RUEL CURTIS MCKEEN

RUEL CURTIS MCKEEN

Ruel Curtis McKeen was born April 2, 1855 in Eddington Bend, Eddington, Penobscot County, Maine. We find him enuermated in his parent's household in 1860 and 1870. We have not yet received the actual 1880 census. According to one researcher, in the US Census 1900, he was living alone in Eddington, Penobscot County, Maine.

City of Brewer Maine
Record of Board of Registration
McKEEN, Ruel C Reg 7 Mar 1922 577 N Maine Resided April 1 in Brewer born Bangor age 66 born 1855 lumberman brewer 4 yrs single with note" died 29 January 1937"

Our note - date is wrong see obituary

Probate papers of his mother, Hannah Rowe McKeen, shows Ruel McKeen living in Eddington, Maine probably at time of her death (1901).

CENSUS

1910 U.S. Census, Eddington, Penobscot County, Maine
Enu 6,27,29 May 1910
Household 34/34

McKeen, Ruel C. Boarder M W 55 sing ME ME ME Lumberman Farm Sch 5, Surv Union Army
Lived with the Nelson J. Hall family

DEATH RECORD

Death Record - City of Brewer, Maine

Name of Deceased - McKeen, Ruel Curtis

Street and No. - I.O.O.F. Home

Place of Death - Auburn

How long a resident- 2 yrs ; Previous Residence - Brewer

Sex - M; Color - W; Widowed

No name listed for wife

Date of Birth - Y: 1855 M: 4 D: 2

Occupation - Lumberman

Age: Years 77 Months 8 Days 23

Birthplace - Bangor

Name of Father -James McKeen

Birthplace - Robinson Occupation-Carpenter

Maiden name Mother - Hannah Rowe

Birthplace - Eddington

Date of Death - 12/25/1932 Cause of Death - Cerebral Hemmorhage Duration-1 da

Contributing Cause - Arteriosclerosis Duration - 5 yrs

Physician reporting - John E Cortland, M.D.

Address - Auburn

Place of Burial - North Brewer Date of Burial - 12/27/1932

OBITUARY

Bangor Daily News: Bangor, Maine

Tues., December 27, 1932

Ruel C. McKeen

The death of Ruel C. McKeen, 77, formerly of Eddington, occurred Sunday in the Odd Fellows Home, in Auburn. Surviving are his brother, A.W. McKeen of North Brewer; also five nephews and a niece- Harry Davis of East Eddington, Roy Scammon of Holden, Kenneth, Finson and Lyndon McKeen of North Brewer and Mrs. Percy Clark of Holden.

He was a member of Penobscot Lodge IOOF of Bangor. Funeral services will be at the residence of his brother, A.W. McKeen, in North Brewer, Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

REUEL MCKEEN SONG

A McKeen researcher sent us the following song. The source is not known, and I certainly hope we are not stepping on any copyright. If anyone knows the source of the song, we would appreciate knowing about it.

REUEL MCKEEN SONG

You jolly brook drivers who drive by the day,

Likewise pay attention to all that I say.

Take my advice and never take charge

Of a crew of green-horns or a leaky old barge.

Derry down, down, oh down derry down.

It was upon Tuesday, the first day of May,

As long as I live I'll remember the day.

I took my whole crew up to Rocky Pond,

In full expectations the ice would be gone

Derry down, down, oh down derry down.

When I got there my heart it grew sad,

The task was enough to drave a man mad.

All four of the booms they were broken and gone,

And all of the logs drifted over the pond.

Derry down, down, oh down derry down.

At length we got ready her rigging prepared,

With much difficulty got some of them snared.

Consisting of cedar, peeled hemlock and spruce,

On Friday the fourth we began to sluice

Derry Down, down, oh down derry down.

Before we heisted I sent up to Hen,

To send me down ten of his best peavey men.

For those that we had were both useless and green

But for John and Jim Coffey and Reuel McKeen.

Derry down, down, oh down derry down.

There were six men from Ellsworth came up on a team,

In haste they were stationed the length of the stream.

They were well able drivers full worthy of hire,

They could handle a peavey or fight against fire.

Derry down, down, oh down derry down.

Now forty odd years I've been known in this place

The name that I go by is old Dirty Face.

I never yet washed it but once in my life,

That was the first time I went courting my wife.

Derry down, down, oh down derry down.

When I get to Ellsworth I must have a wash,

My face it is covered with gurry and moss

The water I'll bottle to poison the botts,

Now what do you think of your friend Mr. Watts?

Derry down, down, oh down derry down.

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