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Mystery Item of Captain Harry Garfield Keeney


Found online @ http://genforum.genealogy.com/keeney/messages/441.html

Harry G Keeney US Army officer

Posted by Gene Bonham April 19, 2001 at 16:11:55
I am seeking info about Harry G, Keeney he was an Officer in the US Army, don't know when for sure. I do know it was between 1902 and now. I am seeking either him or a direct descendent. I have a very special piece of equipment with his name on it.I would like this item to find it's way back to him or his family. Thank you.

My post in reply: April 19, 2001 at 21:03:43

Gene,
You may want to post your message on some of the other Keeney boards contact me & I'll supply you with the addresses. Dan Keeney
dan @ keeney.net (no longer a valid address 28 June 2012)

I did some searching online for Harry G. Keeney & came up with the following items; (which I sent to Gene)

I just checked my database and found, Harry Garfield Keeney (1881 - 1936) he lived in Salem, Marion Co., Oregon at the time of his death. I do not have any descendants listed for him.

On Ancestry.com I found; Database: Berks County, Pennsylvania Service Roster, 1917-18
Washington Camp # 597 / Town in PA Rehrersburg / Name Keeney, Harry

From: http://www.military-net.com/charlie/history.htm

History of Company C, the 162nd Infantry Regiment (To include the 41st Infantry Division/Brigade)

Following the First world War the Company was again reorganized as Company "C", Third Infantry, under the command of Captain Harry G. Keeney, Federal recognition was extended to the Company, June 30, 1919.

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So now the questions are.

Are Harry Garfield Keeney & Harry G. the same man? (Roscoe says yes) & Are there any living descendants in his line?

Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 17:48:03
To: <dan @ keeney.net> (no longer a valid address 28 June 2012)
From: Roscoe Keeney <scoe@wv-cis.net>
Subject: Captain Harry G. Keeney

Harry Garfield Keeney b.1880 in Multnomah Co OR m. Bertha Bell (b.1885 in IL; Capt. in US Army WW1, Funeral Director 1921-39; son: Harold A. Keeney b.1905 in Washington state son of James M. Keeney (1853-1913) & Mary Handsaker; listed in 1880 Lane Co census (also listed in Wagon Ruts West) grandson of Andrew Jackson Keeney & Hannah Daniels Cooper (2nd of Andrew's three wives) great grandson of John Keeney Jr & Mary Buckhalter Keeney (married in Tennessee in 1803) 2nd great grandson of John Jonathan Keeney RK
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Ref: KEENEY UPDATE Vol XI, No 3 Sept 1994: HARRY GARFIELD KEENEY b.20 Oct 1881 at Goshen OR, d.7 Oct 1936 at Salem OR; m. Delia G. Tibbets (1894-1964) no children; this does not agree with the 1920 census record.
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Gene sent back the following items:

This is just to cool. I got the item from Lt. Col. Frank Finch retired. I got it in 1985, Frank was 90 years old. He got it from someone other than Harry G. in 1920. He knew the second owner and had always rather admired this item. Then one of the 2 were transferred and lost contact with each other. Several years later he received a package in the mail from his friends wife, it contained the mystery item. She knew that Frank had always liked it, The letter that was with it said that her husband had died and thought that Frank would like to have it. Frank sent her some money to help her out and thanked her. Later Frank had learned that his friend had committed suicide. While he was away on maneuvers, his wife had become pregnant by a enlisted man, and he could not take the shame. This is the story of "The item". I will reveal it at the right time. Gene Bonham
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So far this seems to fit. The item was produced from 1902-1925. I sure hope that someone from his family is around. The funny thing about this is that I am in Corvallis, OR. Salem is about 40 miles north. If you would be so kind to include something of this, in your newsletter it would be great. I will let you know just what this item is. I will send a jpeg of it. Thanks for your help.
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Friday, April 27, 2001 08:19
Subject: Harry G. Keeney, Certificate of Death

This is getting to weird. I was talking to a older gent I know who has lived around this area for all his life and it turns out that he knew about Harry G., he said that there used to be a undertaker here in town by that name. Harry had a daughter that this gent was "sweet on". Then after he told me this story I got the Certificate of Death. I have been looking all over the states and good ol Harry G. was right under my nose all the time. But I still need a family member. This is going well. Thanks again of your help.

To see a larger more detailed view of any image, just click on it.

Sword-flag.jpg (788485 bytes)  MysteryItemHarryGKeeney.jpg (1070703 bytes)  grave.jpeg.jpg (1405735 bytes)

 Here's a better overall look. If I can't find the right person, I will take it to the Oregon National Guard Museum. Seeing how Harry was a member. But I still want to find out more about him. The uniform the sword is on came from the fellow I got the sword from. This is a uniform from the time between WW1 & WW2.

Sword.jpg (261179 bytes)
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