Cudgegong Valley History Project

DEATH OE A PIONEER. Mr. William Keech, aged 86, passed away at his residence, Camboon, on Tuesday evening, 14th instant. Deceased was one of the pioneer settlers of Rylstone district, and was one of the most successful. He came from the Motherland. He was not afraid of hard work and long hours, and did things thoroughly. These qualities were the medium of his success. His motto might have been "Waste not, want not." Few, if any men, were more respected, and he leaves a family of sons and daughters who will honorably sustain and preserve the reputation of their parents. Mrs. Keech predeceased her husband by several years. To record all that might be written of the late Mr. Keech's life and connection with this district would run into columns. Suffice it to say that he was a moral, exemplary unit of this locality during the fifty odd years of his residence, and as he lived so he died. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon, and was well attended, though the news of the passing had not reached far into the surrounding district. The remains were interred in the Methodist portion of the cemetery, the Rev. Mr. Drummond carrying out the service at the grave most impressively (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Thursday 23 April 1914, page 7).

The late William Keech came out to this country with the father of the well-known Dewey family, now deceased. Both were hardy pioneers, and knew how to hold money when they earned it. A coincidence was that both men, though they parted, when landing, eventually drifted to this district. (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Thursday 23 April 1914, page 7).