In Pennsylvania, he began to amass followers, including members of George Rapp's Economy Colony.

Though Keil's community in Missouri was successful and nearly self-sufficient, he decided to expand his colony to the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

[6] In May 1855, Keil and several members of his Bethel colony in Missouri began the wagon journey to Washington Territory.

Not wanting to leave his son behind, Keil put the body in a wooden, lead-lined coffin and covered it with whiskey from the Bethel Distillery to preserve it.

After spending the winter there, Keil decided the land was not suitable for a self-sufficient agricultural community and began searching for a new location.

The Oregon & California Railway line expanded to pass through Aurora in 1870, which brought additional business to the colony.

[2] The Aurora Colony Band became well known on the West Coast, and traveled throughout the region to perform music.

[1] As part of keeping order and maintaining his place in the community, Keil utilized mortification functions, calling out deviants for their transgressions during public meetings.

[1] Author Jane Kirkpatrick wrote a trilogy of novels about the experience of Emma Wagner Giesy, the only female member of Keil's scout party to find a location for a new colony in the Pacific Northwest that eventually became the Aurora Colony.