Keen W. Field, One of Shelby County's Oldest Citizens, Passes Away.

Shelby county's pioneer citizens are fast passing away.  By the death of Keen W. Field, which occurred at his home on North Third street, at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon, one of the oldest men in Shelby county has passed over the great divide.

He has been a remarkably strong and vigorous man, and death resulted from a general breakdown consequent to old age.

Keen W. Field was born in Gibson county, Indiana, February 11, 1817, and died at Shelbyville, Illinois, at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon, March 2, 1906, aged 89 years and 19 days.  Mr. Field was three times married, his first two wives being sisters.  He was married to Judy Duncan, of Patoka, Indiana, in August 1837.  Three children were born to this union, all of which died in childhood.  The wife died in the early part of the year 1841, and in the same year he was married to Miss Sarah Duncan.  Ten children were born to this union, five of whom survive, and are: Mrs. Cordelia Rawlings of Strasburg, J. W. Fields, living 2½ miles southeast of Shelbyville, Cynthia Fling of Rock Island, Texas, Benjamin S. Field of Rock Island, Texas, and K. H. Field of Langdon, Kansas.

In the fall of 1869 Mr. Field moved with his family, from Indiana to Illinois, settling on a farm south of Windsor, in Richland Township.  On June 20th, 1875, his second wife died, and on October 28, of the same year, he was married to Nancy D. Wilhite of Oakland, Indiana.  This wife, five children, twenty-two grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, one great great grandchild, and a host of friends, are left to mourn his death.

A few weeks ago he sent for Rev. O. P. Wright, to whom he signified a willingness to embrace the Christian religion.  By reason of his weakness he could not be taken to the Christian church baptistry so a large sized bathtub was taken to his home, and used as a baptistry.

Short services were conducted by Rev. O. P. Wright at the family home, at nine o'clock, Monday morning, after which the remains were taken to Ash Grove cemetery for interment.  Rev. Wright accompanied the funeral party to Ash Grove church, and conducted a second service at that place, at one o'clock Monday afternoon.  On account of the inclement weather and the bad roads, the body was taken on the train as far as Windsor.

Mr. Field always had a warm place in his heart for his native country.  Since his moving to Shelbyville in 1892, the editor of The Democrat has become quite well acquainted with him.

He loved to read the papers, and it was his greatest delight to tell about his having taken his home paper, the Princeton (Ind.) Democrat, for more than fifty years.  All the children of the deceased were here to attend the funeral of their aged father.  Mr. Hugh Randolph, a grandson, of St. Charles, Mo., was also here, and attended the funeral.

Group Sheet of Keen W. Field

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