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march 21, 2001 willie keil's grave: though dead, he led the wagon train from missouri to the pacific.
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more words... gene and i decided to take a few days off, just drive around aimlessly to see what we could see. we are suckers for historical markers and will stop any time we find one. this one reads as follows: "On the hill behind is the grave of Willie Keil, nineteen year old son of Doctor William Keil of the Bethel Colony that came west to settle here in 1855. Willie was to have driven the lead team in the wagon train which was to leave Bethel, Missouri in the month of May, 1855. Four days before their departure Willie died. Because of his great desire to go west with the group, the decision was made to take the body along. It was placed in a lead lined box and filled with alcohol. The sealed coffin was carried in a wagon renovated as a hearse which led the train west. Willie was buried here the day after Christmas, December 26, 1855."
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