The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-03-19
DEATH OF |. KEENE
EARLY SETTLER OF THIS SEC
TON ANSWERED SUMMONS.
Came to Minnesota in 1854, Cut the
First Trail Up BrittOn Hill With
an Ok Team; Spent Some Years
in California During the Gold
Fever Days.

From Tuesdays Tailv
J.. d. Kecnc, one of the well known
residents of North Mankato, and IN
early settler i'll this section, passed
away at 3:45 O'Clock this morning at
his home, 702 Nicollct street, North
Maukato. He had been suffering from
heart disease, but last Wednesday he
Sustained stroke of apopleXy, and
never recovered consciousness. He grad
ually weakened, sustained only by his
great vitality.
Was Born in Maine.
Lorenzo Dow Kecnc was born May
%, 1876. at Clinton, Maine, and was
one of Il family of fourteen children.
He was also one of Il pair of twins.
and three pairs of twins were born to
his parents Eight of the children were
boys and eight girls, and one brother,
Madison kecnc of this city, and two
sisters, Mrs. Adclinc Goodridge of
North Mankato and Mrs. Mason Eos
Those who have died were Mrs. Maria
Burrill and Abel Kcenc of this city.
Mrs. Larana Clark of Belgrade, who
was the twin sister of l.. ID. Keene
Josiah keenc Of California, Mrs.
Lydia Wrightson of Washington, Miss
Emcline Kecne of Maine, jeremiah
Keene of this state, David kecne OF
Nevada, Charles Kccne of California
and Allen Keene of Nevada. Madison
and Allen Kecne were twins, and also
Emeline and Alkaline Keene.
Early Settler in Minnesota.
The deceased first came to Mime
sofa i'll the fall of 1854, and pre- -empted
100 acres of land in Nicollet county
where he lived for SO many years, and
which he still owned at the time of his
death. He was one of the party that
cut the first road up the Britton hill
with OK teams. He built Il log cabin
and with his brother, Madison, spent
five years on his farm among the In
dams. In 1859 he went to California
attracted by the gold excitement, and
spent five years in the gold mines.
In 1864. with the gold that he had
succeeded i'll acquiring, he went back
to Maine, and on June % of tlrat yeal
india Goodridee of Canaan, Maine. Then
rcturnin" to his Minnesota home, with
his bride. he was able to travel as
far as Rochester by rail, and thence
came to Mankato by stage, and thence
to his farm. They remained on the
farm until 1892, and then spent one
year i'll Mankato. They then re-
turned to the farm, accompanied by
their son, Jesse, and lived there unit
1899, when they moved to North Man
kato, and have lived there ever since
Survived BY Wife ana Children.
Mr.. Keenc is survived by his wife
who is an invalid, and for whom he
has personally cared, and two sous
Jesse L. and John 4. Keene of Bel
grade, and one daughter, Mrs. b. A
Tidland of Hebron.
Mr.. keene's twin sister was mar
red in 1865 TO William Clark, an ole
soldier, who is still residing in Nicot
let county. She died March 3 of las
year of heart disease. Her picture il
shown in the accompanying cut, witt
that of her brother, the late Lorenz,
keene
Mr. Keene was honest, upright gen
erous, possessed of the rugged New
England character, and was highly re
spected by all who knew him. FL
was a devoted husband and kin,
father, good neighbor and citizen
and his death is greatly regretted H
rounded out useful and active life