Miranda Ruth (Michael) Keeney (1839 - 1919)

Born 11 Feb 1839 in Boone County, Indiana, United States

Ancestors

Wife of John Alexander Pearl — married 21 Sep 1854 in Linn County, Oregon, United States

Wife of James Mordecai Keeney — married 10 Jan 1878 in Linn County, Oregon, United States

Descendants

Died 6 Jun 1919 at age 80 in Kalispell, Flathead, Montana, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Clyde Senger [send private message]

Miranda (Michael) Keeney was involved in the westward expansion of the USA. Westward Ho! Join: Trails and Wagon Trains Project Discuss: wagon_trains_and_trails

Biography

Birth

Miranda Ruth Michael was born on 11 February 1839 in Boone County, Indiana, United States to Eli Wesley Michael (1817-1894) and Nancy Frazier (1817-1850).

Siblings

1. Mary M. Michael was born on 1 April 1837 in Boone County, Indiana, United States. She married John Harper (1833-1895) on 24 December 1854 in Linn County, Oregon. Mary died on 19 October 1887 in Lowell, Lane, Oregon, United States.
2. Jared Birt Michael was born on 30 September 1840 in Indiana, United States. He married Sarah Hodge (1854-1892) in 1869. Jared died on 18 July 1919 in McMurray, Skagit, Washington, United States.
3. Martha J. Michael was born on 6 April 1842 in Indiana, United States. She died c. 1894.
4. Melissa Ann Michael was born on 31 August 1844 in Indiana, United States. She married Andrew G. Fager (1838-1884) in 1868. Melissa died on 16 June 1901 in Missouri, United States.

Indiana to Oregon by the Overland Trail

She traveled via the Overland Trail in 1847 with her parents when she was 8 years old. For information about the trail see [1]

Marriages and Families

She married twice.

1. John Alexander Pearl (1833-1864) on 21 September 1854 in Linn County, Oregon.
2. James Mordecai Keeney (1816-1885) on 10 January 1878 in Linn County, Oregon.

Children of the Pearl-Michael Marriage

1. Joseph H. Pearl, known as Jode, was born on 6 September 1855 in Linn County, Oregon, United States. He married Margaret May Wigle (1859-1927) on 15 December 1878 by Rev. A.J. Wigle in Harrisburg, Linn, Oregon. Jode died on 12 September 1901 in Linn County, Oregon, United States.
2. Mary Elizabeth Pearl was born on 7 June 1857 in Brownsville, Linn, Oregon, United States. She married John Senger (1854-1929) in 1876. Mary died on 4 February 1931 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, United States.
3. Jared Philip Pearl was born on 18 March 1859 in Oregon, United States. He married 1) Mary Elizabeth Smith (1853-1915) on 28 November 1913 in Washington County, Idaho and 2) Ambergy widow Rhoda Jane Woolum (1859-1935) on 26 December 1918 in Washington County, Idaho. Jared died on 4 May 1936 in Weiser, Washington, Idaho, United States.
4. Melissa Ann Pearl was born on 9 June 1862 in Brownsville, Linn, Oregon, United States. She married James Edward Waggener (1861-1942) in 1883. Melissa died on 8 April 1922 in Kalispell, Flathead, Montana, United States.
5. George Noe Pearl was born on 3 July 1863 in Brownsville, Linn, Oregon, United States. He died on 8 December 1863 in Brownsville, Linn, Oregon, United States.
6. Melinda Caroline Pearl was born in December 1864 in Linn County, Oregon, United Statees. She married Alfred Raymond Baker (1861-1932) in 1887. Melinda died on 24 February 1906 in Seattle, King, Washington, United States.

Child of the Keeney-Michael Marriage

1. James Mordecai Keeney Jr. was born on 23 November 1878 in Corvallis, Benton, Oregon, United States. He married 1) Elsie E. Bardwell (1881- ) c. 1900 and 2) Lindell widow, Hilma C. Ekstrand (1888-1958), known as Helen, on 14 November 1925 in Bannock County, Idaho. Jim died on 31 January 1952 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, United States.

Death and Burial

Miranda died on 8 June 1919 in Kalispell, Flathead, Montana, United States at the age of 80 while living with her daughter Melissa. 4 of her 7 children outlived her and her husband had died when she was 46. She was buried in the Brownsville Pioneer Cemetery, Brownsville, Linn, Oregon. Find A Grave: Memorial #38012570

Sources

• Keeney, Ralph Ray. Wagon Ruts West. Keeney, R.R. , 1983. [2]
• Pearl Family Research Pages by Clyde M. Senger, Orlie Gerdes, and Evelyn Gerdes. ^[1] Find here [3]
• 1860 United States Federal Census on 10 July in Linn County, Oregon. ^[2]
• 1870 US Federal Census on 7 September in Brownsville, Linn, Oregon. Page 13, lines 5-10. ^[3]
• 1880 United States Federal Census on 25 June in Brownsville, Linn, Oregon. Page 34, lines 4-8. ^[4]
• 1900 United States Federal Census on 8 June in South Brownsville, Linn, Oregon. ^[5]
• 1905 U.S. City Directories in Albany, Linn, Oregon as wife of James Keeney.
• 1910 United States Federal Census on 20 April in Corvallis Ward 1, Benton, Oregon. Page 4A, lines 15-17. ^[6]
• Oregon Biographical and Other Index Card File for Mrs. Marinda R. Michael Pearl Keeney with marriage date to Keeney, birth place, death date and place and how she came to Oregon, children, and marriage to Keeney and Pearl.
• Montana Death Index for Marinda (sic) R. Keeney.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38012570/miranda-ruth-keeney: accessed 21 July 2023), memorial page for Miranda Ruth Michael Keeney (11 Feb 1839–6 Jun 1919), Find a Grave Memorial ID 38012570, citing Brownsville Pioneer Cemetery, Brownsville, Linn County, Oregon, USA; Maintained by Jim P (contributor 47103099).
• Notes on the Ancestors and Descendants of Jared MICHAEL (1792-ca 1873), spouse of Mary KELSO 1847 Pioneer to Linn County, OR at http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~sengercm/genealogy/mb8.html [4]

Footnotes

1. ↑ Rootsweb Pearl Pages are an excellent source for early Oregonians with sources provided. The authors state that descendants are arranged by generations and within each generation by relationship to the 20 children of James Pearl.
2. ↑ 1860: Pearl, John 27, farmer, head; Miranda 21, wife; Joseph 4, son; Mary 3, daughter; Jared 1, son.
3. ↑ 1870: Pearl, Miranda R. 31, head; Joseph H. 14, works on farm, son; Mary E. 12, daughter; Jared P. 11, son; Melissa A. 9, daughter; Melinda C. 5, daughter. She is widowed.
4. ↑ 1880: Keeney, James 63, farmer, head; Miranda R. 41, wife; Mordicai 1, son; Pearl, Ann 19, stepdaughter; Callie 15, stepdaughter.
5. ↑ 1900: Keeney, Mordecai 20, b. Nov 1879, head, farmer; Miranda 61, b. Feb 1839, widow, servant, 7 children born & 6 living, mother. This enumerator always gives the female as servant.
6. ↑ 1910: Senger, John 55, shoemaker, head; Mary C. 52, married 33 years, 5 children born & 3 living, wife; Keeney, Ruth 71, widow, 7 children born & 4 living, mother-in-law.