Reverand Oliver Evans McKeown
Reverand McKeown was born in Chester District, S. C. On December 12, 1820. He was the son of John and Elizabeth Trussell McKeown. He died September 1, 1868 in Gadsden County, Florida. He married Sidnah Fleming Clark after 1840. She was the daughter of Alexander P.and Jane W. McClintock Clark of Chester District, S. C. Reverand McKeown, his wife and mother are buried in Providence Church Cemetery in Gadsden County, Florida.
Reverand McKeown came to Gadsden County sometime after 1845 and before 1847 according to census records which show that daughter Jane was 5 in 1850, b. S. C. and son John, age 3, b. Fla.
According to his tombstone Rev. McKeown joined the Baptist Church in 1838 and entered the ministry in 1848, which indicates he became a minister after he came to Florida.
Providence Church records show that Oliver E. McKeown was ordained to preach the gospel on March 20, 1849. Many early Baptist ministers felt a “call to preach” which was apparently why Rev. McKeown became a minister. The Providence Church was organized in September 1843 and an Abstract of Principles based on the Welsh Neck Church principles was used as its guideline. Reverand McKeown was a Deacon in the Providence Church in 1848-1851 and was the third pastor of the church in 1857. He was the first pastor to preach in the Providence Church new building on May 17, 1861.
On October 22, 1851 Rev. McKeown officiated at the marriage of Susan McKeown and Joshua Shepherd. Susan McKeown was his sister.
Rev. McKeown was instrumental in the founding of the Concordia Baptist Church on Sept. 10, 1858 and was their pastor Sept. 22, 1860 according to church records.
The 1850 Gadsden census shows Oliver E. McKeown, age 30, farmer. He and Sidnah have three children-Jane 5, b. S. C., John 3,b. Fl and Elizabeth 1, b. Fl. By the 1860 census Oliver McKeown is shown as age 39, a minister, and has 6 children.
Oliver E. McKeown’s will in Gadsden County, Will Book # 32, p. 131 was dated 24 August 1864 and he died September 1, 1868. Witnesses to his will were David Clark and Joshua Shepherd, his brothers-in-law, and M. D. L. Sheperd. His will stated that his property was not to be divided during the present war (The Civil War). He left to his wife Sidnah one-third of his estate and the balance to his eight children: Jane C., John F., Elizabeth Ann, Emily J., Oliver F., Roxanna, Sydney G., and Mary Julia (n.b.). The n. b. apparently meant new born. Sidnah and son John F. were named as administrators of the estate. By the time the will was filed for probate 12 Sept. 1868, son John F. had died in Camp Chase, Ohio, so Sidnah was administrator. The 1870 or 1880 census does not show Mary Julia in Sidnah’s household so it is assumed she died.
The 1870 census (St. Bernard’s area) shows:
Sidnah McKeown49b. S.C.
Oliver F.15b. Fla
Roxanna11b. “
Sidnah G. 9b. “
The 1880 Census as follows:
Sidney J. McKeown59b. S. C.
Roxanna21b. Fl
William (Nephew)16b. Fl
Note: This William is William H. McKeown, son of William J. and Mary Elizabeth Goza.
Children of Rev. Oliver E. McKeown and Sidnah Fleming Clark
McKeown:
Jane C.b. 1845S.C.
John F.b. 1847Fla
Elizabeth Annb. 1848Fla m. William W. Edwards
Emily Janeb. 1851Fla “ P. F. Green
Oliver Flemingb. 1854Fla “ Susan Abigail Fletcher
Roxannab. 1858Fla “ E. Badger Fletcher
Sidnah C.b. 1861Fla “ Thomas Fletcher
Mary Juliab. 1864
Children of John and Elizabeth Trussell McKeown
Mary Aliceb. 1819S. C. m. David Clark
Oliver E.b. 1820 S. C. “ Sidnah F. Clark
Elizabethb. 1823“ ” Isaac Sheperd
Wm. J.b. 1826 “ ” (1) Mary E. Goza
(2) Cathern Clay
John N.b. 1828 “ ” Emma Pratt (?)
Susanb. 1831 “ ” Joshua Sheperd
Sarah (Sally) b. “ ” Gideon Hawkins
Note: It is believed that Sarah was a child, positive proof not
obtained.
It is interesting to note that John N. McKeown on the 1880 Gadsden Census listed his father’s place of birth as County Down, Ireland. It is likely that he had heard County Down as birth place of his g.father Samuel McKeown and put that down. The following census records show his father’s birth place as S. C.
The history of Chester District begun in 1750 when Scots-Irish from Virginia and Pennsylvania came to the section settling on Fishing Creek and Rock Cree, seeking religious freedom. They established meeting houses in each settlement. Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church and
Catholic Presbyterian Church, established in 1759, are two of the oldest landmarks in the county. The McKeowns did not go to Chester until after the Revolutionary War.
Records in Chester Co., S. C. Book A, Naturalized Citizens, p. 115, show: Samuel McKeown declared he had been a resident in the county since 2 August 1785 to April 4, 1801. He came to Charleston, S. C. 1767 on Ship Earl of Donegal.
McKeowns-Gadsden County, Florida , Juror and Witness Certificates
1851 Term of Court
John McKeownwitness
1853 Term of Court
Wm. J. McKeownjuror
Wm. “Witness-grand jury
1854 Term of Court
Wm. McKeownwitness-grand jury
1858 Term Court
W. J. McKeownwitness
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The two above, Wm. J. and John McKeown are likely to be brothers of Rev. Oliver E. McKeown as they were only ones of age to be jurors and witnesses. This places John in Gadsden County in 1851. He was not found in 1860 but in 1870 he was in Concord, listed as a schoolteacher.
On the 1870 census Wm. J. McKeown, Chattahoochee, had his mother Elizabeth in his household.