Benijah Keener (1825 - 1875)

Born 16 Sep 1825 in Braxton, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Susan (Young) Keener — married 26 Nov 1846 in Braxton, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 18 Jul 1875 at age 49 in Frametown, Braxton, West Virginia, United States

Biography

Benijah Keener was born in Virginia

Benijah Keener was a West Virginian.

Benijah, "Benji", was born in Braxton County, Virginia (now West Virginia) on 16 September 1825 to parents Thomas Keener and Elizabeth Green. Benji was the fifth child born and the second son. He remained in the same area for his entire life, mostly living off the land.

Benijah married Susan Young on 26 November 1846 recorded in the Marriages celebrated by David Frame, Esq. Register. ^{[1] [2]}

In 1860, 35-year-old farmer Benijah is living with his family: his mother, wife, three daughters and two sons:^[3]

At the start of the Civil War in 1861, Benji would have been 36, and no records were found to show any service during the war.

In the 1870 Census, Benijah (appears as Kennizah) is farming and has $2500 in real estate, and $750 in personal property comparable to $61,000 in 2020. His family had grown in ten years to include his mother, his wife, five daughters and three sons: ^[4]

Benijah Keener's Gravestone

Just a few short months later, Benijah joined his son when he died from fever at age 49 (although shown as 51 in the register), on 18 Jul 1875 in Frametown, West Virginia. They appear on the same Death Register. ^[7][8]

He was laid to rest in the family's eternal home: Keener Cemetery in Dessie, West Virginia where his parents, son and other relatives and ancestors are interred and named here: Keener Cemetery memorials. May they rest in peace. ^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2ZF-N7PK : 12 September 2020), Benijah Keener and Susan Young, 5 Nov 1846; citing Marriage, Braxton, West Virginia, United States, county clerks, West Virginia; FHL microfilm .
2. ↑ "West Virginia Marriages, 1854-1932," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XRZ6-L85 : 4 December 2014), Benijah Keener and Susan Young, 26 Nov 1846; citing Braxton,West Virginia, reference ; FHL microfilm 573,806.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M419-941 : 18 February 2021), Benijah Keener, 1860. Household ID: 769; Affiliate Film Number: 1336; Affiliate Publication Number: M653; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Digital Folder Number: 005171515; Microfilm Number: 805336; Image Number: 00470; Indexing Batch: N01828-4
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZHQ-ZRX : 2 January 2021), Kennizah Keener, 1870; Household ID: 26, Line Number: 38; Affiliate Publication Number: M593; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Digital Folder Number: 004268774; Microfilm Number: 000553184; Image Number: 00262; Indexing Batch: N01486-8
5. ↑ "West Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1854-1932", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR49-F9T : 13 February 2020), Benija Keener in entry for Rebecca C. Keener, 1873.
6. ↑ "West Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1854-1932", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HVGS-WW3Z : 13 February 2020), Benija Keener in entry for Benija F. Keener, 1875.
7. ↑ "West Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1854-1932," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XR49-F9T : accessed 1 January 2016), Benija Keener in entry for Rebecca C. Keener, 07 Jun 1873; citing Braxton, West Virginia, reference 44; FHL microfilm 163,711.
8. ↑ "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NM69-R3X : 4 December 2014), Bennijah Keener, Jul 1875; citing Braxton Co., West Virginia, County Records, p 32 no 29, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 572,705.
9. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/137265699/benijah-keener : accessed 15 June 2021), memorial page for Benijah “Benji” Keener (6 Sep 1825–18 Jul 1875), Find A Grave: Memorial #137265699, citing Keener Cemetery, Dessie, Braxton County, West Virginia, USA ; Maintained by Cheryl (Frame) Brown (contributor 47191868) .

See also:

• FS Profile for Benijah Keener