Keeney Family Genealogy Journal

(Oldham Family)-Nancy Ann Keeney Genealogy Notes

History of Sinking Creek, TN

John F. Keeney Jr

Note:

Sevier County, Tennessee Deeds #952

JOHN KEENY-254 acres-Cocke County-on Sinking Creek beginning on a spruce pine STEPHEN RIDDLE?s corner, stake in the road from Sevierville to Newport, stake at the forks leading from Sehorns Ferry, along the road, RIDDLE?s corner, crossing Sehorns Road, crossing Sevierville Road-CC AUSWELL HAINES and ANDREW DONOVAN Assigned to THOMAS KEENY Junr. consideration $1,000 October 12, 1807 Signed JOHN KEENY Witnesses JOSHUA LOWE and JOHN OLDHAM

Surnames:

Keeney,Goff Missouri Descendants

Data from Myron Goff:
Bettie J Moore
DATE: Thursday, 15 January 2004, at 11:35 p.m.
Abstract of newspaper notice in Knoxville Gazette;Thursday, 22 May 1794; (Vol III, 12) p.4
Greeneville Lottery South-West Territory: "for disposal five valuable tracts of land" ... belonging to Joseph Keeney: 136 acres lying on Big Pigeon River in Jefferson County, about 40 acres of low ground of said tract are cleared and in good repair, and a very good apple and peach orchard. $300.

Tickets are $3 each; 3923 tickets to be sold, 277 prizes, 3646 blanks. Drawing on first Monday September 1795, or sooner, if tickets are sold. Tickets are available at Joseph Lusk and Harmon King, Greeneville, Tennessee. Dated 9 May
1794.

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Fought in the American Revolutionary War; his records are in Raleigh, North Carolina; received land grant in West Virginia for his services. Baptist minister & farmer.

Data from Carol Keeney:
Land grants in Tennessee were made by North Carolina until 1800. As a Revolutionary War veteran he received GRANT #2265, 67 acres in 1788 on the north side of French Broad River, Greene County, Tennesse, this area became Jefferson Coun2,96hn & Ann joined the Big Pigeon Baptist Church in 1794 & and were dismissed by letter in 1799.

From the Keeney Update VOLUME XI, Number 1 January 1994

Pioneer Keeney Family

REV. JOHN JONATHAN KEENEY
JOHN JONATHAN KEENEY (b. 25 Dec 1750, d. 1 Jan 1805 in Jefferson Coun ty, Tennessee,son of JOHN (some records say DAVID) KEENEY. who settled in Greenbrier County, Virginia (now West Virginia) about 1756, received 67 acres on the north so (now Tennessee); grant was given by state of North Carolina, since borders had not yet been agreed upon. He is listed in a1783 assessor' listing with 14 horses and 9 cattle; in February 1797 he was appointed road overseer from Indian Creek to Big Pigeon; he was listed in Cocke County history as one of the founders in 1797. He was married to Annie Elizabeth Poets (b.1754).
Children of John Jonathan & Annie Elizabeth Keeney left Tennessee about the time of the War of 1812, as western lands were becoming available and settled first in Indiana, but then scattered to northwest Missouri and the Polk and Warrenyse family of John, Jr. made their way to Oregon and scattered out from Idaho to California. Many stories of their trails to the West have amused and pleased their offspring.
Iowa genealogical records several years ago listed the John Jonath an Keeney children as follows:
1. JOHN KEENEY, JR. (?) to Missouri, family to Oregon
2. ALOYSIUS EPHRAIM KEENEY (1774-1788) - Tennessee
3. NANCY ANNA KEENEY (1776-1807) - Tennessee
4. JONATHAN ANTHONY KEENEY - Indiana, Iowa
5. JOSEPH DAVID KEENEY
6. HIRAM ASHLEY KEENEY (1782-1788) - Tennessee
7. GEORGE CHARLES WILLIAM KEENEY (1784-1788)-Tennessee
8. EBENEZER JEREMIAH KEENEY (1786-1788- Tennessee
9. PETER FRANCIS MICHAEL KEENEY (reported 1789-1830 in Tennessee; Mis sourirecords disagree)
10. SAMUEL THOMAS JEFFERSON KEENEY (1872-1872 in Tennessee)
Assuming that this list is essentially correct most Keeney researcher shave concentrated on the John, Jr. family and the Jonathan Anthony famil y.

SOURCES: History of Warren County, Iowa; Bowen' History of Montgomery Co.;Beckwith' History of Indiana Counties; Walters History of Montgomery Co.Churches; Indiana Newspapers Vital Records Service; Mormon Library,Sissonville, West Virginltnes; Census records1820-1920 from Boone, Montgomery & Hendricks counties, Indiana; Polk, Warren,Dallas & Lucas County, Iowa; and state census records of Kansas, Illinois,Idaho, Utah & California.

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From Gould Notes:
His wife is undocumented, as are his parents. This info from Keeney Updates 1991 and 1994. Roscoe Keeney, author of Keeney Updates, says he got info from family stories and LDS records. Take with a grain of salt.

From Dec 1991 Keeney Update: Jonathan Keeney (This John) born about 1750 to John and Catherine Keeney. Land grant as Rev War vet in 1788 on Northside of French Broad River, Greene Co, Tennessee. Became Jefferson Co in 1792 and Cocke Co in 1797. Part of group to pick Cocke Co seat. 1793 assessor' report showed John K with 14 horses, 9 cattle, and 149 pounds. John and Ann (Poets) joined Big Pigeon Baptist Church in 1794...

from May 1994 Keeney Update = Old Greenbrier Church in Alderson has records back to 1780. There is also a Michael Keeney cabin and nearby cemetery in Greenbrier Co.

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1805 death date from "Keeney Update" January 1994 letter from John Franklin Keeney indicates emigration from Germany to America. CPG5 letter f rom Mrs. Eliz. Keeney Meece says from Kent, England. letter from Rosc oe Keeney says Irelandmeom Ireland. Wayne Keeney Howell (LDS computer family files)says John Keeney born in Germany . Family lived in Eastern Tennessee, children born in America.

Letter from Mrs. William H. Terrance (sp?) of Indiana - 1964, states: John Keeney - b. 1700. believed to have died at sea - a sea captain from Wales, Eng. His father - John Keeney, (1642-1716). His father William Keney, of New London(1601-1

CPG5
Census - 1820 - Indiana, Fayette County: p. 45 Keeney, John Sr. - 1 f ree wh male 10-15, one 45 and over one free wh female 10-15, one 45 and over Agriculture
From "2,596 Keeney Relatives" by Roscoe C. Keeney, Jr. (LDS fiche#610 0415): "The family tree of the Greenbrier Keeneys who moved toTennessee and then to Iowa shows that the Rev. John Jonathan Keeney, a veteran of the American Revolution, beney' Knob, West Virginia. The first of his 11 children, John Junior Keeney, was born June 24, 1772 near Keeney' knob." p.5 "The first known Keeney in West Virginia..." p. 4 p.124 - Keeneys from Greenbrier to Tennessee: "1.2 John Jonath an Keeney, Sr. b. 12-25-1750 near Keeney', served in Amer. Rev; retired minister and farmer.
(rest of info on family chart.)
from "Wagonruts West" by Ralph Keeney (1983) (LDS film #1421976): "The original Irish Keeneys came to America before the start of the Revolutionary War and migrated out of Virginia to East Tennessee. They did not believe in slavery and lerounty, Indiana and from there into Ray County, Missouri. " John Keeney,Sr. was born about 1750 - possibly in Virginia. He was a farmer,blacksmith and ferryman; member of the "Hard Shell" Baptist Church. In1788 he had two land claims on the Nolichucky River in Eastern Tennessee-- one in Jefferson County and one in Greene County, the early1800'. The date and place of his de ath are not known. His wife' name was Martha, Ann, or Martha Ann.

There were a number of Baptist ministers in the family. "In Missouri, Mary, a daughter of Thomas , a Baptist minister, married a Methodist. The Keeney family practically disowned her. This book lists John and Martha Ann' children as: Revy. 1850 John Jr. - about 1780 - 6 Dec. 1845 Rev. Thomas (1782? - 1846) Nancy - (17 86 after 1835) James - (? - 1841)Hiram - (? - ?) Possibly others."

Several histories of Cocke Co, Tenn relate story of John Keene and John McLoughlin, with several others, being charged with finding a location for a new courthouse and seeing it built. Probably this John Keeney.John Keeney, by letter, joignnty June11, 1791. also wife Ann "Early Settlers in Greenbrier County" from Virginia Historical Magazine,vol 19, p. 169 Extracted from the journal of Dr. Thomas Walker. Lists John Keeney as having land surveyed in Greenbrier Co. in 1751. Was this John' father? Also mentions Keeney Knob on Muddy Cre k .LDS film0845444. copy MGL1. Virginia Genealogical Mag, Aug. 1989, p.2 08 also refers to a Keeney' Mill as a landmark for a survey in 1786. (Santa Clara Library) On Aug. 17, 1784, the Greenbrier Co. Court ordered th at a road "be established from Jno Keeney' Mill to the dry run and Thos Hamilton survey or from the dry run to Jno Stuarts." - Greenbrier County Court Records - 1780'. Book A, p. 21. LDS film 0464939. In 1751 survey, Apri l25, John Keeney held 40 acres in Green Bryer County. "Keeney" held additional 375 acres. Virginia Mag. Hist. and Bio., Vol 19, pp 169-70.LDS film 0 845444, Item 2. Same ref, "GreenBryer River first discovered by white people in about 1749. North Carolina Land Grants in Tennessee: Grant # 2265,year 1788, 67 acres to John Keeney. Greene County, on the North side of French broad(?) river. LDS film 0024541.

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From Gould Notes:
Keeney Update June 1998 - from Kathleen Bledsoe, direct descendant,Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, 1918 Bungalow Ave, Huntington, West Virginia,25701:
John Keeney (Sr) born 25 Dec 1750 in Keeney' Knob, Greenbrier, West Virginia, died1845 in Holt Co, Missouri, Married about 1771, Martha (_____ _). Her source:Keeney and Bersot Families, compiled 1980-81 for descendants of Charles Willisyy Virginia Belle Keeney Coates. Book in possession of Viola Bangel. More in update. I question some of it. In MGL file.

spouse: Poets, Annie Elizabeth (1754 - )

C. V. Jackson Research Notes:
"On a map (by Lewis Evans) of The Middle Colonies of British America (and above the confluence of the Greenbrier and New rivers in Virginia) is the tiny figure of a cabin (the only such on the map). Beside it is the name of John Keeney,famas Walker, returning from his exploration of Kentucky in 1751, passed John Keeneys. Surely, there is some connection of this pioneer to the one who acquired land on the Nollichucky in 1783. In fact, it is believed that Nancy's brother, Jonathan Anthony Keeney, was born Feb 1778, in what be came Greene County, Tennessee. At any rate, our John Keeney received a grant of 67 acres on the French Broad River in 1788. He deeded this land ( then in Jefferson County) to his son, Thomas on 18 April 1806.
"When Cocke County, Tennessee was created in 1797, John Keeney was one of a committee to select the site for a courthouse, and to supervise i ts construction. He and his wife, Ann, were members of Big Pigeon Baptist Church as late as 1811es of John and Jonathan appear on a petition to the U. S. Congress from some residents of Indiana Territory.
"The Keeneys and their newly acquired in-laws may not have moved to the Whitewater "Gore" as a company, but the land entries indicate that they settled in close proximity:
1 Nov 1811 John Keeney, pg 104 SWl/4, S222 14N 13E of 2nd PM Fayette Co,
23Nov 1811 Chas. McGlaughlin, Union County
22Oct 1813 Stephen Oldham, Fayette County
14Jan 1815 John Oldham Fayette County
16Jan 1815 James Oldham, Fayette County
8 Mar 1816, John Keeney Sr., Union
"I have much material on the descendants of John and Ann Keeney, but will not detail it here. Nancy Oldham's parents and siblings soon moved on to Saline, Ray and Jackson Counties, Missouri. Many later went out to Oregon - after a stay ithew, Capt. Jonathon Keeney, was a trapper and famous "Mountain Man", a contemporary of Jim Bridger. He led immigrants into Oregon (including many of his own kinfolk) and was the first to take wagons over the mountains. He later operated a ferry and trading post at Fort Boise, on the Snake River.

Helen Quinn notes: John F. Keeney, ,born in Montgomery County, Indiana 19 Aug 1818., grandfather Johnathan of Germany - native of Tennessee, early became resident of Fayette County, Indiana, blacksmith and Baptist preacher married Mary McLaughlin, died in Park County, Iowa. Son of John H., father of John F., born 22 Dec 1818 in east Tennessee married Mary KRUZAN daughter of Joseph and Ellen Burnett KRUZAN, children Mary E., Jonathan, John F., Charles W., Charlotte, Elizabeth A. Matilda J., Jose ph B. and James B. - John H. and Mary M. in Franlin Co. moved to Missou ri 6 years, returned to Indiana, 3yr Montgomery Co then settled in Hendricks Co. - from Murrat Keeney conversation. Jonathan Keeney Baptist Minister related to Peter, also Baptist preacher, settled near Connersville from Tennessee about 1804. Had trading post moved to Missouri when lost money in business - returned to Boone Co. near Ladoga, Indiana.

IDAHO STATESMAN 6/Aug./1864

Boise Ferry, on Snake River at old Fort Boise-The traveling public are invited to take notice that the above ferry is now completed and furnished wi th good new boats and careful attendant. This ferry is located at the most eligible crossing on Snake River for travel from Humbolt, Scot Valley, Cal., Dalles, and Umatilla, Oregon, and Walla Walla, W. T. to and from Boise City and Valley, South Boise and Idaho City, I. T., of which all must be convinced who once try this route. Being furnished with buoy lines, and the largest boats, it is believed to be the safest ferry on Snake River.

J. Keeney

John Duval J. McLaughlin

Proprietors

Capt. Settle is not listed with J Keeney as part owner of ferry, so he evidently sold his part within a year after they went in it together.

This was another item :

Treasure Valley Reminder Ontario, Oregon Thursday, 4/Aug./1966

Later Fort Boise History-- Miss Annie Laurie Bird. excerpts-- page 4

How man of these features really were included in the SHOSHONE, which w as built at Fort Boise that autumn are not listed. At least, the construction of the boat made at the old site of the former Hudson Bay Company's post, a busy place. A more inconvenient location for a ship yard is hard to imagine. According to the IDAHO STATESMAN, 14 Oct. 1865-- Mr. Dorsey (should be DeOrsey) had contracted with A.H. Robie for the lumber to be delivered at Old Fort Boise with in fifty days and the boiler and machinery free on the road from Umatilla Landing. Several loads of this lumber were noted as having passed through Boise on October 20, By the middle of November a large amount of wood to be delivered at the mouth of the Boise had been contracted at $7.00 per cord. By Christmas, according to the reminiscences handed down by Dr. and Mrs. Felix Froman and recorded buy their granddaughter Ora Mumford Cramer, the Snake River was froze over completely and the ferry at Old Fort Boise was tied up for more than a month. During that time all the traffic crossed the river on ice.

Mrs. Cramer wrote, as the Christmas season of the year 1865 approached, the interest of the construction crew was divided between the building of the steamer and plans for a big Christmas ball to be given at the mess hall of the construction camp, near the ferry house. People came from far a nd near to attend. An elaborate supper was served by Mrs. Froman at the ferry house. Christmas and table decorations were not to be had, but Mrs. Froman was determined to have her tables beautiful as well as laden with tempting food. So painstakingly she set to work to construct two beautiful "Butter Betties" for the table centerpieces, statuettes, they were of a beautiful woman. The dress trimmings were made by squeezing butter through porous cloth. The result was a billowy and frilly gown. The entire statuette was of butter. Resourceful was she, our pioneer ancestor. She loved and craved beauty and refinement and often she achieved beauty where no means to achieve it seemed to exist.

Mrs. Cramer did not know whether a sage brush Christmas tree (sometimes used by the pioneers) was a part of the decorations, but was sure that with the rock candy purchased for the occasion days before, either at the Mi ddleton or Boise stores, any gifts exchanged were of a practical nature a nd probably consisted of hoods, mittens, wristlets, mufflers, stockings, socks and hand made trimmings for the voluminous petticoats or the decorated pillow cases.

(As we know the SHOSHONE adventure was a failure, so the article continues .) "This departure permitted the ferry to resume operations as the more economical wire rope cable type rather than the horse ferry boat operated wh en the SHOSHONE plied the waters of the upper Snake. By 1880 the length of this wire cable had increased from the former 600 feet to 900 feet, the widening of the river caused by the vast amount of gravel sent down Boise river by the places of mining. This widening began while Keeney still owned the ferry, increased under the ownership of Samuel McDowell, then that of Lorin A. Sevey and Albert Fouch and finally, after Fouch had sold his interest to Sevey, to the final abandonment of the ferry. M r. F. R. Fouch who lived at the ferry in 1900 stated in 1927 that because of the cutting away of the banks, the site of the Old Fort was (Far out) in the river and that as the banks have been washed away a number of skeletons had caved into the stream.

"excerpt" Peter Keeney, son of Jonathan Keeney who had been killed in 1878 continued to live in the Keeney residence, surrounded by the beautiful trees, planted in 1865, and to run over a 1000 head of cattle on the Oregon side of the river.

The railroad era in the valley caused the location to become unknown to most residents, a nostalgic memory to those who had know it in the time of its prominence.

Birth:	Aug. 20, 1816 Fayette County Indiana, USA
Death:	Apr. 27, 1885 Brownsville Linn County Oregon, USA
James Keeney, younger brother of Cpt. Jonathan Keeney, was born in Fayette County, Indiana and went with his parents, John and Mary Keeney, and the rest of the family, to Ray County, Missouri in 1825. James was a farmer and on March 19, 1840 married Catherine Stewart who died at the birth of their second daughter, December 6, 1845 in Holt County, Missouri. On March 1, 1846, James married Nancy Keeney, who was the daughter of Rev. Thomas and Lovina Bales Keeney, she being seven years older than James. Three daughters were born from this union. James continued to farm in Missouri until the fall of 1850. His brothers, Jonathan and Elias, had went to Oregon in 1846 and had settled on farms near Brownsville, Oregon. They went to the gold fields in California in 1849 and were very successful and decided to return to Missouri in the fall of 1850 and buy cattle to take to Oregon. James Keeney and his family left with his brothers, their widowed mother and many other member of the Keeney family. This group was known as the "Keeney Wagon Train". Arriving in Oregon in November of 1851, James settled on a Donation Land Claim in Linn County May 1852, about five miles south of Brownsville, where he farmed until his death in 1885. James' second wife died September 7, 1862 and was buried in the Union Point Cemetery. Mary Ramsey Burkhalter Keeney, mother of James, died at James' home June 24, 1872 and is also buried in the Keeney plot in the Union Point Cemetery. James married his third wife, Miranda Michael Pearl on January 10, 1878 and to this union one son was born. Family links: Parents: John Jonathan Keeney (1772 - 1845) Mary Ramsey Burkhalter Keeney (1783 - 1872) Spouses: Catharine Stewart Keeney (1824 - 1845) Nancy Keeney Keeney (1809 - 1862) Miranda Ruth Michael Keeney (1839 - 1919)* Children: Mary Keeney Overton (1843 - 1933)* Sarah Catherine Keeney Bennett (1845 - 1916)* Irena Keeney Warmoth (1849 - 1879)* Siblings: Mary Bogart (1804 - 1874)* Jonathan Keeney (1813 - 1878)* James Keeney (1816 - 1885) Rebecca Keeney Putman (1821 - 1895)* Andrew Jackson Keeney (1822 - 1898)* Eli Keeney (1828 - 1878)* Elias Keeney (1828 - 1910)* *Calculated relationship Inscription: In Memory of Our Father Aged 68 yrs 8 mos & 7 days

Burial: Union Point Cemetery Brownsville Linn County Oregon, USA
Maintained by: Jim P Originally Created by: Debbie Smith Record added: Jun 03, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 37884502

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