, tht the thought of uu-
| timely death seems incoDgrnosA with him. He had
| led a life of independents and unconventional
wandering. but carried through it all an unspotted
character and youthful simphcity>of manner un-
| usual in men Of his experience. He had strong
natural literary capacity cultivated by reading and
| study which already gave promise OF Hrlli'ant
career. But his friends can only hope thaS some
where else those bright and energetic qualities may
! find more fitting opportunity of Development
| His life short but unstained by any vices, and
| filled with honest work and kindly deeds done in
| his own independent way
Ralph Keeler the of an Ohio farmer Of the
| same name and grandson of ColmaD J. Keller who
was Major of militia regiment in the of 1872 and
one of the earliest settlers in Toledo Ohio. having
built the first brick house in that city. His birth
place was farm house, few miles from Toledo. in
what is now the village of Weston. He was born in
August 1910. His parents died in his boyhOod and he
was left in charge Of guardians. He inherited soma
property but it would appear that he never derived
much advantage from it he says in his "VagaboDd
Adventures" that it thoroughly admins
tered during his minority that he after had
| the trouble even of collecting rents.
At the age of eight he sent Buffalo TO be
| educated. Here he remained two or three years.
attending public school. wheD disliking his posi-
ton in the family of the uncle with whom he lived.
he made q VOW that he would have nothing moro To
| do with any of his relatives. and away.
He fingered about the wharves until he prevailed
the steward of steamer called the Diamond to take
| him on board AZ pantry boy. He had various anus
| ing adventures during the two voyages that he
made on this vessel but having the third the i'll
| luck 10 incur the dspeasure of the captain. he wa
| put ashore at Conneaut, Ohio. Here he was taken
| in charge by the stewards WIFE and was living con-
! fortaby when he heard tho appalling piece OF
| news" that his whereabouts were known. and that
! he would be sent for He promptly slowed
| himself away the Diamond. returned to Buffalo.
where he shipped as cabin boy at the marvellous
salary of $40 month" Being unpaid at the end Of
the first month, he left and after soourn in De-
troit, returned to Buffalo, where he kindly
treated by schoolmate, and a place So
| cured for him by his friends father
| the steamer North Indiana. All this happened be-
! fore the lad had completed his twelfth yeas His
| juvenile whims next led him to organize band OK
mnstrels but this enterprise failed, and be became
a train boy on the Michigan Southern and Northern
Indiana Railroad, enjoying monopoly OF selling
newspapers and lemonade to the passengers.
| Toward the middle of the Summer while he was
thus engaged the cholera became prevalent in the
Western cities that he deemed it prudent to retire
from this business and live quietly his earnings
He settled himself therefore. at fashionable board
ing house in Toledo. His skill at dancing and his
| general smartness now led TO his being engaged By
the Booker Troupe also known as the Metro
politan Serenadersn company of strolling players
| =. i'm fbaW pit
new life was full of adventure he was the Juvenile
prodigy" of the troupe and was known to the public
under the assumed name of Juba. The company. ho
says wandered all over the Western country. travel
ing at all hours of night and day and in all manner
| of conyeyances from the best to the worst.
In course of time the Booker Troupe" was dis
| banded and Ralph was thrown out OF an engage
| mentn He travelled subsequently in two other
companies. then repaired to Cincinnati and joined
/ Tho MitchelPs," another famous Western band OF
| itnerant players which he left to perform on the
Floating Palace, q great boat built expressly for
show purposes which visited towns on the Western
| and Southern rivers. The days and nights on tho
| Palace, he says, were eventful ones. Some unex-
pected thing was always happening to the boats or
to the performers or to the audiences. Among these
adventures was the following. the account of which
is good specimen of his easy humorous style Of
tures,1 an photographed work published in Bos-
| ton in 1870:
Shortly after at another little town in Kentucky
away couple into tho museum, bringing the squire
with them and right In 'front.' OF the glass case where
stuffed hyena aud hilarious alligator also stuffed. ex-
changed perpetual smiles at each OF course
were intended by the taxidermst as looks OF erocity
and while barrel organ was playing dance Tor the pup
pets. this runaway couple were married brother OF
the arrived the just too late to prevent tho
nuptals. The only means OF royonge 10 could think OF
was get abominably drunk aud raise disturbance In
tha rert-r roc hat .
memorable day with that particular family. for the
young gentleman soundy whipped for his share in
| the wedding ceremonies.
The row, however became general That was the
mentous occasion when Governor" Dorr, entering tho
arena by side door, announced with emphasis thst
he wanted understood he had something to In as
nSmmened this SPEECH never ended at u
satisfaction He had just begun his e10rdlun a, re-.
clear through the door With remarkable pIeseoce q
mind the m sop oa tSs p 9ad the
| and walked quietly OF to his stateroom. leaving tho
regular ushers TO restore order
Ihave not before mentioned DORIS presence on the
Palace has been because have been trying 10 explain
" as d hoy s
at once as the literary gentleman OF the m
festly filled that ONCE.
sllude TO gentleman who edited the daily paper
which printed in the museum and distributed gra
tuitousy to patrons. This the founder and
time the editor OF Of the best known and
most influential journals now published In the Union
Tho wreck Of nne scholar and graphic writer. wao
had the associate OF Of the highest and best Of
our land, 1t was melancholy sight 10 see MIN ndustr-
ousy printing his little before the stold, curious
people who thronged about his stand
He further says of his journey at this time:
We saw indeed, great deal OF wild life In the
try we for steamed Thousands OF mes on tho
Western and Southern rivers We went for instance.
the navigabe length OF the Cumberland aud Ten
nessee Our advertising agent had little boat or his
own in which he preceded The Palace and Raymond
uhe tug would sometimes run their noses upon the
banks OF Of these rivers. where there was not
hsbitaton view aud by the hour OF the exhibition the
boats and shoye would be throDged with people. LA
soue places tho Mississippi especially In ArkansAs.