Josephine Keene
Don Congregational Cemetery
DEATH
KEENE – On Saturday, March 15, at her parents’ residence, “Ellerslie”, Devonport, Josephine, beloved and only daughter of J. Horatio Nelson and Elizabeth Keene, aged 29 years.
The Advocate 17th March 1902
FUNERAL
KEENE – The funeral of the late Josephine Keene will leave her parents’ residence, Devonport, at 3 o’clock THIS AFTERNOON for the Don Cemetery.
The Advocate 17th March 1902
General regret will be expressed at the announcement in another column of the sad bereavement of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. N. Keene, whose only daughter passed away on Saturday evening at the early age of 29. Deceased had been a patient sufferer for some time, so the sad event was not altogether unexpected. Universal sympathy will be felt for the parents and two brothers, who are old residents of the district, though absent for some time in Western Australia. The funeral takes place this afternoon at Don, a short service will be held at West Devonport Wesleyan Church en route. Deceased was a granddaughter of Mrs. J. Wilson, of “Ellerslie”, Forth Beach, one of the district pioneers.
The Advocate 17th March 1902
Elizabeth Keene
Don Congregational Cemetery
DEATH
KEENE – At her late residence, “Ellerslie”, Esplanade, Devonport, on the 8th inst., Elizabeth, beloved wife of J. H. N. Keene and mother of E. H. Douglas Keene, M.A. (Edinburgh), and A. G. B. Keene, second daughter of Mrs. E. Wilson, Forth Beach; sister of Mrs. Thos. Henderson, Melbourne, Robert Wilson, Zeehan, and John Wilson, Launceston. Inter-state papers please copy.
The Advocate 9th September 1904
FUNERAL
The funeral of the late Mrs. Keene will leave her late resi-dence, “Ellerslie”, at 2 p.m. TOMORROW (Saturday), for the West Devonport Methodist Church, and from thence to the Don Cemetery.
The Advocate 9th September 1904
We regret to record the death of Mrs. J. H. N. Keene who passed peacefully away at 5 a.m. yesterday. Her death was not unexpected, as she had been ailing for some time and despite medical attendance and expert nursing she gradually failed, remaining cheerful and brave until the end. Deceased was a daughter of Mr. Wilson, who lived on the Forth beach in the sixties, and was therefore well known to the older residents of the district; her aged mother with another relative, Mrs. Henderson, arrived from Victoria by the Flora on Wednesday morning being just in time to see her alive. Her age was 57. About two years ago deceased received a great blow in the rather sudden death of her daughter, Miss Josephine Keene, and in January last Mr. E. H. D. Keene left for Scotland to complete his medical studies, the household then being reduced to Mr. and Mrs. Keene, and their son, Mr. A. G. B. Keene. Much sympathy was expressed yesterday for the bereaved family, who, naturally affectionate, feel their grief acutely. The funeral of the deceased, who was of a kind and retiring disposition, is arranged to leave her late residence at 2 p.m. tomorrow for the West Devonport Methodist Church, when a religious service will be held, and the cortege will afterwards proceed to the Don cemetery.
The Advocate 9th September 1904
The funeral of the late Mrs. J. H. Keene took place on Saturday afternoon and was numerously attended. When the cortege left “Ellerslie” the coffin and hearse were profusely covered with beautiful floral tributes of sympathy and affection. The chief mourners were Mr. Keene (husband), A. G. B. Keene (son), Mrs. Henderson (sister), and Mr. J. Wilson (brother) of deceased and many leading residents attended to pay the last tribute of respect. A halt was made at the West Devonport Methodist Church, which was comfortably filled with mourners, and an impressive service was rendered by the Revs. S. C. Flockhart, G. J. Mackay and H. E. Merriman. An apology was tendered for the absence of the Rev. D. Brown. A couple of appropriate hymns were sung, Mrs. Ham being organist, the mourners left the church. The cortege proceeded to the Don cemetery where the last sad rites were performed over a very esteemed and amiable lady.
The Advocate 12th September 1904
J. Horatio Nelson Keene
Don Congregational Cemetery
DEATH
KEENE – On 13th inst., at his son’s residence, Doctor’s Rocks Farm, Somerset, J. Horatio Nelson, beloved father of E. H. Douglas and Addison G. B. Keene, in his 86th year. (Mainland papers please copy).
The Advocate 14th July 1931
FUNERAL
KEENE – The funeral of the late J. H. N. Keene will leave his son’s residence, Doctor’s Rocks Farm, Somerset, on Wednesday, the 15th inst., at 12.30 p.m. A short service will be held in the Methodist Church, Burnie, at 1.30 p.m. The cortege will then proceed to the old Don cemetery, arriving at 3.45 p.m., approximately. Will friends please accept this intimation. M. M. Vincent, Funeral Directors, Burnie.
The Advocate 14th July 1931
Death of Mr. J. H. N. Keene.
Passed away at his son’s residence, Doctor’s Rocks, Somerset, on Monday, Mr. J. H. N. Keene, aged 85. The late Mr. Keene was a son of Robert Keene, founder of the Sandhill Nurseries, Launceston. The latter arrived in Tasmania in the Thomas Laurie in February 1831, and after a short time at Snake Banks, purchased the land in Wellington Street, Launceston, from Knight’s foundry upwards. He married Emily Nelson, daughter of the Rev. John Nelson and Mr. J. H. N. Keene was born on June 14, 1846. He was educated at St. John’s School, was bugler to the Launceston Regiment, and acted as bugler to the first coach that ran to the Nile. After learning his trade, he came to Don in 1866; a little later he proceeded to the Cam. And selected land in the Elliott district. He arranged and opened the first Methodist service at Burnie and conducted the first service at the Cam.
On Xmas Day, 1868, he married Elizabeth, second daughter of James and Elizabeth Wilson, “Ellerslie”, Forth Beach, who had arrived in the early fifties from Scotland. Soon afterwards Mr. Keene proceeded to the mainland, where he remained 30 years.
After carrying on business in the north of Victoria for some years, during which time his family was born, he removed to Melbourne, and opened large stone quarries at Clifton Hill, and fulfilled contracts for some of the largest buildings, notably the Equitable Building and Parliament House. He was admitted a veterinary surgeon under the Victorian Act, and for a number of years was a member of the Veterinary Board of Victoria.
In the early nineties he went to West Australia in the gold rush time, and was appointed Inspector of Stock at Coolgardie, where he opened the quarantine station, and successfully treated thousands of camels used at that time for transport, the railway head being at Southern Cross.
He returned to Tasmania in 1899, and was accustomed to say, “the worst day of his life was when he left his native land, and the best was the day he came back.”
Settling at Devonport the family acquired several properties, notably the “Tantallon” estate, which was later cut up into orcharding areas and sold. At that time he was chaplain to the Mersey Lodge of Freemasons for several years.
Of late Mr. Keene lived quietly with his eldest son at Somerset. He was a great reader, and at 78 read Locke “On the Human Understanding” with great pleasure. He was a powerfully built, massive man of the old stock type. In his prime he was 17 stone 6 pounds, and 6ft. 11/2 inches in his stocking soles.
He was a wonderful shot with the gun, like his father, who was one of the foremost shots of his day. Mr. Keene was a devout Christian, and freely gave of his time and substance to the great cause. In the north of Victoria, with his own pair of horses, his usual Sunday work was to cover 60 miles and conduct three services.
His wife died in 1904 and their only surviving daughter, Josephine, eighteen months earlier. Two sons – Messrs. E. H. Douglas Keene, of Doctor’s Rocks Farm, Somerset, and Addison G. B. Keene, of Melbourne, remain.
The funeral will leave his son’s residence, Somerset, at 12.30 p.m., today and a short service will be held in the Methodist Church, Burnie, at 1.30 p.m. The cortege is due at the Old Don Cemetery at 3.45 p.m. approximately.
A.J.S. writes: With many old residents of Devonport I read with regret the announcement of the passing of Mr. Joseph Horatio Nelson Keene. The friendship between our families commenced over 60 years ago as residents together at Don, possibly before Mr. Keene’s marriage with Miss Wilson, of Forth Beach. Mr. Keene was a son of the late Mr. Robert Keene, who owned a nursery on the Wellington road, Launceston; and possibly his early life induced him to embark on the “Tantallon”orcharding industry at Spreyton, in which he was one of the pioneers in the Mersey Valley. As a skilled veterinary surgeon his services were in great request. A staunch Methodist, yet he was always ready to assist other denominations. Since leaving Devonport he had latterly resided at Burnie, and now at an advanced age he has joined the great majority, apparently having outlived his own generation. My respectful sympathy is tendered to his two sons.
The Advocate 15th July 1931