Mexico weekly ledger., 1908-10-01
WILLIAM h. KEENAN,
Prepared by Geo. Robertson Tor
the Missouri Bar Association by
Request.

william H. KEENAN,, = member OF
the association IL its early days, a son
Of samuel KEENAN, and HARRIET
lRogers) KEENAN,, both natives OF Ken
snctv. vas born In Boone County, this
state, September l6. 1887; died Mtren
q, 1905. ,.
He spent his boyhood on bis fathers
farm near Columbia. He was educat
,p the common schools and At the
state University, being in the junior
wear At that institution when In tne
spring Of 1851 the Civil War coming
On be left school TO join the ConIeoe-
racy. He enlisted IS q private IN oom'
oany q, Sixteenth Missouri Infantry.
@. s. A. He was 10 the irst battle d
Boouyille, followed the fortunes OF
the army Of General Price 70 the emo
Of the wal, surrenderlng at Shreveport
Ia. June s,lse5 nearly two months al
ter the surrender OF Gen. Lee. he vas
promoted from time to time and when
the surrender Of Parsons brigade toSk
place, be was serving Is the adlutans
Of a Missouri battalion OF that off
GAGE.
DprinR the administration OF Gov
ernor stone he was commissioned as
one Of the Governors military stan
and had conferred upon him the rank
Of Brigader General.
The Civil War being over be return,
ed To his native county, taught school
in Ithe county for a livelihood re-
newed the study Of the law commenced
bsfore the war, pursuing that STUDY
again under the tutilage OF the late
James NJ. Gordon, of Columbia. He
was admitted to practice law at Col
umbta by the late Judge George ID
Burkhart,of Huntsville, so long Judge
of what was then the Second Circuit
Upon getting bis license TO practlcs
he located at Mexico ,Audrain County
epterlng the Office Of the late Cover
nor Charles a. Hardin with whom ne
remained till In 1874 when Mr.. Hardin
retired from the practice to become
Governor Of Missouri. Mr.. Kennan
then formed a partnership with
Daniel a. Mcintyre under the frm
name Of Mcintyre s. KEENAN, which
became one Of the leading and proml-
uent law firms CT North Missouri.
rhis partnership continued till 10
1880 when Mr.. Mcintyre was elected
Attorney General Of the state and re-
tired from the firm TO take up his OF
fcial duties at the State Capital. Al
ter that Mr.. KEENAN, continued tn'
, practice alone till about ten years be
before his death when he practically re
!, tired from the practice to look aftel
mis- own large personal affairs, and als'
! devoted much Of his time and atten
ton TO the management OF the H@r
din estate and the affairs OF Governo
!, Hardin's widow who was q sister Q
!, Mr.. Remnants deceased wife. Flo
: mapy years be was . member of tn
! Board Of Trustees OF Hardin College
Soon after locating In Mexico he wa
. elected city attorney, and owing =
|, the prominence he after ward attaineI
as a lawyer and in public Affairs q
well as the renown as a lawyer an
!, member Of the Supreme Court aftel
ward achieved by the City Clerk wh
Il issued the certificate Of election, |
i will be interesting TO preserve in ID
annals Of the legal profession OF tn
state the folio wing:
estate OF Missouri, so
Audrain County,
l., G. b. Macfarlane, Clerk OF ii
City Of Mexico, do hereby certify tina
y at the election for city officers held 0
= the Attn day Of April, 1871, VIM
KEENAN, was elected attorney for saI
. city for the ensuing year.
Given under my hand this II day
r Aprii, 1871.
X @, r. Macfarlane, Clerk
81 While always prominent In his par
v. as a worker, a politician Of unusual S
oacitv, he never sought office. In Il
lie middle OF bis second term as City A
torney he resigned. but In 1884 be W
m nress.d into becominQ a candidate
nd represent Audrain county In the le
,lv stature. He received the Democrat
lis nomination without opposition Al
er was at The general election of th;
oes year chosen To A seat in the Genel
Assembly of the State. He was
the sneaker NJ the House appoint,
=, to- nlace IN The Judiciary and A
= nronriat,on Committees where he u,
formed oood serv,ce and was infIue
'.s ,iaI IN ~o,ocnrtno the massage ot 80,
,1 usetnl and wholesome acts nv I'll
body.
In 1871 he was married to Miss o.
della P. Jenkins, daughter Of the Ia
= Mai. Theoderick jenkins, of Boo
county. To this union were born ii
children, four Of whom survive hi.
three daughters and a son.
He was one of the promoters of +
home for the disabled confederate 5
y y .a. -. uI...u,uo ga :,