Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 2.djvu/103

Rh Upon his return to Aurora in 1882, many new buildings had been erected, including the large flour mills, purchased later by W. L. Hurst; and the town was essentially as it stands today, being an evidence of very great industrial activity on the part of the colqny. Between three and four hundred of the colonists from Bethel had come to Aurora. However, Doctor Keil had died (1877) and the communistic principle had been given up. As Jacob Miller says, "such an enterprise can succeed in but one of two ways: Either through a natural born leader, who is deeply impressed that he is serving God, or else by a military power. Doctor Keil was the former, and the people obeyed him as if he were a father. This was due both to the originality of his ideas, and to his strongly vital temperament.' In person the doctor was very powerful, "heavy-set man," as Mr. Rapps says. He was above medium height, and weighed considerably over two hundred pounds, being in form and figure like almost all leaders of men, such as D. L. Moody and others. He had an upright bearing, a most open countenance, but with positive features, and even a bold and searching eye and direct gaze.

In all matters he was a leader. For instance, he was a republican in politics, and all the colonists voted republican. He also projected the work of the people, though leaving the details to the execution of a regular foreman. He himself preached regularly in the church, and was very much respected by the entire neighborhood, as well as revered in the colony. Indeed, Dr. Keil enjoyed a wide reputation in the state, and was a familiar acquaintance of our public men, being on good terms, among others, with the first railroad magnate of the state, Ben Holladay.

Mr. Miller recalls as an incident told of the trip across the plains that two white men were overtaken by