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Vinton Eagle; Dec. 17, 1901
Passing of Dr. Keagle
Levi S. Keagle
Dr. Levi S. Keagle Passes Away After Months of Suffering.
Funeral Held Saturday.
Rev. Levi S. Keagle died Thursday afternoon at four o'clock. Saturday morning at eleven o'clock the funeral service was held at the home and the body was laid away in Evergreen Cemetery. Dr. Keagle as he was more familiarly known, was for many years a prominent citizen of Vinton. Dr. Crippen of Marion, an old friend and comrade of Dr. Keagle, conducted the funeral servise and what he said of Dr. Keagle will be echoed in the hearts of all of his friends.
"Rev. Levi S. Keagle was born in Jackson township, Lycoming county, Pa., March 13th, 1835 and died December 12th 1901. His early life was spent with his father's family upon the farm. He was converted quite early in life, soon after became a member of the church and in 1860 was licensed to preach. Soon afterward he was recommened to the Pittsburg annual conference and was received on trial and appointed to Butler charge, Pa.
On March 7, 1861, he was married to Miss Sidney Alice Donald, Rev. D. P. Mitchell officiating. In 1865 Brother Keagle enlisted as a private in company I, 45th regiment Ohio volunteers. Soon after his enlistment he was appointed chaplain of his regiment and continued in service until the close of the war.
After eleven years of ministerial conference he was transferred to the Upper Iowa conference, where spent ten years of active service on the following charges: Le Clair, Quasqueton, Center Point and Vinton circuit. Closing his work in Vinton circuit he was compelled to take a supernunerary relation in consequence of a severe case of sciatic rheumatism. He settled in Vinton and at once entered upon the practice of dentistry, a profession he had studied and practised before entering the ministry.
Seven years ago because of failing health he was obliged to cease from work and taking a sueranuated relation to his conference continued the same until his decease. Brother Keagle was a plain preacher of the gospel, somewhat metaphysical in his cast of mind and strongly argumentative in his sermons. He was naturally given to politics and nothing delighted him more than in a public way to defend and maintain the doctrines of his church, as against all forms of erroneous doctrines, false religious and the different phases of modern unbelief and infidelity. As a citizen he was greatly respected and trusted. Three times his fellow citizens of Vinton honored him with the office of the mayor of the city. He also received the nomination for state senator and failed of election only by a small margin.
He was given to investigation hence his conclusions were reached only after mature thought and thorough and patient research, so that he could always give a reason for the hope that was in him. In the domestic circle he was a kind husband and always studying the interest and planning for the comfort and happiness of the one he had promised to love and honor. While an invalid for seven long weary years his patience was remarkable. He uttered no word of complaint and endured as one seeing Him who is invisible, with an abiding faith that "these light afflictions which are but for a moment work for us a far more exceeding and external weight of glory" Some five weeks before his death, the nurse having charge for the night being absent, he fell which resulted in a internal injury from which he suffered greatly. I saw him a few days before his death, he was weak, helpless and almost speechless and yet with what little strength remained he lifted his hand and pointing heavenward expressed with eyes that he was nearing the "Golden Gate." I said to him, "My brother is it alright," he "Yes, the silver chord is loosed, the golden bowl is broken at the fountain, and wheel broken at the cistern." Our friend and brother has passed on and out of present conditions and has entered upon that eternal life where sickness is unknown and death a stranger, and where the weary are at rest."
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