Concerning
Emma Keeney and Fry Foster of Kanawha Co., WV and Grant Co., NM |
Sources:
[John M. Gwin Note--18 Jun 2022: Fry 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.;
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.;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;
26.05--George Burns, b. ca. 1912 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]
26.06--Irene P. Burns, b. ca. 1914 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]
[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]
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;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 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.;26.02--Louis L. Osmer (Jr.?), b. ca. 1901 in NM/NM/WV; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch;
27.02--Clarence A. Owen, Jr., b. ca. Dec 1928 in NM/CO/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]
26.03--Myrtle E. Osmer, b. ca. 1903 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]
[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]
[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):
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.;"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." ]
25.05--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 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]
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 |
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. |
Res/Fam |
Name |
Relat to HoH |
Race |
Sex |
Age |
Marr. Stat. |
POB |
FPOB |
MPOB |
Occupation |
John
M.
Gwin Comments |
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 |
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.