Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-08-18
HISTORICAL FROTS
Connected With the Life
OF Hon. Henry S.
Keene.

N, Monday. July 20, 1898.
He was born at Elk Grove, LaFay-
cite county, Wis, on the 3rd day OF
April, 1886. He was the youngest son
of Samuel b. and Lydia Shaltuck
Keene, who emigrated from Indiana
to Wisconsin in 1884, and were there
fore among the early pioneers of Wis
consin. In 1887 the family removed
to Hurricane and settled on the we'll
known farm which up to within ten
years ago has been in constant possess
sion of the family.
At the age of three years the little
Henry lost his mother. and from that
time on until he reached manhood his
life was one of such hardships and
heartaches as only motherless child
can know.
He was sent to the country school
with his older brothers when only A
years old, one of his first teachers be-
ing the venerable j. p. Hubbard Of
British Hollow. He taught several
terms in country schools in Grant
county; later he went to Lancaster and
attended the Lancaster institute. a
high school conducted by Prof Page.
While attending this school he, at
Prof. Pages request, visited teach
ers' institute at Boscobel where he
entered into discussion with some
older teachers which attracted much
attention from those present. At its
close one of the members of the Bos-
cobel school board requested him to
take charge of their school for the fol-
lowing year. This he did and later
taught in Muscoda and Richland coun-
ty. He was natural teacher; he
loved the work and was most success
full.
Most of his education was gained
from reading. He had wonderful
memory and fund of general inform
alton as few men possess. The late
J. Z. Rountree of Platteville once
said Of him: II would rather have
the education that Henry Keene has
got by his own efforts than that OF any
college graduate | know
He was a fluent and forcible speak
er and. expressed himself with equal
ease and grace in writing. He was
from time to time contributor to the
Herald from the time of its ownership
by his beloved friend. j. G. Cover. un-
til recently, as well as to other Wis
consin papers When the Herald was
owned by the late H. ID. Farquharson,
Mr.. Keene frequently prepared its edi-
torials.
. m f,ff bo al ho
enlisted in the Sixth Wisconsin Bat
terry, Light Artillery, which was or
ganized at Lone Rock. Wis, with
Henry Dillon OF that place as captain.
He was quarter master sergeant under
Captain Dillon as well as his private
secretary and valued friend. With
his battery he participated in the fol-
lowing actions: Island No. 10, Siege
Of Corinth. Battle Of Corinth Port
Gibson, Willow Springs, Raymond
jackson. Champion Hills, Seige of
Vicksbur.. Mission Ridge and Nash
vile.
He wrote and had published a his
tory Of the Sixth Wisconsin Battery
which is used and kept in different IL
braries as a part of the authentic rec
ords Of the war. He also designed a
special badge which is used by the
survivors of the battery.
Before entering the service he stud
led law. The hardShips of war. how
ever, so impaired his health as to rem
der close mental application imposs-
ible and he was forced to abandon it,
50 turned his attention to farming
and blacksmithng.
On Deem Der Il, 1865, he was mar
ried to Miss Minnie Arnold Of Orion.
Richand county. Wis. They went
Immediately to the old home at Hur-
ricane where the aged father was liv-
ing, and for twenty-five years follow
ing the family made their home there.
Many things in Hurricane will always
stand as monuments to his enterprise
and public spirit. He gave the laAd
for and was the moving spirit in hav
inc the Hurricane church built, always
insisting that it should be a Union
church where all denominations might
be free to worship. 1t was due to his
enterprise that the old log school
house was replaced by the school
building now in use at Hurricane.
During his life at Hurricane, while
he had always the kindliest feelings
for all his neighbors. his dearest and
most cengenia1 friend was J. Alien
Coombs. now Of Madison. They two
were the Damon and Pythias Of the
ueighborhood and the two friends
we're familiar sight, either sitting
together engaged in conversation OF
driving of for miles to investigate
mounds in search of relics-a subject
in which both were interested. Mr..
Keene having in his possession at the
II ma Of his death such q cnllpcfinn nf