JOHN H. KEBOCH DEAD
The death of John H. Keboch, of Berrysburg, which occurred on Thursday morning, May 14 [1903], was a painful shock to his many friends throughout Lykens and adjoining valleys.
Mr. Keboch was well and favorably known as a huckster, in which business he had been successfully engaged for many years, and to all outward appearance he was in the very vigor of health. For a number of years he was engaged in farming, about one mile east of this town [Elizabethville], and when, about six or eight years ago, he removed to Berrysburg, his loss as a citizen of the township, as a friend and as a neighbor, was universally felt and regretted.
He was a man of many excellent attributed, and his marked hospitality to those who entered his gates was not the least of the many generous traits of his character. He was an active and consistent member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mifflin Township, since his boyhood, and his remains sleep peacefully within the shadow of the temple in which he regularly engaged in worship, and within those walls he had served faithfully for many years as an officer.
Deceased is survived by a devoted wife, and one son – William Keboch, who is a student at Muhlenberg College, Allentown. He also leaves to mourn his death both his parents, Henry Keboch and wife, two brothers, Isaac Keboch and Daniel Keboch, and two sisters, Mrs. Henry Daniel and Mrs. Alfred Weaver — all of Mifflin Township.
He was a member of the Berrysburg Camp, P. O. S. of A., and at the time of his death a trustee of the lodge. He served for a number of years as school director for the borough of Berrysburg, and filled the office with much credit to himself and his constituency.
About ten days before his death he took typhoid fever, and hot having been in his usually good health for several weeks previous, the ravages of the disease gradually but stubbornly hastened him to his end. His funeral on Sunday afternoon was attended by a vast throng of people from all sections, the spacious audience room and galleries of the church being far too small to accommodate those who had come to pay their last tribute of respect. The funeral rites were in charge of Rev. J. S. Renninger, who was assisted by Revs. J. H. Ritter of Bath, Pennsylvania, and J. H. Raker of Topton, Pennsylvania.
The ritual services of the P. O. S. of A. was read at the grave by William Botz of the Berrysburg Camp, and W. H. Potteiger of the Williamstown Camp. Six camps of the order were represented in the funeral procession. The floral tributes were many and handsome. Deceased was aged forty-three years, three days.
The citizens of the entire community mourn with the little family over the death of their devoted husband and father, and pray that the loving grace of Him who doeth all things will heal their wounds and comfort them in their sad affliction.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, May 22, 1903, via Newspapers.com.
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