Bob was an American Bulldog who was acquired by Austin Ira Keys Sr. to be a guard dog for his family while he was working at the Keys Music Store in Clarksburg, WV. Austin lived in West Union, WV and would leave for work on a Sunday night, stay the week in Clarksburg working, and return home late on Friday night to spend the weekend with his family.
But, Bob was more than just a guard dog, he became a member of the family.
When Austin's Model A rounded the last corner of the road on his approach to the farmhouse at Keys Bend, Bob would begin to bark. He knew "his daddy" was about to arrive just by the sound of his car.
He must have been really special, because he is the ONLY dog Austin's wife, Elsie Marie Keys, ever allowed into the house.
There was a special bond that Austin and Elsie's little daughter, Emma Jean, had with Bob. She was around two years old when Bob joined the family. Her older brother, Benton, shares these stories:
If Bob was laying on the floor in front of the woodstove, little Emma would lay her head on his back and fall alseep with him. After some time, Bob became uncomfortable and would want to move. He would lift his head up, turn and look at a sleeping Emma and then just put his head back down on the floor, not wanting to wake her.
Another time, when the entire family was away, Bob protected the family interests in their absence. Upon the family's return a man known by many around town to not earn his money the honest way, told Austin that his dog was a menace in the neighborhood and had bitten him. Austin inquired as to how this came about. The man, in his effort to discredit Bob, in essence revealed his own shady intentions. He stated that he had been at the farm and Bob began ferociously barking at him. He turned and ran to get on his horse. Bob charged and lunged and caught the man by the foot in mid-air, just as the man was mounting his horse.
Austin had no business with this man previously and this man had to ride many miles outside of town on his horse just to get to the farm. Knowing the reputation of his character, it was assumed he knew of the family's absence and had ridden all the way out there most likely in an effort to see about acquiring some of Austin's possessions for himself.
Thank you, Bob, for your loyalty, devotion, gentleness and love that meant so much to your family. You have never been forgotten.
But, Bob was more than just a guard dog, he became a member of the family.
When Austin's Model A rounded the last corner of the road on his approach to the farmhouse at Keys Bend, Bob would begin to bark. He knew "his daddy" was about to arrive just by the sound of his car.
He must have been really special, because he is the ONLY dog Austin's wife, Elsie Marie Keys, ever allowed into the house.
There was a special bond that Austin and Elsie's little daughter, Emma Jean, had with Bob. She was around two years old when Bob joined the family. Her older brother, Benton, shares these stories:
If Bob was laying on the floor in front of the woodstove, little Emma would lay her head on his back and fall alseep with him. After some time, Bob became uncomfortable and would want to move. He would lift his head up, turn and look at a sleeping Emma and then just put his head back down on the floor, not wanting to wake her.
Another time, when the entire family was away, Bob protected the family interests in their absence. Upon the family's return a man known by many around town to not earn his money the honest way, told Austin that his dog was a menace in the neighborhood and had bitten him. Austin inquired as to how this came about. The man, in his effort to discredit Bob, in essence revealed his own shady intentions. He stated that he had been at the farm and Bob began ferociously barking at him. He turned and ran to get on his horse. Bob charged and lunged and caught the man by the foot in mid-air, just as the man was mounting his horse.
Austin had no business with this man previously and this man had to ride many miles outside of town on his horse just to get to the farm. Knowing the reputation of his character, it was assumed he knew of the family's absence and had ridden all the way out there most likely in an effort to see about acquiring some of Austin's possessions for himself.
Thank you, Bob, for your loyalty, devotion, gentleness and love that meant so much to your family. You have never been forgotten.
Bob was an American Bulldog who was acquired by Austin Ira Keys Sr. to be a guard dog for his family while he was working at the Keys Music Store in Clarksburg, WV. Austin lived in West Union, WV and would leave for work on a Sunday night, stay the week in Clarksburg working, and return home late on Friday night to spend the weekend with his family.
But, Bob was more than just a guard dog, he became a member of the family.
When Austin's Model A rounded the last corner of the road on his approach to the farmhouse at Keys Bend, Bob would begin to bark. He knew "his daddy" was about to arrive just by the sound of his car.
He must have been really special, because he is the ONLY dog Austin's wife, Elsie Marie Keys, ever allowed into the house.
There was a special bond that Austin and Elsie's little daughter, Emma Jean, had with Bob. She was around two years old when Bob joined the family. Her older brother, Benton, shares these stories:
If Bob was laying on the floor in front of the woodstove, little Emma would lay her head on his back and fall alseep with him. After some time, Bob became uncomfortable and would want to move. He would lift his head up, turn and look at a sleeping Emma and then just put his head back down on the floor, not wanting to wake her.
Another time, when the entire family was away, Bob protected the family interests in their absence. Upon the family's return a man known by many around town to not earn his money the honest way, told Austin that his dog was a menace in the neighborhood and had bitten him. Austin inquired as to how this came about. The man, in his effort to discredit Bob, in essence revealed his own shady intentions. He stated that he had been at the farm and Bob began ferociously barking at him. He turned and ran to get on his horse. Bob charged and lunged and caught the man by the foot in mid-air, just as the man was mounting his horse.
Austin had no business with this man previously and this man had to ride many miles outside of town on his horse just to get to the farm. Knowing the reputation of his character, it was assumed he knew of the family's absence and had ridden all the way out there most likely in an effort to see about acquiring some of Austin's possessions for himself.
Thank you, Bob, for your loyalty, devotion, gentleness and love that meant so much to your family. You have never been forgotten.
But, Bob was more than just a guard dog, he became a member of the family.
When Austin's Model A rounded the last corner of the road on his approach to the farmhouse at Keys Bend, Bob would begin to bark. He knew "his daddy" was about to arrive just by the sound of his car.
He must have been really special, because he is the ONLY dog Austin's wife, Elsie Marie Keys, ever allowed into the house.
There was a special bond that Austin and Elsie's little daughter, Emma Jean, had with Bob. She was around two years old when Bob joined the family. Her older brother, Benton, shares these stories:
If Bob was laying on the floor in front of the woodstove, little Emma would lay her head on his back and fall alseep with him. After some time, Bob became uncomfortable and would want to move. He would lift his head up, turn and look at a sleeping Emma and then just put his head back down on the floor, not wanting to wake her.
Another time, when the entire family was away, Bob protected the family interests in their absence. Upon the family's return a man known by many around town to not earn his money the honest way, told Austin that his dog was a menace in the neighborhood and had bitten him. Austin inquired as to how this came about. The man, in his effort to discredit Bob, in essence revealed his own shady intentions. He stated that he had been at the farm and Bob began ferociously barking at him. He turned and ran to get on his horse. Bob charged and lunged and caught the man by the foot in mid-air, just as the man was mounting his horse.
Austin had no business with this man previously and this man had to ride many miles outside of town on his horse just to get to the farm. Knowing the reputation of his character, it was assumed he knew of the family's absence and had ridden all the way out there most likely in an effort to see about acquiring some of Austin's possessions for himself.
Thank you, Bob, for your loyalty, devotion, gentleness and love that meant so much to your family. You have never been forgotten.
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