Table of Contents

Ramblings

Hello Everyone,
    This month I skipped over a few sections in Wagon Ruts West and did section 23, which deals with Captain Jonathan Keeney, see the miscellaneous section. I'll go back to section 10 next month.

    I've received a couple of requests asking, What is the best or easiest genealogy program to use? My reply is that Family Tree Maker seems to be the easiest one that I have found. Does anyone else have a favorite & if so why?

~Dan

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Welcome to the newest subscribers

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Keeney Updates
              volume 3 number 1 December 1985 & volume 3 number 2 March 1986

 To view this issue use the links found on the following page:

 Roscoe's Keeney Update

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From the inbox.....

From: Patricia Keeney halfnote88@hotmail.com
Date: Monday, July 02, 2001 02:51
Subject: Genealogy

From: Charleen K Wagner ckw54101@aol.com
Date: Saturday, July 07, 2001 20:

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Miscellaneous

	Ralph R. Keeney's Wagon Ruts West
	installment # 23

From the Message Board

Oklahoma Keeney's

Posted by Linda Ihinger on July 12, 2001 at 07:00:07:

Hello everyone, I am looking for information on the Keeney's on my mother's side. She is a Keeney and was born and raised in Oklahoma. My grandfather was Everett Keeney and his wife was Gertrude Keeney. They lived in and around Muskogee (sp) Ok. Any information would be wonderful!

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Contributed Items

Dan,
   Do you know if Capt. Jonathan Keeney had any thing to do with a Capt.Standifer? I found a story that is similar to the one where Jonathan brought back the two papooses, here is the story if you want to read.

Sincerely Marty Downs

(Editors note: Read about Captain Jonathan Keeney in Wagon Ruts West section 23).

CAPTAIN STANDIFER

    By March, 1863, the Indian depredations had become so annoying that the packers refused to undertake the bringing in of further supplies, notwithstanding they were offered unusually high prices to snake the attempt. In this emergency the miners of Placerville an vicinity decided that something must be done to check the Indians. A volunteer company was therefore formed with J. J. Standifer (commonly called "Jeff") as captain; James Greenwood, first lieutenant; George W. Thatcher, second lieutenant. The company was composed of about eighty men,  but as no complete muster roll was preserved it is impossible to give their names. From various sources it has been learned that the following were members of the company: Charles Allender, Gerry Anderson, James Aukey, David H. Belknap, John G. Bell, John Benfield, John Black,  Platt Bledsoe, A. E. Calloway, James F. Cheatly, Thomas Cook, Frank Crabtree, Nat Crabtree, J. M. Cummings, John Dobson, Robert Emery, David Fieirall, Lafe Gates, Samuel Hendy, Andrew Jenkins, Wesley Jenkins, Wallace Lawrence, "Doc" Leatherman, J. S. Lewis James McCuen, Samuel McLeod, Benjamin Marmaduke, Green Martin, James Matthews, "Doc" Morey, Jesse Peters, Dr. J.N. Ratson, Thomas T. Redsull, Daniel Richards, Eli Riddle, George Riley, F. M. Scott, Buck Strickland, T. J. Sutton, W. H. Sutton, Daniel Tolbert, David C. Updyke, and Messrs Carrol Packard, Warwick and Woole, whose given names have not been preserved, and a man known as "Mountain Jack," because he did not know his real name, having been taken captive by the Indians in early childhood, and who in 1863 spoke the language of the Snake Indians much better than he did English. He used a rifle or a bow and arrows with equal skill and was an expert at following a dim trail, an accomplishment that proved a great benefit to the company on its two campaigns against the red skins.

    Captain Standifer, a noted man in the early days of Idaho, has been described as being "six feet tall, with broad square shoulders, fine features, black eyes, hair and moustache, and as brave as any Norseman." He was a fit leader of the daring and courageous frontiersmen who, without hope or expectation of pay, left their claims where they were washing out gold in paying quantities, to protect their comrades engaged in the same occupation, and to endeavor to open the trails so that supplies might be brought into the basin. Each man furnished his own horse and arms, the merchants in the mining camps supplying the ammunition and provisions.

    Prior to the formation of this company no resistance had been offered against the Indians, who had consequently grown bolder, and the indications were they were preparing for a general assault upon the mining camps. Almost immediately after the organization was completed, Captain Standifer led his men down Moore's Creek to the Warm Springs where they went into camp, and the next day moved on to Indian Creek, all the time keeping a sharp lookout
for the enemy. On the morning of the third day they encountered a party of Indians not far from the present Hamlet of Mayfield Elmore County, and the chase commenced. Captain Standifer sent a detachment of sixteen men to cut off the savages from the mountainous country on the north. This party discovered an Indian camp, surprised it and killed all the men, taking the squaws prisoners and returned to the main command.

    Scouts sent out brought in word that a considerable body of Indians was in the hills to the northwest in a fortified position. By making a night march Captain Standifer reached the camp a little before daylight. Soon afterward a small party of Indians came out, several of whom were killed, the rest hurrying back into the fort, which was then surrounded and kept in a state of siege for three days and nights. A parley was then held, Standifer telling the Indians that if they would surrender the ones who had killed George Grimes the year before he would allow the others to go. The Indians refused and that night a member of the company was assigned to each Indian rifle pit, with instructions to "get" the occupant. Under cover of darkness the white men crawled up close to the line of rifle pits and as soon as the first Indian looked out the next morning a well aimed bullet ended his career. Curious to learn who fired the shot, other Indians exposed themselves and met the fate of their fellow guard. This plan of warfare disconcerted the red men, who undertook to evacuate the fort, but Standifer's men were ready for such a movement and picked them off as fast as they appeared. About sixty Indians were killed, only one brave escaping, and a number of horses were captured.  Captain Standifer had one man wounded (John Dodson) who died some months later from the effects of his injuries.

    Upon returning to the Warm Springs ranch, the company learned that all the live stock had been run off by the Indians. A few men were sent to convey the wounded Dobson to Idaho City, and to get recruits and supplies.  As soon as these were received the whole company started in pursuit and followed the trail across the Snake River.  There the company divided, one detachment being commanded by Captain Standifer and the other by his two lieutenants. Standifer moved up the Malheur River, and the other party went up the Snake, but after a few days they were reunited at Standifer's camp on the Malheur, up which stream they moved for two days, rising early and marching late. On the third night a lookout was sent to the top of a small mountain, from which they saw the campfires of the savages some distance farther up the river and on the opposite side. Another night march was made and before daylight the camp was surrounded. What followed is thus told by Daniel Richards:

    "Captain Standifer placed all of his men, with the exception of eighteen, on either side of the camp, leaving an opening in the front.  The eighteen men were placed on the upper side and at the signal given by the captain, they charged on the Indian camp with whoops and yells and shots. This caused the Indians to stampede and they were soon dispatched by the other volunteers. Fourteen Indians were killed. The squaws and children were left unharmed and allowed to go free, excepting one small boy and a little Indian girl, whom we took to Idaho City with us. It seems that another party of Indians had passed this camp before we reached it and had driven off all the horses they had."

    The company then returned to the Warm Springs, where it was disbanded, having succeeded in capturing a number of horses which were returned to their owners. The chastisement inflicted upon the Indians by Captain Standifer and his men had a salutary effect, as it was some time before another raid was attempted.  The little Indian Girl was turned over to a woman in the basin and the boy was given to John Kelly, of Idaho City. Kelly was a famous violinist who had played all over California; he taught the boy to play the violin, as well as to perform a number of acrobatic feats. He was afterward exhibited in London and Australia.

    The history of Standifer's campaign has been gone into quite fully as it was a fair sample of many expeditions in various parts of Idaho during the ensuing fifteen years against Indians

And another one.

Dan, This came out of the book about Malheur county here is a story about Standifer and Capt. Keeney, I am wondering if Eliza Keeney is this same Indian girl or if maybe there was another or maybe the story is Bull, What do you think ????  Marty

Click on image.

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