Dr. B. F. Keables

Few if any citizens of a past generation were held in higher esteem than the
late Dr. B. F. Keables. Coming here in 1852, when Pella was a small, struggling,
frontier village, he identified himself with every phase of progress and
development and contributed notably to the upbuilding of all that was best in
the life of the community.

From the first he was a true and valuable friend of Central University and
belonged to that small coterie of faithful men and women who, in the weak and
struggling days of that institution, literally saved it from extinction. He was
born in Genesee county, New York, November 30, 1828, of Michael Keables and
Nancy Bromley Keables. Following the completion of his school education in
Michigan, where he had been raised and taught one term of school, Dr. Keables
went on foot to Oswego, Ill., where he had been tendered the position of teacher
in the schools. Upon his arrival the directors concluded he was too young to
take charge of so many large and unruly young men, and he was obliged to work at
the carpenter trade during the summer. Later, when many teachers had failed with
the school, the directors again sought him to take charge of it, which he did,
with entire success. Concluding to embrace the profession of