Individual Details
James B. Judia - Keenan
(February 4, 1904 - April 14, 1923)
1910 Gila County, Arizona census. Shown as the son of George and Stella Keenan.
James B. Keenan is shown living with his grandfather on the 1920 Maricopa County, Arizona census. Mother or father are not listed.
"James Keenan: Residence: Desperation Mine. Male. White. Date of Birth - Feb 4, 1904. Age - 19 years. Occupation - Motor Helper. Name of Father - Bert Judy, birthplace - Texas. Maiden name of Mother - Stella McKenzie, birthplace - Oklahoma. Date of Death - April 14, 1923. Cause of Death - Mine Accident. Signed - W. C. McKenzie, Coroner?. Place of Burial - Pinal Cemetery. Date of Burial - April 17, 1923. Undertaker - J. Ney Mills, Miami." (Gila County, Arizona Death Certificate.)
"19-Year-Old Trainman Is Killed At The Inspiration; Was Mother's Sole Support --- James Keenan Dies As Motor Pins Him Against Wall"
"James Keenan, 19-year-old Miami youth, is at the morgue today as a result of a fatal accident on the 600 foot level of the Inspiration mine occurring at 1:10 o'clock this morning, when a derailed ore train motor crushed his body against the timbered walls of the mine. His widowed mother, Mrs. Stella Keenan, is prostrated and under a doctor's care at her little home in Davis canyon,.
"Keenan had been employed as a switchman on the ore train for about two weeks. The accident occurred when the heavily loaded ore cars switched from the right to the left track at a point about 300 feet from the ore station on the level.
Other members of the train crew working with Keenan at the time of the accident said this morning the unfortunate youth had thrown the switch for the train to go on the right track, the motor had passed the junction of the tracks and was continuing in its usual direction when Keenan took his seat on the front of the motor,. For some reason which has as yet been accounted for the ore cars took the left track. The great weight of the ore cars on the opposite tracks, and and still coupled with the motor, threw it across the track against the wall at an angle of about 45 degrees with the cars. Keenan's body was pinned between the motor and the timbers, the trainmen say.
Examination of the switch this morning failed to reveal any defects according to a report made at the mine,.
Coroner W.C. McKenzie was notified of the accident and went to the mine for an investigation of the circumstances. Maurice Krupp, George Kurr, Gus Peterson, M. Beem, Ed Waldo, L. Weeks and C.H. Lemon were summoned to serve as jurymen at the inquest which has been set for 10 o'clock next Monday morning in coroner's court.
"The body was removed to the Miles Undertaking parlors, where funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. The Rev. H. Conger Jones, pastor of the First Methodist church will officiate at the memorial.
Was Mother's Support
"Keenan had been the sole support of his widowed mother, Mrs. Stella Keenan, a 15-year-old sister, Gladace, and a brother Joseph, 12 years old. The boy discontinued his studies at the local high school, where he was a popular student, more than three years ago when his mother was forced to seek employment for the support of her family.
'He was just a child then and education would have meant so much to him,' Mrs. Keenan said this morning. 'But he insisted I remain at home like other mothers and he would work. He was a good boy and was never the cause of any worry or anxiety.'
'He and Gladace attended a party at lower Miami last night, he and his sister were together whenever he was not at work. He did not return home after the party, but took his lunch with him and met the train at Lower Miami. A boy friend who accompanied them to the party brought Gladace home in an automobile. He kissed me as he left for the party and that was the last time I saw him alive,' the prostrated mother concluded.
"A large host of friends were deeply grieved this morning to learn of the untimely death of the lad. former school mates, fellow employees at the mine and friends of the family in large numbers called at the undertaking parlors to view the remains.
"He had entered the employ of the Inspiration about three weeks ago on his return from the Salt River Valley where he had been making his home with grandparents while employed there. Several months ago he was employed there,. Several months ago he was employed at the mine in the same capacity as when he met his death."
(Arizona Silver Belt, April 14, 1923, page 4; courtesy Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum, Miami, Arizona.)
James B. Keenan is shown living with his grandfather on the 1920 Maricopa County, Arizona census. Mother or father are not listed.
"James Keenan: Residence: Desperation Mine. Male. White. Date of Birth - Feb 4, 1904. Age - 19 years. Occupation - Motor Helper. Name of Father - Bert Judy, birthplace - Texas. Maiden name of Mother - Stella McKenzie, birthplace - Oklahoma. Date of Death - April 14, 1923. Cause of Death - Mine Accident. Signed - W. C. McKenzie, Coroner?. Place of Burial - Pinal Cemetery. Date of Burial - April 17, 1923. Undertaker - J. Ney Mills, Miami." (Gila County, Arizona Death Certificate.)
"19-Year-Old Trainman Is Killed At The Inspiration; Was Mother's Sole Support --- James Keenan Dies As Motor Pins Him Against Wall"
"James Keenan, 19-year-old Miami youth, is at the morgue today as a result of a fatal accident on the 600 foot level of the Inspiration mine occurring at 1:10 o'clock this morning, when a derailed ore train motor crushed his body against the timbered walls of the mine. His widowed mother, Mrs. Stella Keenan, is prostrated and under a doctor's care at her little home in Davis canyon,.
"Keenan had been employed as a switchman on the ore train for about two weeks. The accident occurred when the heavily loaded ore cars switched from the right to the left track at a point about 300 feet from the ore station on the level.
Other members of the train crew working with Keenan at the time of the accident said this morning the unfortunate youth had thrown the switch for the train to go on the right track, the motor had passed the junction of the tracks and was continuing in its usual direction when Keenan took his seat on the front of the motor,. For some reason which has as yet been accounted for the ore cars took the left track. The great weight of the ore cars on the opposite tracks, and and still coupled with the motor, threw it across the track against the wall at an angle of about 45 degrees with the cars. Keenan's body was pinned between the motor and the timbers, the trainmen say.
Examination of the switch this morning failed to reveal any defects according to a report made at the mine,.
Coroner W.C. McKenzie was notified of the accident and went to the mine for an investigation of the circumstances. Maurice Krupp, George Kurr, Gus Peterson, M. Beem, Ed Waldo, L. Weeks and C.H. Lemon were summoned to serve as jurymen at the inquest which has been set for 10 o'clock next Monday morning in coroner's court.
"The body was removed to the Miles Undertaking parlors, where funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. The Rev. H. Conger Jones, pastor of the First Methodist church will officiate at the memorial.
Was Mother's Support
"Keenan had been the sole support of his widowed mother, Mrs. Stella Keenan, a 15-year-old sister, Gladace, and a brother Joseph, 12 years old. The boy discontinued his studies at the local high school, where he was a popular student, more than three years ago when his mother was forced to seek employment for the support of her family.
'He was just a child then and education would have meant so much to him,' Mrs. Keenan said this morning. 'But he insisted I remain at home like other mothers and he would work. He was a good boy and was never the cause of any worry or anxiety.'
'He and Gladace attended a party at lower Miami last night, he and his sister were together whenever he was not at work. He did not return home after the party, but took his lunch with him and met the train at Lower Miami. A boy friend who accompanied them to the party brought Gladace home in an automobile. He kissed me as he left for the party and that was the last time I saw him alive,' the prostrated mother concluded.
"A large host of friends were deeply grieved this morning to learn of the untimely death of the lad. former school mates, fellow employees at the mine and friends of the family in large numbers called at the undertaking parlors to view the remains.
"He had entered the employ of the Inspiration about three weeks ago on his return from the Salt River Valley where he had been making his home with grandparents while employed there. Several months ago he was employed there,. Several months ago he was employed at the mine in the same capacity as when he met his death."
(Arizona Silver Belt, April 14, 1923, page 4; courtesy Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum, Miami, Arizona.)
Events
| Birth | February 4, 1904 | Solomonville, Graham County, Arizona | |||
| Death | April 14, 1923 | Gila County, Arizona | |||
| Burial | Pinal Cemetery, Gila County, Arizona |
Families
| Father | Albert T. "Bert" Judia (1884 - 1966) |
| Mother | Stella McKenzie (1884 - 1974) |