Harry Keyes’ marriage to Florence Hadley

While browsing old Utah newspaper I came across the following article:

It caught my attention because I had never heard my Grandpa had been divorced prior to marrying my Grandma.  I started trying to verify this article was actually about my Grandpa.  My Uncle Ted verified it was true so I started looking for more.

As you can see from these articles and the dates published (1st article published, 31 May 1919;  2nd article, 29 Jun 1918 [less than 1 year between marriage and  Florence filing for divorce] 3rd article, 4 Dec 1918, and  the 4th article, 14 Sep 1918).  I’m not sure of the date Grandpa got back from WWI, but it looks as though he was in France almost the entire marriage.

My Great Grandmothers Obituary from THE WYOMING TIMES newspaper

Jenny Little Keyes Obituary                Mrs. Keyes Dead

Mrs Jennie Little Keyes, wife of  Bishop Alma Keyes of Uintah, died at the family residence last Sunday afternoon. Death was due to carcimonia of the stomach, from which the deceased had been suffering since November, 1915.  She had been confined to her room for the past month. Mrs. Keyes was born in England August 20 1836 the daughter of William and Elizabeth Little. She came to Utah in 1887, as a Mormon convert, being: baptized into the church in Pennsylvania, on her way to the mountains. Settling at Grass Creek, the family lived there four years and Mrs. Keyes then moved to Uintah for permanent residence. During her 27 years of life in the Uintah ward, the deceased was an active church worker, taking particular interest in the relief society and primary associations. She was twice married, her first husband being Thomas James, who died in 1892. Following Mr. James’ demise, the widow was married to Bishop Alma Keyes, who, with the following children survive her: Thomas Perrins of Ogden;  Albert James and Harry Keyes of Evanston; Mrs. Elizabeth Spilsbury of Ogden; and Evelyn and Theodore Keyes of Uintah. Ten grandchildren also survive.  The funeral was held yesterday afternoon, and interment was in the Uintah Cemetery.  – Ogden Standard

Died – 12 Mar 1916          Burial Date – 15 Mar 1916          Newspaper Date – 16 Mar 1916

Denver Hysell, my Great Grandfather.

Martha Overy, My Great Grandmother.

Jennie Little Keyes, my Great Grandmother and Grandfather Alma Keyes.

Sarah Ann Florence, My Great Grandmother. My Grandma looked Just like her.

Sarah Ann Florence was born in Rush Valley, Tooele, Utah on 18 May 1865.  She was the 3rd of 14 children born to Henry and Sarah Jane (Taylor) Florence.  Her siblings were:  Harriet Emily Florence, 30 Sep 1862; Caroline Elizabeth Florence, 7 Nov 1863; Joseph Henry Florence, 9 May 1867; William Thomas Florence, 2 Jul 1869; Samuel Stephen Florence, 8 May 1871; Mary Ellen Florence, 10 Mar 1873; James Florence, 2 Jan 1875; George Waller Florence, 3 Jun 1877; Margaret Belle Florence, 18 Apr 1879; Susan Lettie Florence, 6 Apr 1881; John Andrew Florence, 10  1884; Fredrick Arthur Florence, 16 Apr 1886, Harvey Kelley Florence, 25 Feb 1888.Sarah married John Alexander Smethurst 2 Mar 1882 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.  They had 13 children:  Florence Catherine Smethurst, 9 Mar 1883; John Henry Smethurst, 20 Aug 1885; Harriet Jane Smethurst, 10 Mar 1887; William Aaron Smethurst, 19 Sep 1888; Harvey Kelley Smethurst, 16 Oct 1890; James Thomas Smethurst, 11 Apr 1892; Moses Smethurst, 25 Mar 1893; Arthur Nephi Smethurst, 5 Dec 1895; Susan Rosella Smethurst, 1 Aug 1898; Millie Smethurst, 25 Jul 1900; Sarah Elsie Smethurst, 24 Nov 1901; Gilbert Crosby Smethurst, 5 Aug 1904; Steven George Smethurst, 7 Sep 1906. died in Salt Lake City, Utah 7 Jan 1920 and was buried 11 Jan 1920 in the Porterville, Morgan, Utah cemetery.

My Grandfather, Harry Edward Keyes about 1900

Harry Keyes was born 12 Aug 1896 in Uintah, Weber, Utah to Alma Keyes and Jennie (Little) Keyes. Jennie was Alma’s second wife following the death of Marie Evaline (Tracy) Keyes. Harry had a sister Eveline Jennie Keyes, 3 Oct 1898 and a brother Theodore McKinley Keyes, 6 Nov 1900 and 13 half brothers and sisters on his fathers side. They were; William Lemuel Keyes, 13 Apr 1863; Willard Alonzo Keyes, 25 Jun 1865; Lyman Henry Keyes, 29 Jan 1866; Joel Francis Keyes, 29 Jan 1868; Joseph Lorin Keyes, 2 Oct 1869; Roseltha Marie Keyes, 2 Sep 1871; George Alma Keyes, 14 Aug 1873; Elsie May Keyes, 19 Sep 1875; Alfred Lee Keyes, 26 Oct 1877; Eliza Jane Keyes, 5 Dec 1879; Charles Ray Keyes, 10 Mar 1881; Alta Virginia Keyes, 23 Nov 1883; Ethel Esther Keyes, 23 Nov 1883. He had 7 half brothers and sisters on his mothers side. They were; Thomas David Perrins, 25 Dec 1875; William Reese James, 25 Sep 1881; Fredrick Spencer James, 30 Oct 1883; Eli James, 12 Oct 1885; Albert James, 5 Jun 1887; Lizzie Mable James, 4 Jul 1889 and Walter Little James, 30 May 1891.

Harry grew up in Uintah, Utah and joined the Utah National Guard (Battery F of the 145th Field Artillary Unit) during WWI and was sent to France.

After the war he met and married Sarah Elsie Smethurst 15 Jun 1920. They had 7 children; Ted Elmo, Kenneth Harry, Elsie Louise, Evaline, Betty, Virginia, Josephine and Jennie Ann. He raised his family in Evanston Wyoming, while he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad as a Fireman and later as an Engineer.

He was an avid sportsman, be it hunting, fishing, boating or camping, he enjoyed them all. He was a great family man and stressed the importance of his family doing things together.

He died 27 May 1962 at the age of 65, following a stroke.