Appendix C: The Reminiscences of Toni Ann (Keen) Keck

Tonnie Ann (Keen) Keck, wife of Henry Clay Keck and my grandmother, wrote this little history at my mother's request 1 August, 1978, while she was visiting us in Mesa Arizona. She was almost 80 years old at the time. I have retained her paragraph breaks, spelling errors and capitalization inconsistencies. My editorial comments are in brackets.

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My ancestors [she is talking about Keck origins here] came from Germany Via north carolina and Tennessee in the 1800s and settled in north-west Ark. First they came into Missouri [now she is referring to her grandfather, Isaac Keen], then some of them came on into Ark. They settled in Madison county. Later on emigrated to Carroll county, including my parents.

I was born at Rudd ark. carroll county Aug. 28 1898. Then we moved to Metalton, Ark.

There I grew up and went to school thru the grades 1-8.

I had eight Bros. and one sister. The ten of us grew up there. I went to Okla. and spent a few yrs. I went back to Ark. met and married Henry Clay Keck. We were married Dec. 28 1923.

We had three sons. Ransom Clay born Jan. 2 1925. kenneth Wayne born Dec. 18, 1929. Albert Bryce born march 28, 1936.

Ransom Clay died Aug. 9. 1970. with a brain tumor.

My father, mother, sister and 3 of my bros. died there in Ark.

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and was buried in the Gobbler Cemetery.

My husband had asthma. We came to Idaho thinking he might have better health here. He did for a few yrs. He died July 5, 1972.

We buried him in Nampa in the Kohler Lawn Cemetery by my grandmother [Pheba Margaret Simmons], who came here to live in 1902. and died with pneumonia. My husband also died with pneumonia too.

Kenneth Wayne finally settled in Denver, Colo.

Raised his family there 3 boys and one girl. He worked for Western Electric Co. but now he works for AT&T Co. Steven their oldest is in the Army. He is now stationed in Okinawa. Kenneth Wayne Jr. is in the Army and is stationed at Fort Hood Tex. Jan their daughter is married and lives near Denver.

Georges their youngest is attending high school in Westminster Colo. now.

Bryce my youngest son and I live there ['here' is scratched out] at[? what is written is "ou"] the home

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place.

Bryce + Barbara have 4 children 2 adopted ones, and two of their own.

5 of my eight Bros. came west. 4 of them settled in Oregon. one settled in Wash. 3 of them stayed in Ark. Two died there, one lives in Little Rock, Ark. now.

One of my Bros. that came to Ore. has died, and the Bro. that settled in Wash. has died. I still have 3 bros. living in Ore.

Bryce + his family and I are the only ones of my family living in Nampa now.

I am in Mesa Arizona now, staying with R.C.'s wife and family.

It is very hot here. Barbara tells me it is hot in Nampa too round 110.

I guess I will be going home Sat.

Everyone here has treated me so well. it will be hard to leave them all, but it will be nice to get back home, again.

I am real proud of the girls my sons chose for wives. They have all been so nice to me.

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They have all been good wives and good mothers.

I am so proud of my grandchildren.

I have sixteen. I also have 15 great grandchildren and I am expecting another one in the spring.

I guess I will end this history here for time being.