In 1896 William Keeney left his young family and divorced his wife due to what was said to be a problem with alcohol. Divorces over the husband's alcohol consumptions was very common during the late 1800's and early 1900's. There was a large growing movement in the church, in particular the Baptist Church, that strongly condemned saloons and alcohol consumption of any kind. This is the same movement that eventually led to the Prohibition in 1920. After he left, William Keeney spent the rest of his life herding sheep in Eastern Oregon. In those times a sheepherder would follow the sheep in a wagon and live in solitude in remote grazing lands for often several months at a time. His son Walter said that he was four when his father left and did not see him again until he was 24. Walter traveled to his uncle Joe Williams' ranch in Ontario, Oregon. William bought Walter a pocket watch and a new suit and they had their picture taken together. It was the only time he saw his father until late in his life. In 1930, news reached Walter that William was dying from cancer. Although left virtually penniless due to the depression, Walter arranged to have an ambulance drive William from Eastern Oregon to the farm so that he didn't die alone. According to the 1930 US Census, he lived with his son Walter and his family at their farm in Dexter at age 75. It also list his occupation as sheep herder. He died at the farm on April 11, 1930, the day after the census was taken. Walter and William are buried beside each other at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. William's gravestone is inscribed with "Father".
In 1896 William Keeney left his young family and divorced his wife due to what was said to be a problem with alcohol. Divorces over the husband's alcohol consumptions was very common during the late 1800's and early 1900's. There was a large growing movement in the church, in particular the Baptist Church, that strongly condemned saloons and alcohol consumption of any kind. This is the same movement that eventually led to the Prohibition in 1920. After he left, William Keeney spent the rest of his life herding sheep in Eastern Oregon. In those times a sheepherder would follow the sheep in a wagon and live in solitude in remote grazing lands for often several months at a time. His son Walter said that he was four when his father left and did not see him again until he was 24. Walter traveled to his uncle Joe Williams' ranch in Ontario, Oregon. William bought Walter a pocket watch and a new suit and they had their picture taken together. It was the only time he saw his father until late in his life. In 1930, news reached Walter that William was dying from cancer. Although left virtually penniless due to the depression, Walter arranged to have an ambulance drive William from Eastern Oregon to the farm so that he didn't die alone. According to the 1930 US Census, he lived with his son Walter and his family at their farm in Dexter at age 75. It also list his occupation as sheep herder. He died at the farm on April 11, 1930, the day after the census was taken. Walter and William are buried beside each other at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. William's gravestone is inscribed with "Father".
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