Robert Hain Keith (1874-1945)

CHRISTENSEN, CLOWES, EARLY, GARNER, GORRELL, HANSEN, HOYT, KEITH, LINDSAY, LISTER, MATHESON, MCCUTCHEON, MYERS, PROVAN, SANDBURG, SCHMIDT, SMITH, WUERFLEIN

Posted By: Eileen Reed (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:51

February 8, 1874 --- April 18, 1945

Robert Hain Keith, son of Robert and Mary Keith, was born February 8th, 1874, at Collessie, Fife, Scotland, and departed from this life at his home in Rowan on April 18th, 1945, at the age of 71 years, 2 months, and 10 days.

On June 4th, 1900, Robert was wed to Harriet M. Provan, of Waubay, S. D. To this union were born three sons. Kenneth, still living, and two who preceded him in death. In 1915, Robert and Harriet took into their home a nephew, Charles H. and a niece, Margaret. Robert is survived by his wife, Harriett, his son, Kenneth, of Chaska, Minn.; Charles
H., of Rowan; and Margaret, of Denver. Colo.; three grandchildren, a sister, Miss Elsie Keith, of Montreal, Canada, and two brothers and three sisters, still residing in Scotland.

Robert served his apprenticeship at Auchtermuchty, Scotland and was qualified as a master blacksmith. At the age of 18, he came to the United States where he followed his trade for a period of two years at Traer Iowa, and four years at Goldfield. Iowa. In 1898 he came to Rowan where he purchased the local blacksmith business. In 1912 Robert established an automobile repair in shop in connection with his previous business, which he continued to operate until this time.

Robert attended faithfully the Congregational church. He was a member of the Masonic lodge, and was always vitally interested in any enterprise for the betterment of the community. He was kind and considerate, and his memory will be cherished by a host of friends. Robert Keith can be credited with having done many good deeds—which never reached the headlines. “A better heart or more generous spirit never beat in human form.”

“Fast as the rolling seasons bring
The hour of fate to those we love,
Each pearl that leaves the broken string
Is set in Friendship’s crown above.
As narrower grows the earthly chain,
The circle widens in the sky;
These are our treasures that remain,
But those are stars that beam on high.” –Contributed

Out of town relatives and friends who attended the funeral services for R. H. Keith at the Congregational church on Friday afternoon were: Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Provan and Mr. and Mrs. F. F. Provan, Fargo, N. D., Mr. and Mrs. R. P. Keith, Rockwell City, Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Keith and Mildred Lou, Garner, Mrs. T. M. Smith and Keith and Mrs. R. D. Smith and Duane, Nashua, Andrew McCutcheon, Miss Edna McCutcheon, and Mrs. Everett Hoyt, Des Moines. Mr. and Mrs. John McCutcheon and Mrs. Will McCutcheon and Mr. and Mrs. George McCutcheon, Goldfield. Arthur McCutcheon, Traer, Mrs. Grace Lister and family, Chariton, Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Clowes, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Clowes, and Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Gorrell, Renwick, Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey Keith, Mrs. Steve Early, John Keith and Dave Keith, Traer, Mrs. John Matheson, Goldfield, Mrs. Henry Hansen, Forest City, Mr. and Mrs. George Wuerflein, Scarville, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Christenson, Woden, William Schmidt, Latimer, Ole Sandburg and Amos Hansen, Goodell, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Lindsay and O. R. Myers, Clarion, also a group of Masons from Dows and others.

***

R. Kenneth Keith returned to his home in Chaska, Minn., on Sunday after having been called here by the illness and death of his father, R. H. Keith.

Wright County Monitor --- Clarion, Iowa
April 26, 1945