Staggs Family History

My ancestors in the United States

recent posts

    Zebulon Keen (1811-1897)

    BIRTH: 16 Jun 1811, Homer, New York, USA
    DEATH: 25 May 1897, Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA
    FATHER: Sprague Keene (1788-1866)
    MOTHER: Chloe Higgins (1790-1864)
    SPOUSE: Hannah Jane Webster (1816-1889)

    When Zebulon Keen was born on June 16, 1811, in Homer, New York, his father, Sprague, was 22 and his mother, Chloe, was 20. He had one son and eight daughters with Hannah Jane Webster between 1834 and 1855. He died on May 25, 1897, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, having lived a long life of 85 years, and was buried in Valparaiso, Indiana.

    His story

    The following is an excerpt from Staggs Genealogy – Harold Wareham Staggs – His Book

    Their second son was Grandfather Zebulon (1811) who married Hanna Jane Webster. Hanna was a descendent of the Governor of the Massachusetts Colony in 1656, Grandfather John Webster. He was one of ten out of the 153 original settlers accorded the honor of being addressed as Mr. One of his ancestors was John Webster, who held the Manor of Lockington, Yorkshire in the time of Richard II, was a progenitor of Noah Webster the lexicographer.

    Grandfather Zebulon and Hanna had twelve children. He was a wagon maker and lived most of his life on a farm near Valparaíso, Indiana.

    The following is an excerpt from The John Keen(e) (1578-1649) and Associated Families, by Mr. and Mrs. Archie Timothy Keene, 1971

    Zebulon. Keene second son of Sprague and Chloe (Higgins) Keene was born 6-16-1811 at Homer, Cortland County, N.Y. and died in Ft. Wayne, Ind. 5-25-1897. He was a carpenter and wagonmaker. On 12-4-1833 he married Hannah Jane Webster who was born 9-15-1816 and who died at the home of her daughter Emma Miller, 2-13-1889. She was the daughter of Ashbel and Avis (Burton) Webster and was born at Eaton, Madison County, N.Y. Her mother died in Susquehanna Co., Pa. 4-19-1819, her father died 3-7-1823 at Cazenovia, N.Y. She was raised by Asher Graves who married Achsah Webster who was born 10-31-1798 and was the daughter of Abel and Lydia (Keeney) Webster. They had twelve children. Zebulon and his son Asher moved to Beloit, Wisconsin in May 1856 and his wife joined them in the fall with their eight daughters, the eldest 19 years of age and the youngest six months old. From Wisconsin they moved to Valparaiso, Ind, in 1858 where they lived until 1862 when they located in South Bend. In 1865 they moved to Laporte and from there to Valparaiso in 1876 where they lived the rest of their lives. Both are buried in the old Valparaiso Cemetery and were members of the Baptist Church.

    Zebulun Keene Born June 16, 1811, Died May 25, 1897

    Obituary

    Death of a Pioneer. Valparaiso, Ind., May 27. – Zebulon Keene, a resident of this county for 50 years, died at the age of 86. Mr. Keene was present and assisted at the organization of the republican party.  (Daily News-Democrat, Huntington, Indiana · Thursday, May 27, 1897)

    Legacy of Zebulon Keen

    Parents

    Father: Sprague Keene (1788-1866)

    Mother: Chloe Higgins (1790-1864)

    Married

    Hannah Jane Webster (1816-1889). Married December 4, 1833, in McGrawville, New York.

    Children

    • Asher Graves Keen (1834-1907) married Mary E. Bunting (1840–1890)
    • Achsah Webster Keen (1837-1913) married Myron Perry (1832-1903)
    • Lydia Ann Keen (1839-1859)
    • Mary Jane Keen (1841-1924) married Albert H. Polhamus (1837-1899)
    • Elnora Adelaide Keen (1846-1880) married Wharton Massillon Crowe (1846-1886)
    • Martha Eliza Keen (1850-1915) married Almeron Crowe (1838-1925)
    • Flora Keen (1852-1929) married Stephen Olin Hickok (1853-1934)
    • Ella Keen (1855-1917) married Joseph P. LeMar (1842-1925)
    • Emma Keen (1856-1940) married 1st Wharton Massillon Crowe (1846-1886) on 24 Aug 1880, 2nd Sylvester L. Miller (1842-1904)

    Documents

    • Birth Records
    • Marriage records
    • Death records
      • Find A Grave Death Date: 25 May 1897
      • Gravestone: Zebulun Keene Born June 16, 1811, Died May 25, 1897
      • Burial: Old City Cemetery, Valparaiso, Indiana, USA
    • Census Records
      • 1840 United States Federal Census > New York > Cortland > Truxton > Zebulon Keen, Free White Persons – Under 20: 3, Free White Persons – 20 thru 49: 2. Total Free White Persons: 5
      • 1850 United States Federal Census Page 1, Page 2, New York > Cortland > Cortlandville > Zebulon Keen (carpenter, 39) with wife Hannah Keen (34) and children Asher Keen (carpenter, 15), Achsah Keen (13), Lydia Keen (11), Mary Keen (8), Elnora Keen (4) and Martha Keen (4/12)
      • New York, U.S., State Census, 1855 > Cortland > Cortlandville > E.d. 1 > Zebulan Keen (carpenter, 44) with wife Hannah Keen (39) and children Asher Keen (20), Achsah Keen (18), Lydia A Keen (16), Mary J Keen (13), Alunora Keen (8), Martha Keen (5) Flora Keen (2) and Elen Keen (4/12)
      • 1860 United States Federal Census > Indiana > Porter > Valparaiso > Zebulon Keen (carpenter, 49) with wife Hannah Keen (44) and children Elnora Keen (13), Martha Keen (10), Flora Keen (7), Ellen Keen (5), and Emma Keen (4)
      • 1880 United States Federal Census > Indiana > Porter > Valparaiso > 140 > Zebulon Keen (carpenter, 69) with wife Hannah Keen (housekeeping, 64) and children Ellen Keen (weaver, 25) and Emma Keen (weaver, 24)
    • Other
      • American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI) > Name: Zebulon Keen; Birth Date: 1811; Birth Place: New York, USA; Volume: 94; Page number: 203
      • U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 > Fort Wayne, Indiana, City Directory, 1897 > Zebulon Keen, 73 Dawson, Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA

    Relation of Zebulon Keen to Steven Barry Staggs: 3rd great-grandfather

    Page last updated November 12, 2025

    Search the Staggs Family History site