This week Sepia Saturday challenges bloggers with with the letter K and a photo from the Keene Public Library’s Flickr Commons account. As it happens, I found and scanned documents about an ancestor, my great uncle (my grandmother’s uncle) Gustav Keil.
According to family lore, Gustav Keil invented a piece that went in washing machines and hence made a fortune. (His two great grandchildren never had to pay for college and his daughter lived quite well, as did her son.) The story about his involvement with the development of the washing machine is reported in the second article.
I knew he lived in St. Joseph, Michigan, but I never heard that he was the mayor. He died suddenly in 1938. I found two newspapers that wrote about him.
smkelly8
No Fixed Plans 
How interesting! TO just now find out so much about his life, and he obviously was not only very talented but also a politician with quite a following. Thanks for letting us get to know him a bit too.
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Yes, it is interesting. I’ve emailed the local historical society for more information.
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I like that the obits/articles included quotes from all kinds of people. He seemed like a sensible caring mayor, not a power hungry politician.
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Those are quite the articles and obituaries about a man who was obviously well known, well thought of, and well liked.
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I agree. I had no idea he was mayor. I know my mom’s aunt and now cousin lived in St. Joe, but didn’t know why they settled there.
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An amazing set of clippings. You are fortunate to have had a famous ancestor with so much written about him — but a shame he did not get to enjoy his retirement. I was surprised at the Binghamton, N.Y., connection as I grew up in the suburbs there. Small world!
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Small world indeed. I do want to find out more about Gun Keil.
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The 1930s were a time when many mayors became celebrated for speaking for the common people. Mayor Keil clearly earned his popularity with the voters. Perhaps you might learn more to add him to a post for another letter in the alphabet.
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I do want to find out more about Mayor Keil. Thanks for your insights.
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