Brinkman, Charles. The History of Taylor County. Taylor County Historical and Genealogical Society. Grafton, WV. 1992. Volume 2. page 159.
"Harmon Keener, one of the lovable and irresponsible characters to be found in all communities, a descendent of one of the oldest families of Taylor county, who married Naomi Goodwin, daughter of Nathan Goodwin who erected the first building on the east side of Tygart Valley river in 1852 to start the settlement of the town of Grafton, was instantly killed when he was struck by a fast-running freight train in the East Grafton railroad yards, February 25, 1900. For many years a resident of East Grafton and a presistent user of the railroad tracks in his journey to and from his home, and despite the number of deaths from similar accidents of this nature of which he was fully cognizant, doubtless thought he was immune to this kind of fatality, but in a moment of forgetfulness in stepping from the path of an incoming train he stepped directly into the path of one leaving the station and suffered the same fate as many others. He was a veteran of the Civil war having served in Captain Samuel Todd's company of the 17th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry organized at Grafton. His remains were carried to Bluemont and this quaint character know to practically the entire population on whom they looked with a degree of humor for his cheerfulness and optomistic outlook on life and who lived his life doubtless by the rule "Today provided for, tomorrow is something to worry about when it arrives." Characters like him of which there were many in the past who had their part in history have, or seems to have disappeared with the changing years and the quaint actions and sayings that amused the people are seen and heard no more."
Killed In Front Of His Own Door. Grafton Sentinel. Grafton, WV. Friday, March 2, 1900.
Abstract--On Friday morning last, Harman Keener, an old and well know citizen of Grafton, was almost instantly killed by passanger train No. 3, as it was enterning the outer limits of the town. The unfortunate man had just left his home which was near the track and is one of a group of homes near the "curved bridge," on some errand. He stepped onto the west bound track and had proceded but a short distance when he was overtaken by the train and struck by the engine just as he was getting off the track. He was hurled some distance, and when picked up was unconscious and lived but a few minutes. His neck was broken by the contact with the pilot of the fast moving train. He was carried to his house which was but a few steps away, and from where the funeral took place the following Sunday afternoon. The deceased was within a few days of 73 years of age. he had lived in or about Grafton for many years and was a well know character. He served in the Union army surviving the war and was a pensioner. He leaves a widow and a large family of grown sons and daughters.
"Harmon Keener, one of the lovable and irresponsible characters to be found in all communities, a descendent of one of the oldest families of Taylor county, who married Naomi Goodwin, daughter of Nathan Goodwin who erected the first building on the east side of Tygart Valley river in 1852 to start the settlement of the town of Grafton, was instantly killed when he was struck by a fast-running freight train in the East Grafton railroad yards, February 25, 1900. For many years a resident of East Grafton and a presistent user of the railroad tracks in his journey to and from his home, and despite the number of deaths from similar accidents of this nature of which he was fully cognizant, doubtless thought he was immune to this kind of fatality, but in a moment of forgetfulness in stepping from the path of an incoming train he stepped directly into the path of one leaving the station and suffered the same fate as many others. He was a veteran of the Civil war having served in Captain Samuel Todd's company of the 17th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry organized at Grafton. His remains were carried to Bluemont and this quaint character know to practically the entire population on whom they looked with a degree of humor for his cheerfulness and optomistic outlook on life and who lived his life doubtless by the rule "Today provided for, tomorrow is something to worry about when it arrives." Characters like him of which there were many in the past who had their part in history have, or seems to have disappeared with the changing years and the quaint actions and sayings that amused the people are seen and heard no more."
Killed In Front Of His Own Door. Grafton Sentinel. Grafton, WV. Friday, March 2, 1900.
Abstract--On Friday morning last, Harman Keener, an old and well know citizen of Grafton, was almost instantly killed by passanger train No. 3, as it was enterning the outer limits of the town. The unfortunate man had just left his home which was near the track and is one of a group of homes near the "curved bridge," on some errand. He stepped onto the west bound track and had proceded but a short distance when he was overtaken by the train and struck by the engine just as he was getting off the track. He was hurled some distance, and when picked up was unconscious and lived but a few minutes. His neck was broken by the contact with the pilot of the fast moving train. He was carried to his house which was but a few steps away, and from where the funeral took place the following Sunday afternoon. The deceased was within a few days of 73 years of age. he had lived in or about Grafton for many years and was a well know character. He served in the Union army surviving the war and was a pensioner. He leaves a widow and a large family of grown sons and daughters.
Brinkman, Charles. The History of Taylor County. Taylor County Historical and Genealogical Society. Grafton, WV. 1992. Volume 2. page 159.
"Harmon Keener, one of the lovable and irresponsible characters to be found in all communities, a descendent of one of the oldest families of Taylor county, who married Naomi Goodwin, daughter of Nathan Goodwin who erected the first building on the east side of Tygart Valley river in 1852 to start the settlement of the town of Grafton, was instantly killed when he was struck by a fast-running freight train in the East Grafton railroad yards, February 25, 1900. For many years a resident of East Grafton and a presistent user of the railroad tracks in his journey to and from his home, and despite the number of deaths from similar accidents of this nature of which he was fully cognizant, doubtless thought he was immune to this kind of fatality, but in a moment of forgetfulness in stepping from the path of an incoming train he stepped directly into the path of one leaving the station and suffered the same fate as many others. He was a veteran of the Civil war having served in Captain Samuel Todd's company of the 17th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry organized at Grafton. His remains were carried to Bluemont and this quaint character know to practically the entire population on whom they looked with a degree of humor for his cheerfulness and optomistic outlook on life and who lived his life doubtless by the rule "Today provided for, tomorrow is something to worry about when it arrives." Characters like him of which there were many in the past who had their part in history have, or seems to have disappeared with the changing years and the quaint actions and sayings that amused the people are seen and heard no more."
Killed In Front Of His Own Door. Grafton Sentinel. Grafton, WV. Friday, March 2, 1900.
Abstract--On Friday morning last, Harman Keener, an old and well know citizen of Grafton, was almost instantly killed by passanger train No. 3, as it was enterning the outer limits of the town. The unfortunate man had just left his home which was near the track and is one of a group of homes near the "curved bridge," on some errand. He stepped onto the west bound track and had proceded but a short distance when he was overtaken by the train and struck by the engine just as he was getting off the track. He was hurled some distance, and when picked up was unconscious and lived but a few minutes. His neck was broken by the contact with the pilot of the fast moving train. He was carried to his house which was but a few steps away, and from where the funeral took place the following Sunday afternoon. The deceased was within a few days of 73 years of age. he had lived in or about Grafton for many years and was a well know character. He served in the Union army surviving the war and was a pensioner. He leaves a widow and a large family of grown sons and daughters.
"Harmon Keener, one of the lovable and irresponsible characters to be found in all communities, a descendent of one of the oldest families of Taylor county, who married Naomi Goodwin, daughter of Nathan Goodwin who erected the first building on the east side of Tygart Valley river in 1852 to start the settlement of the town of Grafton, was instantly killed when he was struck by a fast-running freight train in the East Grafton railroad yards, February 25, 1900. For many years a resident of East Grafton and a presistent user of the railroad tracks in his journey to and from his home, and despite the number of deaths from similar accidents of this nature of which he was fully cognizant, doubtless thought he was immune to this kind of fatality, but in a moment of forgetfulness in stepping from the path of an incoming train he stepped directly into the path of one leaving the station and suffered the same fate as many others. He was a veteran of the Civil war having served in Captain Samuel Todd's company of the 17th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry organized at Grafton. His remains were carried to Bluemont and this quaint character know to practically the entire population on whom they looked with a degree of humor for his cheerfulness and optomistic outlook on life and who lived his life doubtless by the rule "Today provided for, tomorrow is something to worry about when it arrives." Characters like him of which there were many in the past who had their part in history have, or seems to have disappeared with the changing years and the quaint actions and sayings that amused the people are seen and heard no more."
Killed In Front Of His Own Door. Grafton Sentinel. Grafton, WV. Friday, March 2, 1900.
Abstract--On Friday morning last, Harman Keener, an old and well know citizen of Grafton, was almost instantly killed by passanger train No. 3, as it was enterning the outer limits of the town. The unfortunate man had just left his home which was near the track and is one of a group of homes near the "curved bridge," on some errand. He stepped onto the west bound track and had proceded but a short distance when he was overtaken by the train and struck by the engine just as he was getting off the track. He was hurled some distance, and when picked up was unconscious and lived but a few minutes. His neck was broken by the contact with the pilot of the fast moving train. He was carried to his house which was but a few steps away, and from where the funeral took place the following Sunday afternoon. The deceased was within a few days of 73 years of age. he had lived in or about Grafton for many years and was a well know character. He served in the Union army surviving the war and was a pensioner. He leaves a widow and a large family of grown sons and daughters.
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