Concerning

 Emma Keeney
and Fry Foster

of
Kanawha Co., WV and Grant Co., NM




The reformatting of the name font and census data for this page has NOT been completed. --John M. Gwin, Aug 2011




Sources:
1.  Sharlene Rapp (see emails, below)

2.  Various census data

3.  FindAGrave.com, Ancestry.com


An Outline of the Known Family





23.00--unknown Keeney, b. unk.; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; at least one ch.;

24.00--Emma Keeney, b. Aug 1856 in VA (now WV)/WV/WV; d. 1949 in Silver City, Grant Co., NM; bd. Memory Lane Cem., Silver City, Grant Co., NM--FAG#25847835; m. ca. 1876 in WV to Fry Foster (b. ca. 1855 in VA (now WV); d. unk.; bd. unk.); reports 7 of 11 ch. lvg. in 1900;
[listed as Emmer (sic) Foster, 23, b. WV/WV/WV, in the 7 Jun 1880 census of Cabin Creek Dist., Kanawha Co., WV]
[listed as Emma Foster, 44, Aug 1855 in WV/WV/WV, md. 24 yrs. w/7 of 11 ch. lvg., in the 9 Jul 1900 census of Pct. 13, Santa Rita, Grant Co., NM]
[listed as Emma Foster, 53, b. WV/WV/WV, m1. 34 yrs., in the 30 Apr 1910 census of inside Datil Forest, Socorro Co., NM]
 
[listed as Fry Foster, 25, Coal Miner, b. WV/WV/WV, in the 7 Jun 1880 census of Cabin Creek Dist., Kanawha Co., WV]
[listed as Fry Foster, quartz miner, 46, b. Sep 1853 in WV/WV/WV, md. 24 yrs., in the 9 Jul 1900 census of Pct. 13, Santa Rita, Grant Co., NM]
[listed as Fry Foster, 55, b. WV/WV/WV, m1. 34 yrs. w/7 of 8 ch. lvg, miner, mining lode, in the 30 Apr 1910 census of inside Datil Forest, Socorro Co., NM]
[John M. Gwin Note--18 Jun 2022Fry and Emma (Keeney) Foster moved from Kanawha Co., WV to Santa Rita, a mining community in Grant Co., NM.  Santa Rita is 15 miles east of Silver City and about a two-hour drive from our home in Las Cruces, NM.  On the way to New Mexico they made a stopover in Colorado where two of their children--Hugh and Carmen--were born.]

25.01--
Laura Foster, b. May 1877 in WV/WV/WV; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m1. Mr. Edwards (); m2. Mr. Burns (b. unk.; d. bef. 1920; bd. unk.); at least six ch.;
[listed as Laura Foster, 3, b. WV/WV/WV, in the 7 Jun 1880 census of Cabin Creek Dist., Kanawha Co., WV]
[listed as Laura Edwards,
23, b. WV/WV/WV, md. 1 yr. w/1 of 1 ch. lvg., in the 9 Jul 1900 census of Santa Rita, Grant Co., NM and lvg. next door to fam. of Fry and Emma]
[listed as Laura Burns, 33, wid., b. WV/WV/WV, md. unk. w/4 of 4 ch. lvg., in the 9 Jul 1910 census of Santa Rita, Grant Co., NM and lvg. w/Posie and her ch.]
[listed as Laura Burns, 42, wid., b. WV/WV/WV, in the 8 Jan 1920 census of Globe, Gila Co., AZ]
[listed as Laura Burns, 52, wid., b. WV/WV/WV, in the 12 Apr 1930 census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., CA]
26.01--Ethel E. (Edwards?) Burns, b. Nov 1898 in Grant Co., NM; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.;
[listed as Ethel E. Burns, 11, b. NM/CO/WV, in the 9 Jul 1910 census of Santa Rita, Grant Co., NM and lvg. w/Posie and her ch.]
[listed as Ethel Burns, telephone operator, 21, b. NM/MO/WV, in the 8 Jan 1920 census of Globe, Gila Co., AZ]
26.02--Walter R. Burns, b. ca. 1902 in Grant Co., NM; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.;
[listed as Walter R. Burns, 8, b. NM/CO/WV, in the 9 Jul 1910 census of Santa Rita, Grant Co., NM and lvg. w/Posie and her ch.]
[listed as Walter
Burns, apprentice miner mechanic, 18, b. NM/MO/WV, in the 8 Jan 1920 census of Globe, Gila Co., AZ]
26.03--Franklin A. "Frank" Burns, b. ca. 1904 in Grant Co., NM; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.;
[listed as Franklin A. Burns, 6, b. NM/CO/WV, in the 9 Jul 1910 census of Santa Rita, Grant Co., NM and lvg. w/Posie and her ch.]
[listed as Frank Burns, baker's helper, 16, b. NM/MO/WV, in the 8 Jan 1920 census of Globe, Gila Co., AZ]
[listed as Frank A. Burns, bldg. trades plasterer, 25, b. NM/MO/WV, in the 12 Apr 1930 census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., CA]
26.04--Felix G. Burns, b. ca. 1906 in Grant Co., NM; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.;
[listed as Felix G. Burns, 4, b. NM/CO/WV, in the 9 Jul 1910 census of Santa Rita, Grant Co., NM and lvg. w/Posie and her ch.]
[listed as Felix Burns, 14, b. NM/MO/WV, in the 8 Jan 1920 census of Globe, Gila Co., AZ]
[listed as Felix G. Burns, bldg. trades cement finisher, 23, b. NM/MO/WV, in the 12 Apr 1930 census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., CA]
26.05--George Burns, b. ca. 1912 in Grant Co., NM; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.;
[listed as George Burns, 8, NM/MO/WV, in the 8 Jan 1920 census of Globe, Gila Co., AZ]
26.06--Irene P. Burns, b. ca. 1914 in Grant Co., NM; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.;
[listed as Irene Burns, 6, b. NM/MO/WV, in the 8 Jan 1920 census of Globe, Gila Co., AZ]
[listed as Irene P. Burns, 16, b. NM/MO/WV, in the 12 Apr 1930 census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., CA]
25.02--Posie Foster, b. 16 Aug 1878 in Crown Hill, Kanawha Co., WV/WV/WV; d. 1959 in Silver City, Grant Co., NM; bd. Memory Lane Cem., Silver City, Grant Co., NM--FAG#25848006; m1. Louis Ludolphi "Lee" "Lou" Osmer (b. 7 Nov 1864 in NM; d. 17 Feb 1908 in a mine collapse in the Burro Mts. in Grant Co., NM; bd. Memory Lane Cem., Silver City, Grant Co., NM--FAG#25848065); m2. aft. 1920 John D. Harrell (b. ca. 1893 in TX/TX/TX; d. unk.; bd. unk.); at least three ch. by Lou; unk. ch. by John, if any;

[listed as Posie Foster
, 1, b. WV/WV/WV, in the 7 Jun 1880 census of Cabin Creek Dist., Kanawha Co., WV]
[listed as Posie Osmer, 31, sister, wid., dressmaking at home, b. WV/WV/WV, in the 9 Jul 1910 census of Santa Rita, Grant Co., NM and lvg. w/Laura and her ch.]
[listed as Posie Osmer, 41, wid., b. WV/WV/WV, in the 24 Jan
1920 census of Fierro, Grant Co., NM]
[listed as Posie Harrell, 51, wid., b. WV/WV/WV, in the 10 Apr
1930 census of Silver City, Grant Co., NM and lvg. alone]

[listed as John D. Harrell, 27, b. TX/TX/TX, in the 24 Jan 1920 census of Fierro, Grant Co., NM, and lvg w/his widowed mom next door to Posie Foster]
26.01--Clarence Arnold Osmer, b. 31 Jan 1898 in CO/NM/WV; d. Jan 1973 in Silver City, Grant Co., NM; bd. Masonic Cem., Silver City, Grant Co., NM--FAG#77571833; m1. Naomi C. (or E., nee unk.); m2. Lucylle H. (nee unk.); unk. ch;
[listed as Clarence A. Osmer, 12, nephew, b. CO/NM/WV, in the 9 Jul 1910 census of Santa Rita, Grant Co., NM and lvg. w/Laura and her ch.]
[listed as Clarence A. Osmer, 21, b. CO/NM/WV, in the 24 Jan 1920 census of Fierro, Grant Co., NM]
[listed as Clarence A. Osmer, 32, md. age 23, b. CO/NM/WV, in the 3 Apr 1930 census of Silver City, Grant Co., NM]

[listed as Naomi C. Osmer, 32, md. age 23, b. CO/NM/WV, in the 3 Apr 1930 census of Silver City, Grant Co., NM]
27.01--Lawrence J. Owen, b. ca. 1919 in NM/MO/LA; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.;
[listed as Lawrence J. Owen, 11, b. NM/MO/LA, in the 3 Apr 1930 census of Silver City, Grant Co., NM]
27.02--Clarence A. Owen, Jr., b. ca. Dec 1928 in NM/CO/LA; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.;
26.02--Louis L. Osmer (Jr.?), b. ca. 1901 in NM/NM/WV; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch;
[listed as Louis L. Osmer, 9, nephew, b. NM/NM/WV, in the 9 Jul 1910 census of Santa Rita, Grant Co., NM and lvg. w/Laura and her ch.]
[listed as Lewis L. Osmer, 18, b. NM/NM/WV, in the 24 Jan 1920 census of Fierro, Grant Co., NM]
26.03--Myrtle E. Osmer, b. ca. 1903 in NM/NM/WV; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch;
[listed as Myrtle E. Osmer, 7, niece, b. NM/NM/WV, in the 9 Jul 1910 census of Santa Rita, Grant Co., NM and lvg. w/Laura and her ch.]
[listed as Myrtle E. Osmer, 16, b. NM/NM/WV, in the 24 Jan 1920 census of Fierro, Grant Co., NM]
25.03--Ruel G. Foster, b. 10 Mar 1881 in WV/WV/WV; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. Louise (nee unk.); unk. ch.;
[listed as Ruel Foster, quartz miner, 19, b. Mar 1881 in WV/WV/WV, in the 9 Jul 1900 census of Pct. 13, Santa Rita, Grant Co., NM]
[listed as Ruel Foster, mining lode miner, 29, b. in WV/WV/WV, single, in the 30 Apr 1910 census of inside Datil Forest, Socorro Co., NM]
[listed as Ruel G. Foster, livestock raiser, b. 10 Mar 1881, res. of Sierra Co., NM; perm. home addr: Quemado, Socorro Co., NM, on his 12 Sep
1918 WW1 Draft Registration
 
[John M. Gwin Note--19 Jun 2022:  Today I found an interesting anecdote about our Ruel G. Foster.  Entitled "The Train Ride", it was posted on Ancestry.com 4 Apr 2010 by Sharlene Rapp (see below):
        "My mother's cousin, Lou Osmer, related a tale to us a few years back.  Lou's brother was on a train heading to Texas from Deming or Lordsburg.  All of a sudden, Ruel appeared on the train.  After a few minutes, Ruel sat next to him, pulled open his coat showing a pistol.  'You tell anyone you saw me, and it will be the last thing you do.'
        "Needless to say, Lou's brother didn't tell anyone for several years.  Now the family history, as my grandmother, Myrtle, told me, is that Ruel disappeared in Mexico sometime before 1918 and was thought to be dead.  Now we know that he was alive a few years after that." ]
25.04--Frances Irene "Fannie" Foster, b. 1888 in WV; d. 1958 in Lordsburg, Hidalgo Co., NM;  bd. Memory Lane Cem., Silver City, Grant Co., NM--FAG#26137402; m. Albert Allyn Leach (b. 1889; d. Jan 1969 in Lordsburg, Hidalgo Co., NM; bd. Memory Lane Cem., Silver City, Grant Co., NM--FAG#26137567); unk. ch.;
[listed as Fannie Foster, sister, 17, b. 1883 in WV/WV/WV, in the 9 Jul 1900 census of Santa Rita, Grant Co., NM and lvg. w/ Laura and Ethel next door to fam. of Fry and Emma]
25.05--Luther Hudgens (Hudyan?) Foster, b. Aug 1884 (but  17 Aug 1885 on his death certif.) in WV/WV/WV; d. unk.; bd. Gila Valley (Rest Haven) Mem. Gardens, Safford, Graham Co., AZ--FAG#66816411; m. Ethel Maude Craig (nee unk.; b. 24 May 1890 in TX; d. 18 Jan 1978 in Los Angeles Co., CA; bd. Gila Valley (Rest Haven) Mem. Gardens, Safford, Graham Co., AZ---FAG#66816409); unk. ch.;
[listed as Luther Foster, 15, b. Aug 1884 in WV/WV/WV, in the 9 Jul 1900 census of Pct. 13, Santa Rita, Grant Co., NM]
[listed as Luther H. Foster, mining lode miner, 24, b. in WV/WV/WV, single, in the 30 Apr 1910 census of inside Datil Forest, Socorro Co., NM]
[listed as Luther Hudgens Foster, b. 17 Aug 1885 in WV; d. 16 Nov
1967 in Safford, Graham Co., AZ; on his typed death certificate, Guy Russell, informant]

25.06--Hugh Foster, b. ca. 1889 in CO/WV/WV; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.;
[listed as Hugh Foster, 11, in the 9 Jul 1900 census of Pct. 13, Santa Rita, Grant Co., NM]
[listed as Hugh Foster, 21, mining lode miner, 29, b. in CO/WV/WV, single, in the 30 Apr 1910 census of inside Datil Forest, Socorro Co., NM]

25.07--
Carmen E. Foster, b. ca. 1894 in CO/WV/WV; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.;
[listed as Carmen Foster, 6, in the 9 Jul 1900 census of Pct. 13, Santa Rita, Grant Co., NM]
[listed as Carmen E. Foster, 16, b. in CO/WV/WV, single, in the 30 Apr 1910 census of inside Datil Forest, Socorro Co., NM]

25.00--Sharlene Rapp's great-grandparent, b. unk.; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; at least one ch.;

26.00--Sharlene Rapp's grandparent, b. unk.; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; at least one ch.;

27.00--Sharlene Rapp
's parent, b. unk.; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; at least one ch.;

28.00--Sharlene Rapp, CONTRIBUTOR  [PRIVATE];

.

Some Pertinent Census Data

.

From the 9 Jul 1900 Census of Pct. 13, Santa Rita, Grant Co., NM
Res/Fam
Name
Relat
to HoH
Race
Sex
DOB
Age
Marr.
Stat.
Yrs.
Mrrd.
Ch.
b.
Ch.
Lvg.
POB
FPOB
MPOB
Occupation
John M. Gwin Comments
480/480
Fry Foster
head
w
m
Sep 1853
46
m
24


WV WV WV quartz miner
Clearly this is Sharlene Rapp's gg-grandfather.

Emma Foster
wife
w
f
Aug 1855
44
m
24
11
7
WV
OH
OH

Clearly this is Sharlene Rapp's gg-grandmother, nee Keeney, native of Kanawha Co., WV (then VA). Three of her seven living children are not living in the home and are presumed to be married and/or living elsewhere. Her stated DOB is Aug 1855. Contrasted with the 1880 census, it seems she may have fudged her age a little somewhere! ;-)

Ruel Foster son
w
m
Mar 1881
19
s



WV WV WV quartz miner

Luther Foster son
w
m
Aug 1884
15
s



WV
WV WV


Hugh Foster son
w
m
Sep 1888
11
s



CO
WV WV


Carmen Foster daughter
w
f
Apr 1894
6
s



CO WV
WV



From the 7 Jun 1880 Census of Cabin Creek District, Kanawha Co., WV
Res/Fam
Name
Relat
to HoH
Race
Sex
Age
Marr.
Stat.
POB
FPOB
MPOB
Occupation
John M. Gwin Comments
94/94
Fry Foster
head
w
m
25
m
WV WV WV coal miner
b. ca. 1854 in WV; d. ca. 1928 in NM;

Emmer (sic--should be "Emma") Foster
wife
w
f
23
m
WV
WV
WV

Clearly this is Sharlene Rapp's gg-grandmother, Emma Foster (nee Keeney), native of Kanawha Co., WV (then VA). Laura and Posey are likely her two oldest children.  Her est. DOB is 1857. Contrasted with the 1900 census, it seems she may have fudged her age a little somewhere! ;-)

Laura Foster dau
w
f
3
s
WV




Posey Foster dau
w
f
1
s
WV





John W. Keeney
w
m
21
s
WV


blacksmith
At first I speculated that this is Emma's younger brother. However, it turns out that this is John Wilson Keeney, b. 28 Apr 1859; d. 9 May 1940 at Belle, WV; bd. at Dry Branch; only child of McDonald and Catherine Keeney.  He worked as a farm hand and blacksmith for Van Foster (Fry's younger brother, age 1 mo. in 1860 census of Kanawha Co.) out Cabin Creek.


From the 1870 Census of  Kanawha Co., WV
Res/Fam
Name
Relat
to HoH
Race
Sex
Age
Marr.
Stat.
POB
FPOB
MPOB
Occupation
John M. Gwin Comments





























































.
From the 27 Aug 1860 Census of Paint Creek P. O., Kanawha Co., VA
Res/Fam
Name
Sex
Age
POB
Occupation
John M. Gwin Comments
2326/2326
James M. Foster
m
36
VA
farmer


Elizabeth
f
27
VA


Rufina
f
7
VA


Fry
m
5
VA
This is the Fry Foster who married Emma Keeney in Kanawha Co., WV and moved to New Mexico via Colorado.

Leander
m
4
VA


Van
m
1/12
VA


Cinthie Foster
f
20
VA


Seth Foster
m
18
VA laborer








2275/2275
Foster H. Keeney
m
48
VA [occupation unlisted]


Elizabeth I. Keeney f
34
VA


William R. Keeney m
15
VA


Bayliss Q. Keeney m
12
VA


Lethe A. Keeney f
10
VA


Mary M. Keeney f
8
VA


Amanda A. Keeney f
6
VA


Mary E. Keeney
f
4
VA
I visually scanned photocopies of each of the 321 pages in the 1860 census of Kanawha Co. (excluding the census for the city of Charleston) and found that all ten of the Keeney families in the county--i.e., OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL--lived in the Paint Creek census district.  Of those ten families, only four females were within two years of being born in the one-year window from August 1855 to August of 1856 (created by the varying age reports in 1880 and 1900, summarized below).

(1) In 1900, Emma reports her birthday to be in August. We believe that to be accurate.
(2) In Jul 1900, she claims to be 44 (she'll turn 45 in August; therefore, birth year would be 1855).
(3) But in Jun 1880, she had claimed to be 23 (she'd turn 24 in August; therefore, birth year would be 1856, making her a year younger).

Those four young females are:

Louisa M. Keeney, 5, daughter of William S. Keeney;
Paulina E. Keeney, 3, also a daughter of William S. Keeney;

Amanda A. Keeney, 6, daughter of Foster H. Keeney, and
Mary E. Keeney, 4, also a daughter of Foster H. Keeney.

Of these, I eliminated two (Louisa and Amanda) since they have other middle initials than E. and would probably not, then, be named "Emma".

Mary has several things going for her which allowed me to eliminate Paulina: (1) Mary's age puts her only one year from  the target date of 1855, (2) "Emma" just seems to go better with "Mary" than with "Paulina" (try saying them aloud), and (3) Mary has an excellent reason for using her middle name: she has a sister whose name is also Mary! I'm betting that Mary M. and Mary E. both went by their middle names to eliminate confusion, using "Mary" only for important documents--like the census!

NEVERTHELESS, Mary E. did not have a brother John W. Keeney, so I looked at the four again. There was none with a brother John of the right age, so I looked for all John W. Keeneys in Kanawha Co.  One surfaced: John Wilson Keeney, only child of McDonald and Catherine Keeney (see 1880 census table above).

Thomas Mc. Keeney m
2
VA


J. M. Keeney f
7/12
VA


Moses Keeney
m
27
VA laborer



The following image is of page 331 (transcribed above) of the 27 Aug 1860 Census of the area served
by the Paint Creek Post Office, Kanawha Co., VA (which state would become WV in three short years):




These paragraphs are taken from the FamilySearch.org page at https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LZK4-JSY/emma-keeney-1856-1949.

The Life Summary of Emma

When Emma Keeney was born on 15 August 1856, in Coalburg, Kanawha Co., WV, her father, William S. Keeney, was 26 and her mother, Emma B., was 22.  She married Fry Foster on 7 August 1876.  They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 5 daughters.  She lived in Central, Grant Co., NM in 1920 and Election Precinct 3 Silver City, Grant Co., NM in 1940.  She died on 2 August 1949 in Grant Co., NM at the age of 92 and was buried in Silver City, Grant Co., NM.



Spouse and Children

  • Marriage
    7 August 1876
  • Children (8)

    +3 More Children



    .


    Some Good Communication

    .
    John McDonald Gwin's Nib Collecting Site

    Sunday 06/17/2007 2:47:05pm
    Name:    Sharlene Rapp
    E-Mail:    sharlenerappathotmaildotcom
    Comments:    I am looking for my GG-grandmother's family - Emma Keeney born 1858 Kanawha WV. Married Fry Foster. Can find nothing!

    _________________________________________________________________

    From: jmcdgwin@zianet.com
    Subject: Thanks for signing my guest book! :-)
    Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007

    Hi Sharlene--thanks for signing my guest book--good to meet you!
    :-)
    I'm not at home right now, so I can't get to my Keeney book, but when I do, I'll look her up and let you know what I find out, ok?

    Best to you, Cousin!

    In Jesus,
    John Gwin

    From: "Sharlene Rapp"
    Date: June 18, 2007
    Subject: RE: Thanks for signing my guest book! :-)

    That will be fine.  Hope to hear from you soon.

    Sharlene

    _______________________________________________________

    From: John Gwin <jmcdgwin@zianet.com>
    Subject: Re: Thanks for signing my guest book! :-)
    Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007

    Well, Cousin, I've been playing with your question and having quite a  bit of fun!   :-)
    I built a little page for what I've found so far so you can see it  all clearly.
    It's at: http://www.gwingenealogy.net/GENEALOGY/SURNAMES/Keeney/keeneyEmmaFoster.html


    I'm particularly intrigued by the fact that they moved to NM, where I  now live. Do you live here as well?

    Please let me hear from you again--thanks!

    Best to you,
    In Jesus,
    John  (Contact information:)

    From: "Sharlene Rapp"
    Date: June 26, 2007
    Subject: Re: Thanks for signing my guest book! :-)

    You have reached as far as I have.  Emma is driving me crazy.
    Yes I do live in NM currently.  I brought my mother home to Silver City 4 years ago.   I do have the gravesites of Emma, Laura, Posie, Lou and the Burns brothers.
    We do have cousins in the areas, however, one Lou Osmer is quite the historian on family tales and on the mines around the area.

    Best to you,
    Sharlene
    _________________________________________________________

    From: John Gwin <jmcdgwin@zianet.com>
    Subject: Think I found Emma in 1860
    Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2007

    I'm fairly sure I found her and Fry in 1860.     Check the page again.
    Gotta go--
    Best to you,
    In Jesus,
    John

    From: "Sharlene Rapp"
    Date: June 29, 2007
    Subject: RE: Think I found Emma in 1860

    Thanks for the help.  I checked her out on Ancestry.com and she died in 1900 in Boone WV.  Good try though.  I actually hadn't thought that Emma would be her middle name.  I will keep looking!

    Best to you!
    Sharlene

    ____________________________________________________________