He married Rebecca Cecilia Williams (1873-1969). He left her and his children in 1896 and divorced by 1900. His son said that he didn't see him from the age of 4 until 24.
Children of the Keeney-Williams Marriage
Walter Willard Keeney was born on 27 November 1893 in Goshen, Lane, Oregon, United States. He married Merthi Ann Bowen (1896-1982) in Astoria, Oregon on 7 December 1918. Walter died on 12 October 1978 in Springfield, Lane, Oregon, United States.
Gertrude Ruth Keeney was born on 14 August 1895 in Goshen, Lane, Oregon, United States. She married 1) Marion E. Fraley (born about 1890 Minnesota- died 1984) and divorced before 1922 and 2) Charles A. Jensvold (1889-1931) on 22 December 1922 in Clark County, Washington. Gertrude died on 11 April 1938.
Occupation
After he left his family and divorced, he spent the remainder of his life herding sheep in eastern Oregon. He lived a very solitary life following the sheep in a wagon. When his son, Walter heard that his father was dying from cancer, he sent an ambulance to get him and bring him to his home until he died.
Death and Burial
He died at the home of his son, Walter W. Keeney, on 11 April 1930, the day after the census was taken, in Lost Valley, near Dexter, Lane, Oregon, United States at the age of 73. He was buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Pleasant Hill, Lane, Oregon.
Find A Grave: Memorial #34106544 Birth year is in error on Find A Grave.
Sources
Keeney, Ralph Ray. Wagon Ruts West. Unknown: 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. [1]
1860 United States Federal Census on 16 July in Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon. [2]
1870 United States Federal Census on 16 June in Eugene, Lane, Oregon. [3]
Discussions with Bud Keeney.
1930 United States Federal Census on 10 April 1930 in Lost Valley, Lane, Oregon. [4]
Oregon Death Index.
Oregon, Early Oregonians Index.
Find A Grave Index. A headstone photo is available.
Footnotes
↑ Keeney, R.R.: For Andrew Jackson family also see article available here.
↑ 1860: Keeney, A.J., 38, head, farmer; Cooper, Anna I. 12, step-daughter; James M. 7, son; William D. 4, son; John B. 6 months, son.
↑ 1870: Keeney, A.J. 49, farmer, real estate worth $7,000, head; Amanda J. 43, wife; James 16, son; William 13, son; John 10, son, Martha 8, daughter, Benjamin 6, son; Alva A. 3, son; Thomas P. 5 months, son.
↑ 1930: Keeney, Walter W. 37, farmer, owns general farm, head; Marthi 34, wife; Lois 10, daughter; Vaderon 9, son; Mary 4, daughter; William D. 75, sheepherder, father.
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with William by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA.
Y-chromosome DNA test-takers in his direct paternal line on WikiTree:
PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE the placement of the reference and footnote notations. 1/2 of the census data and other is lost if you do. No rule that I know of that says you have to have no space between "Sources" and References or can't have footnotes. And yes, I have read the "Help" page. Thank you.