Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-09-18
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Death of w. F. Kettenbach.

4
The sad news flashed over the wires
last week from his old home in far-off
indianapolis, Indiana, that w. F. Ket-
tenbach, president of the Lewiston Ma.
tional bank. was dying, and his brother,
Frank W., started Immediately for the
scene, hut ere his arrival the grim mes
senger had performed his mission-the
silver cord was loosed, the golden bowl
was broken, the pitcher was broken at
the fountain. the wheel was broken at
the cistern and the spirit returned unto
the God who gave it.
William F. Kettenbach was only AZ
years of age at the date of his death.
He was pioneer of the Lewiston val
ley, staunch supporter of law, Justice
and morality, man of broad charity
and heart as big as the needs Of sorrow
ing humanity, and above all, he was a
citizen closely identified with the ma
terial progress of the country. We first
formed his acquaintance in 1881, when
he was associated with the late John
Brearley as cashier of the only bank in
Lewiston at that time, and thencefor-
ward, as the only two members of a no
BILE brotherhood in northern Idaho, a
bond of more than ordinary friendship
existed betw cen the editor and the de-
ceased.
Although he died away from his
home and family and among compara-
tive strangers. every resource of the
medical profession was resorted to in
order to arrest the arm of death and
save him from the fatal blow. A COM
bination of heart disease and throat
troubles, of long standing. and from
which he had long suffered. was the
cause of his untimely taking-of. The
universal sentiment of all who knew
our departed friend is that as husband,
a father, member of society, as a pri-
yate citizen, in all the relations of life
he was kind. generous, just, endowed
with every noble quality which endears
a man to his fellows.
Asa public spirited citizen his loss
will be severely felt in Lewiston. He
was the presiding genius which estab-
lished the elaborate water works system
of that town. Had his policy been car
ried out last summer, the town would
now have had the advantages of imme-
diate connection with the Union Pacific
and Northern Pacific railroads where
now it stands isolated and alone, and
heartily cursed by one company and de.
spised by the other. The new bank
building, now being erected Of magne-
sia rock, will stand as an enduring mon
ument to the enterprising liberality Of
William F. Kettenbach. His wealth
was honorably acquired and liberally
disbursed. He was in all particulars Q
city-builder who fully realised that It il
necessary to spend money to make mon
ey. His liberality in this particular was
startling contrast to the narrow.mind-
ed, close-fsted, money-grubbing and
selfish policy Of his fellow townsmen
who will not look at, much less invest
money in an enterprise which promises
to benefit others as we'll as themselves.
He was live man in dead town, and
his loss is another nail in her coffin.
Mr.. Kettenbach was quite familiar
with Camas Prairie and Its people, and
part of his mission east was to enlist
the cooperation Of the Union Pacific
officials in movement to organise
company to build narrow guage rail-
road from Lewiston to Grangeyille in
the interests of that corporation. But,
alas, poor Will is gone, and the many
warm friends among those who knew
him best will regret exceedingly that
another landmark is gone and that an
other one of the old familiar faces has
been transferred to another shore.
Peace to his ashes.