My Genealogy Hound

Charles S. Keeney was born in Osage County, Mo., in 1852, and is a son of Calvin L. and Mary E. (Boatright) Keeney. The father was born in Anderson County, Tenn., and was a son of Michael Keeney, one of the leading pioneer settlers of East Tennessee. Calvin was an educated man, taught school some time, and was married about 1842, immediately settling upon a farm in Tennessee. In 1850 he moved to Osage County, Mo., and until 1855 taught school and farmed. He then followed the same occupations in Madison County, Ark., until the war, when he went north and enlisted in the Union cause. He served until 1864, and died at Fayetteville, Ark. The mother was a daughter of the Rev. Chesley Boatright, a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church. The Boatright family of America belonged to the King’s body guard, and escaping settled in America prior to the Revolution, in which they took an active part. A number of the family also did honorable service in the War of 1812. The Rev. Chelsey Boatright was a native of Virginia, and came to Madison County as a missionary of the Baptist Church when the country was but sparsely settled. He established the first Baptist Church in Northwest Arkansas, and was one of the best known men in the Cherokee Nation. Mrs. Keeney has borne the following children: Mary L., James M. (killed during the war), John C., Chesley S., Minerva B. (wife of R. M. Dutton), one daughter (the wife of Rev. E. A. Barry) and Susan D. (wife of Dr. W. A. Harris). Mrs. Keeney is an active member of the church. Our subject received his education at the common schools, Clark’s Academy of Berryville and at Fayetteville, finally becoming one of the leading teachers of the county. He is now the owner of a nice farm of sixty-six acres a short distance north of Hindsville. He is a member of the Little Spring Lodge No. 230 at Hindsville, and fills the office of High Priest in the Little Rock Chapter, A. F. & A. M. He has filled every office in the Chapter and Blue Lodge at Hindsville, and twice been Illustrious Master of the council. In politics he is a Democrat.