DK 

!RELATIONSHIP: The Keeney and Bersot Families; page 15; supplement page 1

!RELATIONSHIP: The Keeney and Bersot Families; Virginia Keeney Coats

!BIRTH: Conflicting data: 7 or 10 January 1897 or 1898

!RELATIONSHIP: The Keeney and Bersot Families by Virginia Keeney Coats

Carpenter - 35 miles south of San Francisco, CA

!RELATIONSHIP: The Keeney and Bersot Families by Virginia Keeney Coats

!Sources
1. Keeney Update - January 1994

2. Data from Virginia Keeney Coats of

!RELATIONSHIP: The Keeney and Bersot Families by Virginia Keeney Coats

Died in infancy

!RELATIONSHIP: The Keeney and Bersot Families by Virginia Keeney Coats;

!OCCUPATION: Machinist, Farmer - Carlisle, IA

!RELOCATION: Moved with family to Devils Lake, North Dakota in 1896

!CENSUS: 1880; IN; 26 years old

!CENSUS: 1860; Union, Hendricks, IN; age 6

!CENSUS: 1870; Union, Hendricks, IN; age 17; farm hand

!MARRIAGE: 20 May; Montgomery, IN; from Murat Keeney

!MARRIAGE: 12 Feb; from Virginia Coats

!OCCUPATION: Farmer - Pittsboro, Hendricks, IN and Rock Lake ND

!OCCUPATION: hotel keeper in Rock Lake ND

Letters written by his son Charles to George A. Keeney indicate that thefamily was much poorer than that of James' brothers. Charles mentionedthat they were ''.

!Sources
1. Keeney Update - January 1994

!Sources
1. Keeney Update - January 1994

!BIRTH: Indiana IGI

!RELATIONSHIP: The Keeney and Bersot Families by Virginia Keeney Coats

!BIRTH: 1845; Pat Kaufman

!OCCUPATION: article in Western Kansas World; March, 1979

!RESIDENCE: Founder of WaKeeney, Kansas, Chicago, IL

!RELATIONSHIP: film 1,421,976 #2

!CENSUS: 1860; Iowa, J.F. Keeney, age 19, born IN living Wm Pritchard

2. Keeney Update - December 1997

In 1877 James purchased land in what is now Trego County, forspeculative purposes looking for wealth in the "Great American Desert." Adeed was made from the Kansas Pacific Railway Company, to James F. Keeneyon 14 December 1877, fore all of Sec. 9, Township 12, R.1 23 - with otherlands- for a consideration of $27,732.21

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Posted by Dave Wakeman on March 23, 1999 at 09:56:36:
This is an article I received a couple of years ago from a young Keeneydescendent in Utah.
James Keeney - The Founder of WaKeeney
(April 30, 1892)
James Franklin Keeney, the founder of WaKeeney, Kansas was born inCrawfordsville, Indinana, on the 15th of September, 1845. His father' was Charles P. Keeney and his mother' aiden name was Mary Beck, acousin of Senator Beck, of Kentucky. His mother was born in NorthCarolina and his fther in Kentucky. They went to Iowa in 1850 and settledin Des Moines, where James F. Keeney lived with his parents until he wastwenty years old. Part of this time he worked onhis father' farm nearthe city and going to school in the winter. When he was eighteen yearsold he was sufficiently advanced in his studies to teach school, which hedid, at the same time he was pursuing the study of higher mathematics,Greek and Latin under Prof. J. A. Nash, of Des Moines. So he was preparedto pass the examination and enter the University of Rochester, atRochester, N. Y., where he took a four years collegiate course,graduating in 1866 with high honors, having excelled in mathematics andin both Greek and Latin. He also studied law. He lived in Rochester, N.Y., until the fall of 1868, when he removed to Chicago, where he hasever been an active an progressive Chicagoan. his first enterprise inChicago was, in connection with some others, to buy up 240 acres of land to lay out Ravenswood, which is today one of the finest suburbs of Chicago, being now in the city limits and only six miles from thebusiness center.
His next enterprise was just before the big Chicago fire, the buying up of a large tract of land twelve miles north of the courthouse on the lake and laying out South Evanston. Here he buit a fine railroad depot on the Chicago and Northwestern railroad, a fine business block and forty fine houses and established this place on such a solid basis that today it is the home of thousands of Chicago' most influential and best businessmen.
After the great panic in Chicago in 1877, Mr. Keeney went west to Trego county, Kansas, and bought in all about five sections of land and founded WaKeeney.
The old settlers of Trego county are well acquainted with Mr. Keeney' in Kansas. Not only was he prominently identified with all of WaKeeney' business interests, but he was well known in the state, The Keeney block, which bears his name, was built by him in 1880; our fine depot building, one of the finest on the line of the U.P. railroad, we owe to him largely. Mr. Keeney was a member of the legislature from Trego county and was one of the leading members of that body. Upon him was conferred the high honor of president of the Western National Fair Association, was a member of the state board of agriculture, etc. he was also prominently mentioned by the press of Kansas for governor. It is needless to remark that if he had remained in Kansas he would have been one of the most prominent men in the state.
In 1881 Mr. Keeney returned to Chicago, bought 160 acres near Humbolt park and founded the village of Hermosa, which is a thriving place and is only five miles from the court house and to which the street cars now run. This place he also developed by building housed, sewers, and doing allt he necessary things to make it a desirable home for the masses.
He built for himself on the southwest corner of Rush and Ohio streets last year a seven story brick apartment house, which covers a groundspace of 100X125 feet, which is considered the finest building of thekind in Chicago, whcih brings in a rental of $45,000 per annum. He alsobuilt for himself a fine granite mansion of Michigan boulevard, where henow lives.
He bought recently 1,200 acres in Cook county, on the South Side, and hasestablished there a manufacturing town, which he calls Columbia Heights.The Rice Henge Piano Co. employs 300 men; Standard Cloth Co., 150 men;Columbia Heights Piano Co., 100 men; Ornamental Terre Cotta Co., 50 men,and several other factories. It is Mr. Keeney' intention to make thisthe crowning work of his life, as he has already accumulated a fortune.

Hope this helps someone,
Dave

!RELATIONSHIP: The Keeney and Bersot Families by Virginia Keeney Coats;

!OCCUPATION: Blacksmith

!BIRTH: 1852 OR 1854

!CENSUS: 1880; Alexandria, Thayer, NE; three children

!Sources
1. Keeney Update - January 1994

!RELATIONSHIP: The Keeney and Bersot Families by Virginia Keeney Coats

1900 Soundex: Perry Twp., Boone Co., IN age 6, bp IN

!RELATIONSHIP: The Keeney and Bersot Families by Virginia Keeney Coats

!RELATIONSHIP: The Keeney and Bersot Families; Virginia Keeney Coats

!RESIDENCE: Thayer and Dawes Counties, Nebraska, children in Casper WY

!CENSUS: 1880; Alexandria, Thayer, NE

!RELATIONSHIP: The Keeney and Bersot Families by Virginia Keeney Coats;

!CENSUS: 1860; says born in Indiana

!SERVICE: enlisted at age 19 on 5 Aug 1861 in 10th Iowa Infantry Civil War

Note this is my working file not positive on everything.
It' possible that John David is the son of John (Keney) Keeney who was
b. 15 August 1689

Not sure about this being the right name, as some sources say John and
others say David.

From the data of Carol Keeney
According to historical documentation passed on by the Montgomery kin, on25 April 1751 John Keeney patented 40 acres in what was then calledAugusta County (This is now Greenbrier County). Another 375 acre land grant followed. According to these documents his date of birth is 12March 1714 in New England. According to he family bible he lived to the age of 102.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Should this be for John David or John Jonathan? I' not sure, but some of the following links to both so I' just put here you can decide where it fits. (DLK)
From Gould Notes:
_______
from Keeney, Roscoe C., "435 More Keeney Relatives-the Frances Keeney Brawley Family": p.2: First generation Keeneys in West Virginia include John Keeney, who is listed by the Wm and Mary Quarterly as the owner of40 acres of land in Greenbrier County on April 25, 1751. In the book" Greenbrier Pioneers and their Homes,
" by Ruth Woodson, David Keeney is listed as Greenbrier County settler in the 1769-1773 period. John Keeney had two grants of land on Muddy Creek, Greenbrier County, in 1779." Rest of 27 pages is descendants of Moses Keeney, m. Frances Harris 1789.
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LDS film of Jefferson County "Citizen' Tribune" gives background infoon settling. Nothing specific. MGL files
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Keeney Creek - a small right-hand tributary to New River in Fayette Co.; Keeney Mountain - a ridge in Summers County north of Greenbrier River.Elevation 2000-3000 feet.; Keeney Knob - summit of Keeney Mountain.Altitude 3,945 feet. - from Gazetteer of West Virginia, p. 79. SantaClara Library. Several mentions of Keeney' Knob(bs) in Hale:"Trans-Allegheny Pioneers" (Stanford Library) as:part of 1774 militaryroute; First wagon road, 1786, between Lewisburg and Kanawha River wentpast it; Indians passed over K.K. on their retreat with prisoner Mrs.Clendenin. Miller, James H. "History of Summers County" 1908.:p.38-Keeney' Mountain named for one of earliest settlers in theterritory of this county-by name of David Keeney, who settled near thefoot of Greenbrier Co.side in 1787. p.49- Indians destroyed settlementson Muddy Creek 1760 - all settlers killed, captured or fled. Resettledabout 1770. Keeney' Knob used frequently throughout this book as alandmark. p.73-The principal mountains of Summers County are Keeney'....sput of Alleghany mountains - named after David Keeney whosettled at its base. (Keeney Mt and Keeny Knob seem to be the same.)p.84-Keeneys settled near Keeney' Knob 1769-1774. Lots of good generalinfo - lifestyle, etc. p.302- Mrs. Keeney baptized 1775-77 - BaptistChurch p.352-Keeney' Knob or mountain named after early settler who waskilled b
2 CONC y Indians. p.369-Joshua Nowlan married Mary Keeney of Kanahwa Co.1865. p.561,2-McLaughlin' of Nicholas Co (Baptists) p.654+ Peck family -Jacob m. Eliz.c.1744 p.777-Keeney' Fort located at foot of Keeney' - exact location in doubt , and on which side of mountain.
2 CONT Background on settlers of the New River area - mostly came after1730 from Ireland or Scotland. Many of the Irish were of Scots heritage.Came in through either Philadelphia or Charleston. Looking for religiousfreedom. Hardly any ministers. Gathered in groves to worship. Keeneysbuilt Keeney' Fort at Keeneys Knobs. Several pages on manners andcustoms.
- from Johnston , David E.: A History of Middle New River Settlements;1969 (reprinted from 1906.) Stanford. Some xeroxed in MGL
_____
"We the Commissioners, etc., do certify that John Keeney is entitled to175 acres of land by right of settlement before the first day of January1778, a survey made for him in the year 1774 lying in Greenbrier Countyadjoining the land of Joseph Claypole. Given under our hands this 13thday of January, 1780, etc. Attest ditto (5 & 6) - from Land Entry BookGreenbrier Co., W.Va. 1984. Stinson. p. 19. Same ref, page 31, JamesButler land adjoins John Keeneys. As does William Griffiths' land. p. 44."7th June 1782. Leonard Morris, assignee of John Keeney, enter 300 acresof land, part of a State Preemption Warrant for 1000 acres, on the firstlarge creek below the ford of Gauley, to begin at the 2nd fork of theright hand fork, and to extend up said creek for quantity. (240 acres)this entry lifted. 160 surveyed.). (55). same ref, p. 61 Same ref, p. 147- "17 Apr 1785. Joseph Claypole enters 300 acres by Treasury Warrant perorder from Charles Donnally for 1462 acres, No. 11772, dated 22 Apr1782, on Mill Creek, joining John Keeney, Michael Keeney, and RichardHumphreys, to include the vacant land for quantity. (This void). (177).Page 223 - "4 Oct 1786. John Keeney enters 50 acres by the above warrant(State Warrant No. 8864, issued in Curtis Littlepage' name) to beginjoining Simon Shoomaker', Joseph Claypole, Michael and Martin Kizer, toinclude the vacant land within the limit for quantity. (266).
______
Keeney Mountain located on map of Greenbrier County, 1777. p. 33 - EarlySurvey records show "John Jones 340 a. first creek below the mo. Elkabout 12 miles up s.d creek, by preemption war. for 1000 a. No. 1609,Oct. 15, 1781, asnee John Keeney. " p. 57"John Keeney 115 & 353 a. Muddycreek settlement, June 26, 1787." - from Greenbrier County, (West)Virginia Records, transcribed by Larry Shuck, 1988.
______
Helen Stinson: Greenbrier Court Orders:
p.63 -mention of the above John Keeney land on Muddy Creek by JosephClaypool' and John Anderson'. 31 Jul 1787
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Deed Book 1, p 550, Greenbrier County: 6 Apr 1796 John Keeney andKatherine his wife - land to Adam Glyne. Adjacent to Michael Keeney' Muddy south...description...mouth of Mill Creek to two white oaks onClaypoles line... and with Shoemaker south. copy MGL files
______
Greenbrier Co (W)V marriages 1782-1900:
John Kenny m. Mary Sampson 29 Oct 1781

______
MGL files has a page of marriages 1781-1798 Don' know source (E. Beall):1781 Michael Keeney to Cathn Lewis; John to Mary Sampson; David toPeninah Bailes; John Keen to Naomi Keen - all performed by John Alderson
______
Will book 1, p 800, Greenbrier Co, fr E. Beall - will of John Kenny -1832 - no relatives named. land to John Littlepage. Have copy, andinventory, don' think it fits. No familiar names.

_____
Greenbrier Tax lists - 1843 - a John Keeney, living in Ohio - 83 acres atIrish corner.

_____
Deed Book 1, p 121 Greenbrier Co: 26 Aug 1791:
Deed Between John Keeney and Catherine, his wife, in consideration of theparental affection which they have for David and Moses Keeney 350 acreswhere J & C now live. Muddy Creek settlement, joining land of MichaelKeeney and Simon Shoemaker,...description by poles and trees...take careof John and Catherine. cc MGL files
______
from E. Beall CDs: CD136 VA pre-1790 tax lists. Greenbrier Co, VA 1783-:Keaney, John; John Keany; Michael Keany; Thomas Keany; John Kenny; DavidKeney; John Keny; Michael Kiney CD 229: Marriages Greenbrier 1700-1850:David Keeny & Elizabeth Heume, 2 Aug 1821; Jno Keeney & Eliz. Gratton, 2JAn 1826;Moses Keeney & Phoebe Skeene, 7 Dec 1825. WV 1860 Kanawha Co,WV, CD24: all Paint Creek P.O. Keeney - David, Fanny, Foster, John,McDonnald, Moses, Moses, Polly, Rachael, Robert, Stines, William, WilliamS. CD 24 - Fayette Co WV 1860:
Rocky Hill P.O.: Keeney, John B., Joseph, Mary. Fayetteville P.O.:Kenney, James
CD 43 - 1850 WV Berkeley Co: John Keeney, 9th district
CD 136. Pre-1790 Botetourt Co. John Kenny - Cartmills Dist, TX

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Botetourt Co. 3/4/1774. John Keeny granted 175 acres on Mill Creek. -from Summers, Annals SW VA. p. 493. Our John?

_____ from a letter to Cocke County Banner, Newport, TN in 1972: Courthouse story. Land holdings on French Broad River. Member of Big PigeonBaptist Church with wife Ann (Nancy?) as late as 1811. Some moved toIndiana - Petition from Indiana Territory dated 12 Dec 1809 containsnames of John Keeney and son, Jonathan. (copy CPG files. petition forsuffrage.) Entered 160 acres of land in Fayette Co, Indiana 1 Nov 1811,moved within 10-15 years to Missouri where he died in 1845 in HoltCounty.[I question this] Dates and places of birth of John, Sr and wifeunknown. Has different list of kids and dates. Lists Jonathan as firstborn. Same dates I have. Then lists Joseph, John, Jr, Nancy. from LT.Jackson, Long Beach, CA

----From Hist of Fayette Co, IN, by Barrows, p. 250: Township 14 North,Range 13 East, Section 22 sold in 1811, 1812, and 1813 to John Keeney,Abraham Vanmeter, David Fletcher, and Hill & Oldham. Township 14North,Range 13 East, Se ction 28 sold in 1813, 1814, and 1816 to Smith &Connor, James Ward, John Keeney, and Robert Brown. These lands were partof Jennings Township. Few actual settlements until 1814. Earliest settlerThomas Simpson of Maryland, in 1809. Next settlers were John Keeney,James Smith, Samuel Smith, John and Stephen Oldham, all men of families,who came from the same neighborhood as the Simpsons. [?] Smith and one ofthe Oldham brothers were ministers of the Regular Baptist Church. p. 252.

Lands of the district were thrown open to settlers in 1811, with landoffice at Cincinnati. (p.107)

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according to an LDS source, there was a John Keney b. 6 oct 1692 to aJohn Keney and wife Catherine in Chuckatuck, Nansemond, VA.

!Sources
1. Keeney Update - January 1994

! Sources:
1. Records of Jim Robertson

2. Records of Patricia Kaufman of

3. Keeney Update - January 1994

!BIRTH-DEATH: 2,597 Keeney Relatives, Roscoe C Keeney Jr.

!RELATIONSHIP: The Keeney and Bersot Families, Virginia Keeney Coats

!LAND: Sec 34 T 17 N R 1W 80 acres, Hendricks Co IN; November 25, 1835

!MARRIAGE: 8713501 #74

!CENSUS: 1840: Hendricks Co IN

!CENSUS: 1850; Middle, Hendricks, IN; age 45; #903/913; Farmer $2000

!RELIGION: Big White Lick Baptist Church; 12 Oct 1833

Data from Myron Goff:
Fought in the American Revolutionary War; his records are in Raleigh, NC;
received land grant in WV for his services. Baptist minister & farmer.

Data from Carol Keeney:
Land grants in Tennessee were made by North Carolina until 1800. AS aRevolutionary War veteran he received GRANT #2265, 67 acres in 1788 onthe north side of French Broad River, Greene Co., Tennesse, this areabecame Jefferson Co., in 1792 & Cocke Co., in 1796.
John & Ann joined the Big Peigon Baptist Church in 1794 & and weredismissed 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 Co., TN, son of JOHN (some records say DAVID) KEENEY. who settled in Greenbrier Co., VA (now WV) about 1756, received 67 acres on the north side of French Broad River, Greene Co (now TN); 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 Warren County areas of Iowa. Almost all of the 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 Jonathan 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 TN; Missourirecords disagree)

10. SAMUEL THOMAS JEFFERSON KEENEY (1872-1872 in TN)

Assuming that this list is essentially correct most Keeney researchers have concentrated on the John, Jr. family and the Jonathan Anthony family.

SOURCES: History of Warren Co., IA; Bowen' History of Montgomery Co.; Beckwith' History of Indiana Counties; Walters History of Montgomery Co. Churches; Indiana Newspapers Vital Records Service; Mormon Library, Sissonville, WV; Iowa Genealogical Society, Des Moines; Census records1820-1920 from Boone, Montgomery & Hendricks counties, IN; Polk, Warren, Dallas & Lucas Co., IA; and state census records of Kansas, Illinois, Idaho, Utah & California.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 1750to John and Catherine Keeney. Land grant as Rev War vet in 1788 on North side of French Broad River, Greene Co, TN. Became Jefferson Co in 1792and Cocke Co in 1797. Part of group to pick Cocke Co seat. 1793assessor' 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.
________

!Sources
1. Keeney Update - January 1994

!BIRTH: Indiana IGI

!SERVICE: Civil War Solider

!RESIDENCE: Chicago Ill.

!MARRIAGE: 1867; The Beck Heritage; Edith Schuman

!MARRIAGE: 1867; The Keeney and Bersot Families; Virginia Keeney Coats

!NICKNAME: "Chicago John"

!Sources
1. Keeney Update - January 1994

!RELATIONSHIP: The Keeney and Bersot Families; page 15; supplement page 1

!OCCUPATION: Blacksmith

!Sources
1. Keeney Update - January 1994

!RELATIONSHIP: The Keeney and Bersot Families by Virginia Keeney Coats

!DEATH: Batch FR 189397; Dixie Lee Malm

!CENSUS: 1860; Middle Twp., Hendricks Co, IN age 1

!CENSUS: 1870; Middle Twp., Hendricks Co., IN age 11 "Willis"

!OCCUPATION: School teacher

!RELATIONSHIP: The Keeney and Bersot Families

I got this from the Keeney Update of May 1989

REV. JONATHAN ANTHONY KEENEY
Rev. Jonathan Anthony Keeney was born in Greenbrier Co., WV, February 10,1778, the son of John and Annie Keeney. The family moved to Cooke Co., TN around 1790. On December 4, 1803 Jonathan was married to Mary McGlothlen. All the Keeneys were members of the Big Pigeon Baptist Church of that area and in 1812 Jonathan was "given liberty to preach." Around 1820 he moved his family to eastern Indiana. He spent much of his time in traveling and preaching and left his prosperous business and considerable property in the care of clerks and hired hands, taking a financial loss. By 1830 he had moved to the green country of Montgomery Co., IN. He gave each of his children 40 acres there hoping to keep the family together and close to him. But by 1846 his son Charles moved to Iowa, establishing the town of Avon (old Avon), and by 1848 Rev. Jonathan Anthony Keeney, all his sons and daughters and grandchildren, with the exception of sons John Hiram and Peter, had followed Charles to the Avon, Carlisle and Scotch Ridge areas.
The children who moved to Iowa were Joseph Seaberry, Charles, Jonathan, Samuel Thomas, and daughters Elizabeth and husband Alanson Harrison, Nancy Ann and husband Samuel McCoy, and Mary Hannah and husband William Edwards.
Rev. Jonathan lived only a few years in Iowa. He died September 2, 1850and was buried in the Watts family graveyard, later called the Avon Cemetery. Mary McGlothlen Keeney died 15 years later on September 3, 1865at the home of their son, Charles, and was buried beside her husband.
Today there are still many descendants of Rev. Jonathan Keeney in the Carlisle area.
By Patricia Foulke Kaufman

Here is some info on The Reverend Jonathan Anthony Keeney from the
database of Donald C. McGlothlen:
1814: "On a beautiful knoll in the northeastern par of the township, along Simpson' Creek, is situated what is known as the Simpson Graveyard. It is on the farm in sight of the spring where the cabin was built in the fall of 1803 which sheltered the surveying party, and soon became the home of Thomas Simpson, Sr., whose remains there rest, and whose name it honors... In July 1814, not far from this place of burial, was chosen by Bros. Litteral and McLaughlin (a committee appointed for such) the site of the first meetinghouse of the New Bethel Regular Baptist Church. They paid for one acre of ground here purchased of Thomas Simpson, Sr., for $2, upon which was erected a log meetinghouse 26 x 20feet.
Elder Stephen Oldham, Rebecca Oldham, John Keny, Polly Keny, Thomas Simpson (deacon), Sarah Simpson, Rebecca Conner, Katharine Williams, Charles and Jane McLaughlin, James and Sarah Connaway, John Keny, Sr., Jonathan Keny, Polly Keny, William and Ann Oldham, and Susan White, had, January 15, 1814, made application for a church society, and on the forth Friday of February adopted Articles of Faith, and were on the following day constituted a Gaspal (sic) Baptist Church by the name of New Bethel,by the Presbytery, Lazarus Whitehead, from Elkhorn Church, and James Smith" (4)
The church founded by Charles M. McGlothlen was reportedly in Lyonsville, IN (17)
Note: In Ref (18) the church was stated to be Lyonsville, Indiana (when 4miles East of Connerville on highway 44 in Indiana, Lyonsville is located4 miles North.)
(4) History of Fayette Country, IN. 1885, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago Publishers, page 188. SLC FHL 977.2623 H2hi.
(17) John E. Truxaw' Newhouse family History, 1972
(18) Also from notes complied by Georgia McGlothlen Reynolds, Des Moines, IA prior to her death in November 1981.

Per Joe Foulke 03 September 1996 letter to D. C. McGlothlen:
Nine of the children came to Iowa, many to Polk Co, in the 1843 - 1848time period. Son Charles layout the town of Avon. Most took out or bought land claims near each other.

The Keeney family came to Iowa from Montgomery or Hendricks Co. in Indiana. Many other immigrants came from the Morgan Co. White River Valley, where the White River was often flooding. Earlier, many families came to the White River Valley in Indiana from Pulaski Co., Kentucky.

From May 1994 Keeney update, Jonathan Anthony Keeney died not long afte rarriving in Polk Co, IA.

From Keeney update of May, 1989, authored by Patricia Foulke Kaufman:
Confirms marriage date of December 4, 1803. His family was living in Coke Co, TN at that time. All his family were members of the Big Pigeon Baptist Church of that area and in 1812 Jonathan was given
liberty to preach. Around 1820 he moved his family to eastern Indiana, where he had a business that languished while he traveled around to preach. By 1830 he moved to Montgomery Co, Indiana. He
gave each of his children 40 acres there hoping to keep the family together. By 1846 his son Charles had moved to Iowa, where he established the town of (old) Avon, in Polk Co. By 1848, all his sons, daughters and grandchildren except sons ????, Hiram and Peter had followed Charles to Avon, Carlisle and Scotch Ridge areas. The children who moved to Iowa were Joseph Seaberry, Charles, Jonathan,
Samuel Thomas, and daughters Elizabeth and husband Alanson Harrison, Nancy Ann and husband Samuel McCoy, and Mary Hannah and husband William Edwards. Rev Keeney died a few years after arriving in Iowa, on September 2, 1850 and was buried in the Watts family graveyard, which was to become the Avon Cemetery. Mary (McGlothlen) Keeney died 15 years later at the home of their son Charles and was buried beside her husband.

Buried in Old Avon City Cemetery near Avon (Polk Co.), Iowa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Gould notes:

Marriage date from Jefferson County, Tennessee, marriage license issued 4December 1803 to Jonathan Keeney and Polly McGlaughlin, returned 4December 1803 as "married on Dec 4, 1803 by P. (Parmenas) Taylor, J.P."
John Keeney and Daniel Swan witnessing. Xerox in MGL files. confirmed in Early East Tennessee Marriages. p. 200
Wayne Keeney Howell (LDS) says marriage in "Tennessee Regular Baptist Church."
Patricia Foulke Kaufman says married at her home, near Gallatin , TN

from Keeney Update December 1996 - County Clerk in Anderson County, TN is one Jack Keeney. Office at courthouse in Clinton
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W. K. Howell says there is a Keeney memorial in Johnson City, Eastern TN, not far from Virginia. Also, that Rev. Jonathan Keeney married the first couple in (can' read it - definitely first letter W, then ?? Washon? Co.,) IA.
"Jonathan Keeney, of whom I am a direct descendant, had other brothers and sisters. The names of Hiram, John (1804) and Nancy were among them. Jonathan located in Eastern Tennessee. (note from Aaron Macy - Jonathan might have been born there.) Soon after1804, he moved to Indiana and located near Connersville (in Fayette Co., near the Ohio state line) and became quite wealthy . He was a Free Mason, but left them to become a regular ordained minister in the Baptist Church. He went about preaching the gospel and left everything to hired help, who soon ruined his business." [His son John H. had gone to Ohio and married]Jonathan had moved to Ladoga, IN, where he entered land and gave his son John H 40 acres if he would return from Missouri and live near his father. Jonathan had sold out his business in Connersville, paid all his debts, and moved to Ladoga, where he was able to enter land for a new home. "All the children were Democrats except Joseph, who was a Whig. Nearly all were preachers." Pa per written by John Franklin Keeney.(probably son of John H.-from Aaron Macy via Wayne Keeney) MGL files

He was farmer/merchant/blacksmith and minister of Baptist Church.
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"Census for Rev. Jonathan Anthony Keeney (1778-1850) - (1820 first census in Indiana - became state 1816.)
1820 - Jennings Township, Fayette Co., Indiana: vol. 6, p. 44. Males:3under 10, 3 10-15, 1 16-26, 1 26-44. Females: 1 under 10 , 1 26-44. No slaves. Manufactures.
1830 census - Montgomery Co., IN p. 028, no TWP listed. two males 10-15;1male 15-20; 1 male 40-50; 2 females 5-10; 1 female 10- 15; 1 female40-50. (next door, George K., with 2 males under 5 , 2 males 5-10; 1 male20-30; 1 female 20-30. 6 doors down James K., 40-50, wife and several kids, 8 doors up, James [maybe Harris] McLaughlin 1 male under 5, 2 males30-40, 1 female 20-30., 4 doors up, Hiram K., 1 male 20-30, one female15-20). Same census, 4 before Jonathan is Hiram, 1 male 20-30;1 female15-20 . Four before Hiram Keeney is James McLaughlin, 1 male under 5, 2males 30-40, 1 female 20-30.\also a Peter Keeney, no twp, Mont Co, 1 male under 5, 1 male 5-10, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 30-40; 2 females under 5, 1between 5-10, 1 30-40.
1840 census: Scott TWP, Montgomery Co., Indiana. p. 243: Keeney, Jonathon Sr. free wh. males - two 20-30, one 60-70 free wh. females - one 50-60.
1850 census, Fort Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa: p. 29? Dwelling 300Keeney, Jonathon, age 70, no occupation, no value real estate , born TN. Mary, age 65, born VA
1860 - " " " for Jonathan, Jr., gives him as aged 59b. Ohio
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1820 census - no Keeneys in TN. Also no Keeneys in Jackson, Early Amer. Series, TN
Full text of lease of farm and improvements in Holt Co. Hist. Soc,"History of Holt Co"(MO) - xerox MGL. Second instrument recorded in the county. 24 Dec. 1841. Probably this Jonathan' so n Jonathan. "Where he now resides." Distillery, 50 hogs, 2 wagon s, 3 yoke oxen, 2 plows, 3hoes. Stay and assist as hand. 
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from some film at Sutro - lost reference - Dr Henry Keeney, son of James and Caron K., b. in Pulaski, KY 1811, moved to Montgomery Co, IN 1829.Physician. Madison TWP.;(p 51) and
Jere Keeney, native of Pulaski Co, KY, Settled in Montgomery Co1829.
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Letter from Georgia (McGlathlen) Reynolds to Wayne Keeney - 1969 . "No one has been able to prove the parentage of Jonathan (177 8-1850). from Wayne Keeney - Jonathan given liberty to preach at Big Pigeon Baptist Church, TN. Three of sons were preachers
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Hist of Montgomery Co, IN, p. 255:
The Baptists organized several years before the other churches . March17, 1827, when the settlers were few and Indians stilled roamed this country, their first church was constituted and called Providence Church. It met from house to house. Subsequently many of the immediate community were identified with this congregation and some are still members. Jonathan Keeney was the first preacher, and prominent among them. In less than a year they began to erect a house in which to worship. This was a log building across the creek west of David Harshberger' residence....1829 torn down and re-erected on the site of the present Cornstalk Baptist Church.
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Hist. of Fayette Co., In by Frederic I. Barrows:
A John Keeney purchased several pieces of land in 1811-1816. (Which John?)
Baptist churches first to establish in Fayette Co. Franklin Church, just below Nulltown; New Bethel, which now stands at the edge of the village in Lyonsville in the northern part of Jennings Twp; and Lick Creek, the first branch of which ... south of village of Harrisburg. p.411
pp418-19: The New Bethel Baptist Church, long since discontinued, had its inception the fourth Saturday in February, 1814. Prob. first org. ch within limits of Co. Meetings at homes of members. Jul y 1814, Charles McLaughlin and one Litteral, a committee selected by the cong., made plans to build house of worship. Signers of petition incl. John Keny, Polly Keny, Oldhams, Simpsons, Rebecca Conner, Katherine Williams, Charles and Jane McLaughlin, Conways, John Keny, Sr., Jonathan Keny, more Oldhams, and Susan White (full names in xerox.)
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Notes from conversation with Keith Houk, Ladoga, IN town historian:
Keith said that they were very well respected in the Ladoga community, in spite of the fact that Reverend Jonathan Keeney (father of the first Charles Keeney) had a problem with liquor. Rev. Jonathan was a good preacher, and people were moved to join his church, where he preached that one should follow the ten commandments and could then do pretty much whatever he wanted, as long as it didn' hurt anyone. These liberal preachings angered the stricter Baptists, and they ran him out of town.

There was another Keeney family in Ladoga. I had come across them in a town history, but could not connect them to "ours." This was the family of Jere Keeney, who came to Indiana from Kentucky. Turns out he was Jonathan' cousin, which means that John Keeney of Greenbrier County had a brother. They stayed in Indiana when "ours" moved West. Several of the early town doctors and publishers were from this family.
Jonathan built his last church in the Ladoga area himself. It was torn down just a couple of years ago. Keith is going to send me a picture of it. He says there are no records extant from Jonathan' churches, with the possible exception of the last one (Cornstalk Church), which he will check. Jonathan' house is still standing, and he will send me a picture of it. He didn' tell me where it is, because he says the woman who lives there doesn' like people coming around.

! Sources:
1. Records of Jim Robertson

2. Records of Patricia Kaufman

!RELATIONSHIP: The Keeney and Bersot Families; Virginia Keeney Coats

!MARRIAGE: 1st wife was first cousin, he left her