The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1879-09-03
Mr. A,mon Keeler was born October

father removed to gainesville, Ohio. The
family made brief sojourn there, but
when they returned cast, Almon was left.
prolonging his stay 20 four years. When
he followed, 1t was on horseback, riding
q horse, his most cherished piece of
property, the whole distance from Ohio
to Connecticut.
Not long after his return, with his
younger brother, Mr.. Nathan Keller he
embarked in business at New Preston.
Here he made the acquaintance of Miss
Sila ID. Miles, to whom he was married
in 1874, and who is now his widow Three
children were born to them, a son and two
daughters, all OF whom died in early
childhood. The youngest, born in Itch
field, lies in Crabtree's cemetery; the
graves of tho others are in the old State.
They lived in various places in Connec-
ticut, including tire pleasant town of
Litchfeld, and the beautiful &" City OF
Elms," New Haven. Mr.. Keelcr's first
railroad experience was as agent, at his
native Newtown, of the Housatonic road,
position he filled several years, begin
ing in 1850.
| In May, 1856, he came to Pana, Illinois,
and there acted as agent of the Illinois
Central Railroad for about six months,
afterwards engaging in mercantile bust
ness In that town. In 1859 he accepted
the position of station agent at Litchfield,
OF the Terre Haute, Alton and ST. Louis
| (now the 1. 4 St. L. Railroad, and en-
. tur I,,ti IT,
over twenty years he has discharged
those duties with fidelity to the company
and to the satisfaction OF the Litchfield
business public. For several years be-
! fore his death he was the oldest station
agent, and with two or three exceptions,
the oldest employee of the railroad. In
addition TO his railroad duties, he was
agent Of the American Express Company
from 1862 to 1877, at viii, Ii time the po-
sition ceased to be remumerative and he
RESIGNED it.
Mr.. Keclsr was from childhood a firm
believer in the truths Of the revelation as
taught In the accepted tenets of ortho-
doXy. and in 1851, with his wife, united
town. When they removed to this State
they brought letters from the church, but
finding no congregation of their own per-
suasion, they did not present them. In
1866 they joined the Presbyterian church
in Litchtield, under the ministry of the
Rev. r. NJ. Roberts.
Mr.. Keller was an active and valuable
member OF the church. His delight in
music and fondness for the society of
young people made his faithful work, In
and for the choir and the Sunday-sci,ool
labors OF love, and in these labors he had
in his wife a congenlal associate. Both
were members of the choir almost from
it's organization, and for nearly twelve
years past Mr.. Keeier was its leader.
Roth were faithful attendants at the Sun
day school. And both were of one mind
and contributed literally of their means
and labor to the general advancement of
the interests OF the church.
For several years Mr.. Keller had been
subject to occasional and increasingly Sc
we're attacks of disease several of which
udNG DecIl neIIlOutu III THESE COLUMNS.
On Sunday evening, July 18th, one of
these occurred, which did not readily
yield to Its usual treatment. Eminent
medical counsel, at the patients request,
was called in from St. Louis, whose re-
port was encouraging to the hopes of his
friends. But these hopes were soon des-
troyed. About nine o'clock on Saturday
night. July Goth, the patient peacefully
breathed his last.
The funeral took place from the Pres
bytelian church, services beginning Mt
two o'clock on Monday afternoon. The
, house was literally crowded to overflow
ing and as many probably stood outside
during the services as were inside. The
number included people Of the town and
many from the country and also from
other places. A special train from Mat
toon brought General Superintendent E.
: B. Mcclure, Train Master Z. B. Woolsey.
Timekeeper Henry C. Watson, and a
number Of employees In the railroad
shops, formerly residents here, also the
station agents ut Shelbyville, Pana, No
NoIhiob 1ifiLS anu AAilloDOtOs LII dNNiGiOii
TO these were Messrs. John L. Hinkley,
/. General Superintendent of the Chester,
Wabash and Western, Beriah Warren,
General Superintendent, and r. II. Welli-
yer, Train Dispatcher OF the Cairo Short
Line, and others. ."I
The pail bearers were the following
well-known citizens Messrs. John LANCE
Willis Charles. P. B. Updike, r. McWil-
liams, Z. Southworth and D. o. Settle
; mire. ....
, Mrs. Koeler, widow OF the deceased
his brother, Mr.. Nathan Keller, and his
: nephew and wife, Mr.. and Mrs. Henry K
! Warner, were the chief mourners. I'm.
; mediately after them were the youre
ladies composing Mrs. Keelers Sunday
a school class, who but two weeks before
had followed one of their own number te
the grave.
Rev. ID. w. Evans, pastor of the church
r being absent, the Rev. r. M. Roberts, Of
Pana conducted the services and preached
the funeral discourse. Rev. DIR. Francis
I Springer. OF the Lutheran church, and
Rev. j. ID. Gillham. of the NJ. E. church,