Published as it appeared on Sept. 26, 1890, in the (Salem) Evening Capital Journal, Page 3, Column 1.
PROF. KEEZEL DEAD.
CORVALLIS, Or., Sept. 26.—Prof. J.C. Keezel, one of the faculty of the Philomath college, fell from the roof of the new college building Tuesday evening, while shingling. He fell a distance of seventeen feet. The fall paralyzed him from the waist down. He died this morning at six o’clock.
Published as it appeared on Sept. 27, 1890, in the (Portland) Oregonian, Page 2, Column 3.
College President Killed.
CORVALLIS, Sept. 26.—J.E. Keezel, ex-president of Philomath college, while at work on the roof of a new school building in that town Wednesday, fell to the ground, a distance of twenty feet, striking on his shoulders, and resulting in paralysis of the spine, from which he died this morning. Deceased was highly respected throughout the county. He leaves a wife and two small children.
Published as it appeared on Oct. 3, 1890, in the Corvallis Gazette, Page 4, Column 1.
DEATH OF PROF. J. C. KEEZEL.
On Wednesday afternoon of last week as Prof. J. C. Keezel, of Philomath, was doing some work upon a building which was to be occupied by a private school of which he would be the principal, he fell a distance of sixteen or eighteen feet, receiving injuries from which he died on Friday, September 26, 1890.
The funeral sermon was delivered by the Rev. Barclay, presiding elder of the U. B. church, in which organization deceased was an ordained minister. Dr. Thompson, of this city, and Rev. Mr. Wyatt also made appropriate and affecting remarks. The remains were interred in the Newton cemetery in the presence of an immense congregation of friends and former students who had assembled at the grave as an evidence of their respect for the deceased. Many were the tears shed and tributes of affection left on the grave of this good, true and noble man. They left him there amid the flowers to sleep the peaceful, dreamless sleep of death; to waken when angels call the resurrection morn.
Prof. Keezel was born in West Virginia, and was 33 years old at the time of his death. He was well educated, having had the advantages of the best schools in the country, and was for some time president of the Philomath College. The people of Benton county will learn with surprise and deep sorrow of the death of Prof. Keezel. The death of this gentleman is a great surprise on account of his usual health and perfect physique, and the news will be received with sorrow by all on account of his well known reputation as an educator and his ability to accomplish much in the direction of high morality. To those who know him best will come the deepest grief — his affectionate wife and children and loving mother who survive him, and appreciate his noble qualities as a husband, father and son. He was a man about whom his friends had clustered for worldly strength with the faith with which the Christian clings to the holy cross for spiritual support. His magnificent stature, manly bearing and broad intellect rendered him a prominent figure among all men.
Following are resolutions of condolence passed by the W. C. T. U., of Philomath.
WHEREAS, God in his infinite wisdom hath seen fit to call from our midst our beloved brother, Reverend J. C. Keezel, be it
Resolved, That in the death of Brother Keezel the Union loses one of its most esteemed and useful members, the community an honorable and trustworthy citizen, his pupils an efficient and loving instructor, the church a zealous and devoted Christian and his family a kind and affectionate husband and father, whose sudden death we, with them, sincerely mourn.
Resolved, That we do hereby extend to his family in this their bitter bereavement the heartfelt and loving sympathy of the Union, and do all in our power to comfort and cheer them in their loss.
Resolved, That while we sincerely mourn our loss we will bow in submission to the divine will of Him who doeth all things well, knowing that our loss is our brother’s gain.
Resolved, That these resolutions be spread on the minutes of the Union, a copy furnished the family of the deceased, also each of the county papers for publication.
Minnie Bryan,
Kate Merryman,
Mary Wyatt,
Committee on Resolutions.
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Editor’s note: To clarify, the building under construction was for the College of Philomath, which was established when a schism in the United Brethren Church led to a split within the college. Philomath College continued under its liberal leadership until 1929 while the College of Philomath operated from 1889-1903 and 1906-13 under conservative leadership. According to one historical account, Mr. Keezel was working on the east end of the building when scaffolding gave way and he fell to the ground. His wife, Sarah Keezel, was elected president, a position she served in until becoming Philomath’s postmaster in 1897.