Jonathan Keeney
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Jonathan Anthony Keeney (1778 - 1850)

Rev. Jonathan Anthony Keeney
Born in Greenbrier County, Virginia, USAmap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 4 Dec 1803 in Jefferson County, Tennesseemap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 72 in Avon, Polk, Iowa, USAmap
Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rick Young private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 4 May 2012
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Contents

Biography

Birth

Rev. Jonathan Anthony Keeney was born in 1778 in Greenbrier County, Virginia, USA to Jonathan Keeney (1750-1821) and Annie Elizabeth Poets (c. 1754-after 21 February 1792).

1803 Marriage

Name Polly Mcglaughlind (Unknown)
Event Date 04 Dec 1803
Event Place Jefferson, Tennessee, United States
Gender Female
Spouse's Name Jonathan KeneyPage 46[1]

Death

Rev. Keeney died on 2 September 1850 in Avon, Polk, Iowa, USA at the age of 72. [2]

Sources

  1. Tennessee State Marriage Index, 1780-2002 and Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950, GS Film Number 000968301, Digital Folder Number 007621533
  2. Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 30 December 2021), memorial page for Rev Jonathan Anthony Keeny (10 Feb 1778–2 Sep 1850), Find A Grave: Memorial #27871811, citing Avon Cemetery, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, USA ; Maintained by Daniell Keeney (contributor 47021785) .
  • Keeney, Ralph Ray. Wagon Ruts West. Keeney, R.R., 1983. It is out of print, but the author had granted pieces of it for educational purposes. The entire article is available here.

Acknowledgements

  1. Rick Young, on May 3, 2012, firsthand knowledge. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Rick and others.
  2. Darlene Scott Kerr added a source and bio and edited on 11 September 2016.




Memories: 2
Enter a personal reminiscence or story.
In February, 1822, it was ordered by the board, that on the report of Jonathan Keeney, Whitley Wright and James Conway, Viewers, a road beginning at Keeney's Ford on the East Fork of Whitewater, thence up the west bank of the same to the line between John Norris and Whitley Wright, thence a westward direction by James Conway, the nearest and best way to intersect the road leading from Dunlapsville to Waterloo, at the line between the counties of Fayette and Union, be recorded as a public road.

Ordered, that on the report of Samuel Littrel, James Connaway and John Abernathy, Viewers for that purpose, the road leading from Keeney's Ford, on the East Fork of Whitewater, a direction for Connersville by the northeast corner of Section 36, Township 14, Range 13, thence west with the section line between Fayette and Union, be recorded a public road.

https://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/HistAtlas/id/1666/rec/43 page 12

posted 8 Apr 2022 by Rob Keeney   [thank Rob]
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, 1850 and was buried in the Watts family graveyard, later called the Avon Cemetery. Mary McGlothlen Keeney died 15 years later on September 3, 1865 at 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 part of the township, along Simpson's 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 20 feet. 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 4 miles East of Connerville on highway 44 in Indiana, Lyonsville is located 4 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's Newhouse family History, 1972 (18) Also from notes compiled 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 - 1848 time 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 after arriving 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 4 December 1803 to Jonathan Keeney and Polly McGlaughlin, returned 4 December 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 ----- 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't 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 after 1804, 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." Paper 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. ----- "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:3 under 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;1 male 15-20; 1 male 40-50; 2 females 5-10; 1 female 10- 15; 1 female 40-50. (next door, George K., with 2 males under 5 , 2 males 5-10; 1 male 20-30; 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 males 30-40, 1 female 20-30., 4 doors up, Hiram K., 1 male 20-30, one female 15-20). Same census, 4 before Jonathan is Hiram, 1 male 20-30;1 female 15-20 . Four before Hiram Keeney is James McLaughlin, 1 male under 5, 2 males 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, 1 between 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 300 Keeney, Jonathon, age 70, no occupation, no value real estate , born TN. Mary, age 65, born VA 1860 - " " " for Jonathan, Jr., gives him as aged 59 b. Ohio ----- 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's son Jonathan. "Where he now resides." Distillery, 50 hogs, 2 wagon s, 3 yoke oxen, 2 plows, 3 hoes. Stay and assist as hand. ----- 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 Co 1829. ----- Letter from Georgia (McGlathlen) Reynolds to Wayne Keeney - 1969 . "No one has been able to prove the parentage of Jonathan (1778-1850). from Wayne Keeney - Jonathan given liberty to preach at Big Pigeon Baptist Church, TN. Three of sons were preachers ----- Hist of Montgomery Co, IN, p. 255: The Baptists organized several years before the other churches . March 17, 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's residence. ...1829 torn down and re-erected on the site of the present Cornstalk Baptist Church. ------ 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 pp 418-19: 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. July 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.) ---- 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't 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's 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's churches, with the possible exception of the last one (Cornstalk Church), which he will check. Jonathan's house is still standing, and he will send me a picture of it. He didn't tell me where it is, because he says the woman who lives there doesn't like people coming around. When Jonathan and Polly left Indiana, they stopped over for about a year in the Peoria (or Galesburg) area, then went on to Iowa . Many families from Crawfordsville went to the area around Des Moines. ----- from Sarver, Bina Thompson: "Memories 1816-1916" [of Ladoga]: In 1824-25, Crawfordsville the only town between Terre Haute and Ft. Wayne. --- from Early Hist of Ladoga, by Anderson, W.L.: 1820 - land surveyed for Ladoga by heatons and Wades from Ohio. 1824 - $1.25/acre. The best land was just west of Ladoga. 2 1825 - 4 men entered land here: Inlow, Gill, Brookshire, Graybill. 1829 - No Keeneys, McGlothens, or Becks in school subscriber list. 1838 - 15 buildings on platted ground, 30 families by 1848. ---- from Crawfordsville Land Entries 1820-1830: Receipt#, Residence ,Quarter, Sec, Twp, Range, acres, date 10379, Montg. Co, SE,S01,T17,N04W,080,18 Jan 1830. 10064,Montg.Co,SE,S15,T17,N04W,160,4 Dec 1829 also, a Hiram Keeney: 09569,Montg. Co,SE,S01,T17,N04W,080,2 Nov 1829. ----- from "Montgomery Co, Indiana Original Entry Land Book 1821 and later." Columns are :Sec., Twp. R., Acres ,Date, Buyer, Patent(when available) [possibility these land holdings could have been his son, but unlikely because Jonathan Jr was not married until after these dates. Also applies to lands in above ref.] Township 17, Range 4: W1/2 SE1/4, 11-17-4,80,1-18-1830,Jonathan Keeney,115/37. W1/22 NE1/4,15-17-4,80,10-28-1830, Jonathan Keeney,26/6. SE1/4, 15-17-4,160,12-4-1829, Jonathan Keeney, 16/211. other Keeney - Hiram: E1/2 NW1/4, 16-17-3,80,9-30-1831, Hiram Keeney, none W1/2 NW1/4 , " , " , " , " , "W1/2 SE1/4, 1-17-4, 80, 11-2-1829, " , " ----- from "History of Churches in Montgomery County, IN", Pauline Randel Walters: Clark Township - pp17,18: "The Baptists built a church in the center of Scott Township....organized 3-17-1827. (This is really in Scott Township, but it is more closely identified with Clark Township, so I am putting it here). Jonathan Keeney, minister. IN 1828 they built a log church across the road west of David Harshbarger farm. ...July 4 new one [see below].... The early settlers of Clark and Scott were mostly Baptist, the Baldwins, Byrds, Rouths, Powells, Harveys, Bruces, Mosbarger, Westfall, Kenney (sic), Harrisons, etc. Scott Township, Providence Baptist Church, (p.81ff)" In 1827 under the leadership of Jonathan Keeney, the Providence Baptist Church was organized. They held their first meetings in the home of Isaac Jones, but in 1828 their first church was built near the center of the south side of Scott Township. Rev. Keeney continued preaching until 1830, then Rev. John Clemmons came, and was pastor for several years....Isaac Jones and family, Lucas Baldwin and family, William Bruce and family, Jonathan Keeney and family, Mrd. David Henry, Robert Harrison and family and Abraham Byrd and wife Jane (Randel) Byrd, ere those who assisted in organizing the society. This Providence Church was across the creek from the David Harshbarger residence. Becoming dissatisfied with this location for a church house, on July 4, 1829, Levi Westfall, Jesse Routh, and Lucas Baldwin were ordered to tear it down and erect it on site they designated, on Cornstalk Creek, and this was called Cornstalk Baptist Church. It was used for several years....Only the cemetery remains today. " Other Baptist Church (Mt Gilead, renamed Ladoga Baptist Church) very different faith. ----- William L. Anderson, "Early History of Ladoga" - good early general info about town, Indians, entering land, houses, etc. p.14, story of a Mr Keeney who lived in 1829 where DePew Hyten now lives. Keeney was part of a story about refusing a load of meat to a drunken man. Part of a paragraph about Daniel Clark. p.23, in a piece about the Baldwins, "There was a road running west past the Keeny place, now the Linikey corner. (about 1830) p. 48- "In Clark township in '28 were the Baldwins, Mosbargers, Westfalls, Byrds, Keeneys and Harrisons. All were Baptists. The Baptists organized several years earlier than the other churches. On March 17th, 1827, when settlers were few and Indians still roamed this country, their first church was constituted and called the Providence Church. It met from house to house, at times meeting at Lucas Baldwin's on the site of Ladoga. Subsequently many of our immediate community were identified with this congregation and some are still members. Jonathan Keeney was their first preacher, and prominent among them. William Bruce, an old school teacher, was their first and best clerk. In less than a year they began to erect a church house. This was a log building located across the creek from David Harshbarger's present residence. Whether it was ever occupied I do not know. If it was they held meeting on the ground, for there was no floor in it . Becoming dissatisfied with the location of this house on July 4th, 1829, Levi Westfall, Jesse Routh, and Lucas Baldwin were ordered to have it torn down and erected on the site of the present Cornstalk Baptist Church house. This has been the home of this church until recent years. The old house now standing was built...1848. For years this was a strong and active church." ----- from Pauline Walters, "Hist of Clark Twp, Ladoga, etc...": 1841-2 - Black flux hit - many died. 20 Mar 1866 - tornado several Kyles, late 1800's. ~

posted 10 Jun 2013 by Dan Keeney   [thank Dan]
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Hello Rick, I show that he is the son of John Keeney (1750-1805) and Annie Elizabeth Poets (1754-1785). Brother of John, Jr. 1772-1845, etc. Want to be sure you agree this is the same person before I hook them up family wise. I was about to put his siblings on. Thank you.
posted by Darlene (Scott) Kerr

K  >  Keeney  >  Jonathan Anthony Keeney

Categories: Greenbrier County, Virginia | Jefferson City, Tennessee | Avon, Iowa