Keeney, Alva P. (1825-1903)

KEENEY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 12/9/2016 at 01:13:26

History of Warren County, Iowa; Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns & Etc., by Union Historical Company, 1879, p.597

KEENEY, ALVA P., proprietor Madison House; he was born June 17, 1825, in Pulaski county, Kentucky; moved with parents May 18, 1827, to Montgomery, Ohio; here he was raised, and educated in subscription schools; his father died when he was but 11 years old, and he has paddled his own canoe since, as well as to help his widowed mother to raise her family of seven children; he came to this county May 22, 1862, and bought what was then known as the John Green farm; he then moved to Squaw Creek, after which he came to Indianola; has been in the hotel business since March 18, 1878; he has the reputation of keeping a first-class house, where farmers and other hungry mortals can always get a square meal; he was married June 19, 1851, to Miss Mary Bryant, a native of Indiana; they have nine children: Sylvia A., Clara E., Silas G., Nannie J., Susan A., Iven F., Gracie and Bell, living, and Laura O. and Iva I., deceased.

The Advocate-Tribune newspaper, Indianola, Iowa, Thursday, December 30, 1886, p.6

A GATHERING OF THE PATRIARCHS
Mine host, A. P. Keeney, of the Madison House, the oldest landlord in Indianola, had a remarkable gathering at this popular hostelry on Christmas day. He invited all the prominent old widowers of this vicinity to eat a Christmas dinner with him. The patriarchal flock that answered the summons were a most interesting group of time-worn veterans.

ALVA P. KEENEY
He too, is an old settler and is even now on the home stretch in the race of life. He was born in Pulaski county, Kentucky, in 1825, and came to Iowa in 1868, settling on what is now known as Hoosier Row, White Oak township, this county. He remained on the farm some four years, then moved to Indianola. Here he engaged in teaming. He soon got control of the transfer business and buss line, but sold out his business and for the past eight years has engaged in the hotel business, which seems more congenial to his tastes. Like most men who have positive views of their own, he is not without enemies; but his bitterest enemy will not deny that he has made hotel-keeping a success. He has a faculty for making his house popular. In this, too, he has received most substantial aid from his wife and daughters, who are very queens in their department of hotel management.
This diner party at the Madison House was the most remarkable Christmas gathering in Indianola, and will be treasured up as a most happy experience by the venerable participants as they tread the few miles remaining to them in their already uncommonly long journey of life.