The Keillors were men of integrity, with a good deal of combativeness in their make up, and not noted for polished address.The following story is told of one of the Keillor boys: One morning when taking a load of port to the fort, at the time the Eddy rebels were at Camp Hill, he was met by a young man on horseback.The young man, after eliciting from Mr.Keillor where he was taking the pork, ordered him to turn about and take it to the rebel camp.This Mr.Keillor refused to do point blank.In the parley and skirmish that followed Mr.Keillor managed to dehorse his man, bind him on the sled, and forthwith delivered him safely at the fort with his carcasses of pork.The young man proved to be Richard John Uniacke, who afterwards became one of the most celebrated of Nova Scotia's public men.In after years, when Mr.
Uniacke had become Attorney-General of Nova Scotia, and able lawyer, and a good loyal subject, he was conducting a case in the Amherst Court-house.This same Mr.Keillor was called forward as a witness, and during the cross-examination, when things were probably getting a little uncomfortable for the witness, he ventured to say to Mr.
Uniacke:
"I think we have met before, sir."
Mr.Uniacke replied rather haughtily, "You have the advantage of me, Ibelieve."
"And it is not the first time I have had the advantage of you," replied Mr.Keillor.
"When was this?" asked Mr.Uniacke, in a tone that showed how fully he considered himself the master of the situation.
Mr.Keillor replied, "At the time of the rebellion, when I delivered you, a rebel and a prisoner, to the fort along with my pork."It is said that the Attorney-General left the further conduct of the case to his subordinates.
Thomas, the brother who settled in Amherst, was once warned as a juryman to attend court, to be held in a building little better than a barn.When Mr.Keillor was chosen on a cause, and came forward to the desk to be sworn, he refused absolutely to take the oath.When remonstrated with, he said, "I will never consent to hold the King's Court in a barn." And this juryman, who was so zealous of the King's honor, was allowed to have his own way.The outcome of this was that soon after the county erected at Amherst a suitable building for a court-house.