My ancestor William C. Keen was a founding newspaperman in Switzerland
County. He founded the INDIANA REGISTER and later the WEEKLY MESSENGER. In
my research, I learned that the Indiana State Library has early copies of
these papers on microfilm that cover even some of the earliest editions. I
would suggest starting there. I asked them to look up his name in the paper
and they provided me with a list of pages and film numbers.
Good luck,
Shannon Clyde
Biographical sketch of William C. Keen - Pioneer newspaper man, military
notable, local
politician, judge, and felon. Quite an interesting character. Do you know
this ancestor? I would love to have your help in filling out his story. I
am particularly interested in nailing down his birth and death dates &
locations. I would also like to validate his marriages and children names,
dates, etc.
This narative covers a thirty four year span from 1809 to 1845.
William C. Keen was born in Berk's County, Pennsylvania near Shoutts'
Church above Wommelsdorf. He moved to Crawford County, Pennsylvania as a
young man and later worked as a practical printer in Meadville, PA in 1809.
William later moved to Mercer County, PA from Meadville, PA in 1811. As a
practical printer, William helped found the first newspaper in Western
Pennsylvania, the WESTERN PRESS.
William answered the call to arms and joined the Pennsylvania Militia in
the company of Samuel Clark (Colonel Hosacks 134th regiment). The unit
marched to Erie in 1813. Keen volunteered to serve with Oliver Hazard Perry
on the U. S. Brig Niagara. He was later promoted to Master At Arms on
Perry's flag ship the U. S. Brig Lawrence. He fought with Perry in the
Battle for the Great Lakes in September 1813 (War of 1812). Keen was
severely wounded in the legs by splinters during the battle. He was one of
the few survivors of the Lawrence, which sank, and moved with Perry to the
Niagara to finish the fight against the Brittish. The few, bloodied
survivors managed to hold off and with reinforcements finaly arriving, beat
the Brittish.
William C. Keen moved to Switzerland County, IN in 1815 from Mercer County,
PA via Hamilton, Ohio. He had a press in Hamilton which he managed to move
to Switzerland County with the help of his INDIANA REGISTER partners.
He became a Justice of the peace in 1817 (to 1825) and founded the first
newspaper, INDIANA REGISTER as printer and publisher.
He sued the State of Pennsylvania in December 1819 to receive the Silver
medal given to Pennsylvania military men for their service in the Battle Of
Lake Erie (voted by Penn legislature in 1814.
He became active in the Indiana Militia and by 1819 he was a Colonel in the
Indiana Militia and a Brigade General by 1820.
It is possible that William C. Keen married Nancy Clark in June of 1820. I
have not been able to substantiate this.
He married Mary E. Gazley on 17 November 1821. He is known to have had at
least three daughters: Indiana Keen, Eliza C. Keen and Rebecca Keen.
Indiana Keen married Rensaleer Chamberlin in Switzerland County on 16 Sep
1833. Eliza C. Keen married Dormand Marshall's brother, Darwin Marshall on
28 February 1833. Rebecca married Dormond Marshall on 19 February1844 in
Switzerland County.
William C. Keen served in the Indiana Legislature in 1825-26. In January of
1824 he nominated Henry Clay for President in the Third Congressional
District of Indiana. Keen became Post Master of Printer's Retreat in 1826
(1832). He became Switzerland County's first probate court judge in 1829
(to 1839).
As a Brigade General, he served in the Black Hawk War in 1832.
He sued for a pension from the NAVY in August 1834. Keen recieved his Navy
Pension on 25 August 1834 for wounds received as Master At Arms aboard O.
H. Perry's flagship the U. S. Brig Lawrence during the Battle Of Lake Erie.
He sued to receive an extension to his benefits from the Navy in 1837.
He moved to Printer's Retreat where he ran the WEEKLY MESSENGER.
He was convicted of stealing a $20 bank note from a letter and sentenced to
Jeffersonville Federal Penitentuary in 1839. He was pardoned by Pres. Van
Buren in 1839 or 1840.
After his unfortunate incarceration, he purchased a mill in Florence,
Switzerland County, Indiana in 1840 in exchange for his land in Printer's
Retreat, Indiana. He married Susannah Dawson in Harrison County, Indiana on
19 August 1841. After an extended, yet ill fated, attempt to run the mill
and his presses using an ancient steam engine, he finally gave up and moved
on. He returned to Philadelphia circa 1845 (probably around 55 years of
age) where he passed away (Germantown, PA). I estimate his death somewhere
around 1845 to 1855. He had a pretty rough life and the life expectancy was
not much passed 55 in those days.