Capt. George Keen, one of the
early settlers of Clayton County, was born in France,
Dec. 9, 1827. His parents emigrated to Somersett County,
N.J., when he was a mere child. His father soon after
removed to Schuylkill County, Penn., where he was master
mechanic on the T. & Pt. Linton Railroad. In 1850 he
removed to Elkader, Iowa, where he engaged in farming
until his death, which occurred in 1866. The mother died
in 1852. The subject of this memoir was reared to the
trade of a mechanic, and at the age of sixteen went into
the shop as a hand, and at the age of twenty was made
foreman. In 1850 he married Mary Broadbeck, who was born
in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Keen were the parents of
eleven children, seven living -- Henry A., Frank G.,
Charles C., Mary F., Emma S., Amanda A. and Nellie J.
After coming to Elkader he erected a machine shop, the
first one in the Northwest, in company with his brother,
A. Keen. They prosecuted the business until 1856, when he
removed to Clayton and embarked in the same business. In
1858 he removed to North McGregor, and engaged in the
same business in company with John Thompson. In 1867 he
bought out his partner, and has since conducted the
business under the firm name of George Keen & Sons.
In 1872, before the building of the pontoon bridge across
the Mississippi at this point, he overhauled and put in
running order the steam barges then in use for
transportation of trains. The company's engineers had
made a failure of the barges, but Mr. Keen invented a
cable chain system, by which they were worked
successfully. On the completion of this work he was
presented with a handsome gold watch, appropriately
inscribed, in appreciation of his valuable services. In
politics he is a Republican, and was the first Mayor of
North McGregor, and has held other local offices of
trust. He is a member of Bezer Lodge, No. 135, A. F.
& A. M.; of McGregor Chapter and Commandery; also a
member of Itaska Lodge, I.O.O.F. source: History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, p. 990 |
