Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-05-27
James R. Keene,
MORE FACTS ABOUT THE CAREER OF THE
MILLIONAIRE.

JGnlcS H. Actuc.
MORE FACTS ABOUT THE CAREER OF THE
MILLIONAIRE.
TO the Editor of The State:
When James R. Keene was an important
factor in building up and sustaining the f.
nancial interests of the Pacific Coast after
Ralston's death, and was made president
OF the San Francisco Stock Board, and sub
sequently when "his nerve and dash electri-
fed wall street. Those best qualified for
the work 10y reason of having no knowledge
OF their subject to hamper their imagina-
tlon) furnished to the press of this and other
countries, laudatory biographical sketches
~ OF the great financier, in the aggregate
OF which quite as many cities claimed to be
his birthplace as claimed "Homer dead.''
Since his recent reverses of fortune, while
Journals well informed on matters of finance
all over the country have spoken in terms of
respect and admiration of his integrity and
manly bearing in adversely, d few penny-a-
liners of the baser sort have undertaken to
pander to the taste for the sensational by
writing him down an Irish "ex-saloon keep
er in Sacramento" the skeeper of a com.
mon gambling den in San Francisco &c .
all fixing the dates of his plying these mag.
mary callings at the time Of his marriage, in
in order to fit the warp and wool of their
romance.
A specimen Of these productions is an ar
ticle which was published in the Wheeling
CIV. Va Register and was republished in
Ihe State of May 5, 1884, and in the
Staunton Spectator of May 13, 1884, in which
the following statement occurs /:
'The time was when Jim Keene was the
proprietor ofa common gambling den ia the
city of SAN Francisco. The -witted,
handsome young Irishman was brought in
contact with Virginia girl who had gone
from her home under the shadow of the
Allegheny mountains to teach school in
the family of wealthy gentleman on the
Pacific Coast. She loved the dashing ways
of the Irish gambler, and notwithstanding
his position beyond the pale of Society and
the earnest entreaties Of friends, she linked
her destinies with his" &c.
This entire article will bear peIsual' as a
specimen Of the character of fictions to
which allude, and er uno disco onsnes.
The authors of these literary curiosities
rely wholly upon their ina ginations for their
facts, and upon the gullibility Of their pub
Usher
While in prosperity Mr.. Keene might
''schoolgirlish" moonshine, in his present
circumstances these articles cannot fail to
lntiict pain upon him and his family; and
recognizing this fact, it becomes nay duty
to correct some few, at least, of the SLAM
derous misrepresentation of Mr.. Keene So
cially, and in his private character. This
Is best done by a brief sketch Of his life to
the period of his becoming recognized as a
imam of affairs from which period the
public have some knowledge of his career.
James R. Keene was born in the city of
London, Eng, where his father and family
| resided until James was about thirteen years
of age. His father, possessing literary tastes
and culture, and recognizing the rare talents
of his son, placed him at the best schools in
England to which lad Of his age could be
admitted, and there Jimmy assduously ap-
| piled himself to his studies from the age of
six to thirteen years, when his father de-
| termined to remove with his family to
America. Landing in New York, he soon
went to California, the gold mining excite
ment, then rife, offering promising and
tempting arena for the development of the
sons energies.
! From the arrival Of the family in Cali
| fornia, James r. Keene was a man, with all
the cares and responsibilities of mans es-
tate; his talents and requirements immedi-
ately secured for him position by the aid
of which he could materially assist his faith
er. He then tried mining, and at the age
of nineteen was the editor of the Shasta
| Herald, one of the raciest and best conducted
papers il the then new S5hte.
In 1859 Mr.. Keens met my sister, who had
gone to California Escorted by myself on
a visit to my brother, the late Judge Will
liam Parker Daingertield, and his wife. My
brother resided in Shasta city, being then
Judge of that (the Ninth) judicial circuit
Mr.. Keenes father and mother and their
entire family also resided in Shasta.
| Mr.. James r. Keene, then a very young
man, was q frequent visitor at my brother S
house, and my brother entertained the high
est respect and admiration for his talents;
and even as youth Keene was universally
regarded as thoughtful and dignitied beyond
his wears, his reserve and dignliied demeanor
impressing every one with the idea that he
was older than he <eally was, and segregat-
ing him from ''them fellers," as average
young men are denoimnated in the parlance
of s'the Slope
| left California prior 10 the war,- leaving
nv sister, Sarah Jay DaingerGeld, at the
home of my brother, JuGge William L.
Daingertield, in the city OF Shasta, where
she was married to James r. Kecne, editor
of tie Shasta Herald.
Impecuniosity was the only charge ever
heard preferred against keene prlvr to his
marriage, as he was a man of high moral
character and unexceptional habits.
| After his marriage Mr.. Keene moved to
San Francisco and soon began to try his
hand in stock speculation, and after meet
ing with the ups and down usually encoun-
tered in this species of speculation, he be-
came rich, was elected president of the San
Francisco Stock Board, and in 1877 remov-
edwith his family to New York.
Generous as prince, there was not one
of his wifes relations, or his own, upon
| whom he did not shower fayOrs Win q
lavish hand whenever they would be reclev-
ed-and so graceful in his manner OF bestow-
ing, that faYors were frequently bestowed
upop and thankfully received by those who
could not have accepted such favors from
one less gifted Sin the art of giving"
Nature has made James r. Keene man
| of regal endowments He is less than 5O
years of age, full of vigor of mind and oody,
and his detractors may yet live to narrate
his success ON Change.
l have heard my cousin, Capt. William
| Harwar Parker, author of ''Recollecslons OF
a Naval Officer" who has known Keene IN
timately through adversely and prosperity
| from the close of the war to this date, say:
ssKeene has more brain thansall the literary
men in America put together
| The life of Mr.. Keene as tinancler IN
New York is q matter of history, and it IS
not nv purpose to allude to it here.
FoXHALL A. DAINGERFIELD.
| TIE ELECTIoNs.-T result of the fau-
nicipal elections in this State held last
Thursday should be gratifying to every
| Democrat. Danville, which had long been
under the rule of negroes and meaner white