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MONONGALIA COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Chris & Kerry
cmac4330@chesapeake.net
December 13, 1999
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.
Chicago and New York, Volume II
pg. 152
THOMAS GRANT KEENAN, a member of the County Court of Monongalia County, has for
nearly forty years enjoyed a substantial position in the agricultural interests
of the county and is one of the recognized lenders in the advanced program of
modern agriculture in that section of the state.
His home farm is in the Cass District, and he was born on that farm. November
29, 1863, son of the late John P. and Nancy (Lazzelle) Keenan. His father was
born in Dunkard Township of Greene County, Pennsylvania, in 1824, son of Hugh
Keenan and grandson of James Keenan. James Keenan was a pioneer of Western
Pennsylvania. On bringing his family to America he settled in Greene County,
and met death at the hands of Indians in the border warfare. John P. Keenan was
a young man when he moved to Monongalia County, West Virginia. His wife, Nancy
Lazzelle, was born in the Cass District in 1831, daughter of Thomas Lazzelle and
an aunt of Judge I. G. Lazzelle of Morgantown. John P. Keenan devoted his active
life to farming, and he died at the old homestead in 1901 and his wife in 1912.
Thomas Grant Keenan has had the associations of the old home farm, where he was
born throughout practically his entire life. He attended the neighboring
district schools and as a boy took an increasing share of interest and
responsibility at home. Now in addition to his ownership of the old homestead of
121 acres he had another farm of 100 acres. Both these farms are underlaid with
coal.
A good citizen as well as a substantial farmer, Mr. Keenan has accepted several
opportunities to work in the public service. He was deputy sheriff from 1904 to
1908. In 1920 he was elected a member of the County Court for a term of six
years. He is also a director of the County Farm Bureau, and a director in the
Bank of Morgantown He is a republican in politics, a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and is affiliated with the Junior Order United American
Mechanics and the Order of Elks.
Mr. Keenan married Belinda Bowlby, who was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania,
daughter of James P. and Susanah (Donley) Bowlby. The only child of Mr. and Mrs.
Keenan is Marl, who was born June 22, 1892, and is now manager of the Fairmont
Branch of the Central Automobile Corporation of Morgantown.
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