Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
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Copyright.  All rights reserved.

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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County, Illinois; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.

William S. KEEN, blacksmith, Plainfield; owns residence and blacksmith-shop in the village, 
valued at $3,000; was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Dec. 31, 1821; resided there with his 
parents until he was 14 years of age; he then went to Ithaca, N. Y., and learned the 
blacksmith trade, remaining seven years; he soon after started westward, and arrived in, 
this village July 8, 1841, an entire stranger; he very soon set up business where he is 
now located, and has continued there ever since, with the exception of three years that 
he was in California, from 1849 to 1852. Mr. K. was married in the fall of 1846 to Roxana 
E. NORTON; she was born June 11, 1825, in Ithaca, N. Y., and came here with her parents 
in 1840; have three children, all living in this village - Anson C., Sarah L. and Florence. 
Anson was a soldier during the late war; he enlisted in the winter of 1863 and 1864 in the 
8th I. V. C., and served until the end of the war, and took a part in all the engagements 
the regiment was in during his term of service. Mr. K. held the office of Trustee of the 
village one term.