Arthur B. KEENEY

  General Notes:

Served as Manchester, CT Selectman 1905-08, 10, 12, 16-17 (Spiess, "The History of Manchester" p. 238)

Commemorative Biographical Record of Hartford County: "CAPT. ARTHUR B. KEENEY is descended from a long-lived ancestry, who have been born and bred on the old homestead farm in Hartford County which they have tilled for more than one hundred years. His great-great-grandfather was Tell Keeney and his son, Richard Keeney (our subject's great-grandfather), attained the phenomenal age of 105 years. His grandfather, Russell Keeney died at the age of eighty-eight, and his father, Porter Keeney, lived to be nearly eighty. All his paternal forefathers were farmers.

Russell Keeney married Jeruscha Dart, and had five children: Porter (our subject's father), Betsey (who married Ira Keeney), Mirinda (who became the wife of Horace Keeney), Woodruff and Huldah.

Porter Keeney, our subject's father, married Emily Bidwell, who was born April 19,1806, and died April 17, 1897, two days before reaching her ninety-first birthday. To their union were born ten children, a brief mention of some whom will be of interest: Electa was born april 2, 1826 and died Fe. 8, 1838; Sanford was born Oct. 11, 1827, and died at his home in South Manchester May 5, 1891; Edwin was born April 13, 1830, and is now a merchant of New London; Riley, born Aug. 13, 1832, died at the age of thirty, on Aug. 9, 1862, at Alexandria, Va., having served in the 5th (or Colt's) Regiment, Conn. V. I.; Emily A. (1) was born Sept. 9, 1835, and died Feb. 6, 1838; Emily A. (2) was born May 2, 1838, and married James Lyons, of South Manchester, where she still resides; Sarah R. was born Oct. 22, 1840; Harriet, born July 19, 1843, became the wife of Asa G. Hills, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa; one daughter, born in ,1845, lived only a short time; Arthur B. is referred to below. The father of this family (Porter Keeney) was born July 24, 1805 and died April 8, 1885, twelve years before his wife; he was buried in the East Cemetery of Manchester.

Arthur B. Keeney was born March 25, 1849, on the farm on which his father took up his residence shortly after marriage. It is situated in Glastonbury, just across the town line from the old Keeney homestead, in the town of Manchester. His early education was obtained at the common schools, and the first twenty years of his life were spent upon his father's farm. For ten years following he was employed in Cheney Bros.' silk mill, and at the expiration of that period he returned to the home of his boyhood, where he has lived ever since. His present farm embraces seventy-four acres, including the "home place" of fourteen acres. On May 9, 1870 he married Miss Rose Wetherell, a daughter of William and Frances (Watrous) Wetherell, the latter a direct descendant of John Alden, of Plymouth fame. One child has come to this union, Harry W., born Aug. 7, 1872, who on June 9, 1897, married Miss Dorothy M. Hall, of Manchester.

For several years Mr. Keeney served in the State Militia, with marked distinction. The date of his enlistment in the 1st Regiment, Conn. N. G., was Nov. 10, 1871. On April 9, 1877, he rose to the rank of sergeant, and on Nov. 9, 1877, was commissioned second lieutenant. He was made first lieutenant May 14, 1878, and captain Sept. 1, 1879. On Dec.19, 1882, he tendered his resignation, which was accepted. His son enlisted in the same company Feb. 16, 1891, and also rose gradually to the rank of captain, receiving his commission July 29, 1896, and having the distinction of being the youngest captain in the brigade. He resigned in 1898. Capt. Keeney is a Republican in politics. In 1896 he was elected tax collector of Manchester, and has been re-elected for the fourth time, holding the office for five years. He is a member of the First Congregational Church of Manchester Center, and belongs to the A. 0. U. W."


Dedication New Connecticut River Bridge: "A man who can collect the taxes for twelve years in one of the largest towns of the state, and still remain one of the most popular officials in the community, gives ample evidence of possessing a large amount of tact. This is the record of Captain Arthur B. Keeney, who is, at this writing, first selectman of the town of Manchester. By his genial manner, and his manifestly fair treatment of everybody with whom he has dealings, Captain Keeney has made a record to be proud of among his townspeople. When political interest was intense in Manchester and one wing of the Republican party was looking for the most popular candidate it could find, to run against the candidate of the rival wing, who was also a man of wide popularity, Captain Keeney was chosen as the standard bearer of his friend, against his wishes, and he led them to victory. For four years Mr. Keeney has been first selectman of the town, and he has given a good administration each year.

Captain Keeney was born in Glastonbury, March 25, 1849. He attended the schools in Glastonbury and also the South Manchester High school He has always been a farmer by occupation. He has taken a prominent part in military affairs in the town, having held every office in Company G, First Regiment, C. N. G., and was captain from 1880 to 1882. He resigned the captaincy in 1882, but is still prominent in the Company G Veteran association. He married Miss Rose Wetherell, and they have one son. Captain Keeney is a member of King David Lodge of Odd Fellows."

Gravestone, West Cemetery, Manchester, CT reads:
"Arthur B. Keeney March 25, 1849 - May 5, 1921 / Roselle Wetherell Keeney His Wife August 19, 1849 - May 23 1910"

^18,22

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Carpenter, farmer.

• Military Service. ^18,23

Arthur married Roselle WETHERELL, daughter of William WETHERELL and Frances Celia WATROUS, on 9 May 1870 in Manchester, CT ¹³.^,14 (Roselle WETHERELL was born on 19 Aug 1849 in Manchester, CT,^24,25,26 died on 23 May 1910 in Manchester, CT ²¹ and was buried in West Cemetery, Manchester, CT ²⁷.) The cause of her death was Cerebral hemorrhage.²¹

Arthur next married Sarah Tracey GREENER on 12 Nov 1912 ¹⁵.^,16 (Sarah Tracey GREENER was born of Willimantic, CT and died on 20 May 1921 ²⁸.)

  Marriage Notes: