Robertson County
Texas

 

 

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TXGenWeb Robertson County Books & Master's Theses

H E A R N E   O N   T H E   B R A Z O S

By Norman Lowell McCarver, Sr. & Norman Lowell McCarver, Jr.
Century Press Of Texas, San Antonio, Texas
© 1958 by Norman Lowell McCarver
Lone Star Printing Company, San Antonio, Texas

Used with permission of Norman Lowell McCarver, Jr.  These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format by other organizations or individuals. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the written consent of McCarver family relatives.

Biographical Sketches - K

   KARNEY, DR. FREDERICK WILLIAM CHARLES JR., son of Frederick William Charles Karney Sr. and Carolyn Waltmon Karney, was born October 1, 1916 in Hearne, Texas.
   He attended the Hearne Public Schools and was graduated from Hearne High School with the Class of 1934.
   Upon graduating from high school he enrolled at Southern Methodist University of Dallas and later attended Northwestern University in Chicago where he received his D. D. S. Degree in 1940.
   In June 1940 he returned to Hearne and engaged in the practice of dentistry with Dr. W. K. Waltmon.
   At the beginning of World War II, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy and served at San Diego, California; Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and Kingsville, Texas.  He received his discharge from the U. S. Navy in 1945 and returned to Hearne to resume his practice of dentistry where he began his association with Dr. Jack Lyons and Dr. W. K. Waltmon.
   He was married March 7, 1943 at Kailua Beach, Oahu, Hawaii to Miss Mabel McKenzie Stiles, daughter of Joseph Clay Stiles and Virginia Robertson Stiles of Ashland, Virginia.  Dr. and Mrs. Karney have three children: Gene Carolyn Karney, Judith Ann Karney, and Frederick William Charles Karney Jr.
   Dr. and Mrs. Karney are members of Grace Methodist Church of Hearne where Dr. Karney serves as a member of the Board of Stewards.
   He is a member and Past President of the Hearne Rotary Club, a Director of the Hearne Building &- Loan Association, a former member of the Hearne School Board, a member of the Houston District Dental Society, a member of the American Dental Association, and President of the Airbrasive Study Association.   

    KARNEY, FREDERICK WILLIAM CHARLES SR. was born in Lavaca County, Texas in 1867 and was the son of Carl Karney and Amelia Pauline Karney.    He came to Hearne from San Antonio as a young man in 1895, forming his first business connection here with R. A. Allen & Son, who operated a saddle and harness-making department with their hardware and implement establishment.     In charge of the sadlery until it was discontinued after the days of extensive motor travel, Mr. Karney served the company in other departments of the store, holding his position there after the firm name was changed to Allen Hardware Company and up to the time of his last illness.
 He was married to Miss Carolyn Waltmon, November 19, 1903 and they had one son: Dr. Frederick William Charles Karney Jr. Mr. Karney had been a member of the Methodist Church since 1905 and served as a member of the Board of Stewards for 23 years.  He was a member of the Board of Directors of the P. & M. State Bank, Director of the Hearne Building & Loan Association, and a charter member of the Hearne Rotary Club.
    A man of unassuming manner, genial and kind, he formed many friendships in the Hearne area.  Frederick William Charles Karney died in 1940. 

 

KEELING, DAVID PIERCE, son of Leonard Worthy Keeling and Mary Davidson Keeling, was born at Camden, Arkansas, July 29, 1859.  He spent his boyhood days in Camden and later moved with his family to Falls County, Texas in 1869; attending school in the Blue Ridge Community near Marlin, Texas.
    He moved to Hearne in February 1909 and operated the Singer Sewing Machine Agency and was a sewing machine repair man.  He was not active in civic matters but very interested.  He was a good Christian man, a strong Democrat, and interested in political matters of state, city and county. Judge Walter Keeling of Austin was his nephew and he visited frequently in the Keeling home in Hearne. Judge Keeling enjoyed discussing affairs of state with Mr. Keeling.
    David Pierce Keeling was a rugged individualist who wore a derby hat and drove a two horse hack with two sewing machines aboard as demonstrators.  Later the Model T Ford replaced his horse-drawn hack.  The nature of his business brought him into contact with many people; White, Mexican and Negro.  Everyone knew him and respected him for his honest and efficient dealings with them.  His first Hearne office was in the old Hearne Democrat building on the corner of Third and Magnolia Streets.  During his last years of active business, he operated from his home on Fulton Street.  He was well known for his Irish wit and he could do an Irish jig at the drop of a hat.
    On December 16, 1884 he was married to Martha Jane Brooks and they had one child, Alpha Elizabeth Keeling who was born June 22, 1889.  His first wife died and he married Frances Crutchfield, a widow who was born at Owensboro, Kentucky, May 13, 1865.  This marriage took place October 22, 1893 at Franklin, Texas.  His second wife had a son, Alfred Harvey Willis who was born October 13, 1892, by a previous marriage.  The following children were born to David Pierce Keeling and Mary Frances Keeling: Mary Isa Keeling, Robert Leonard Keeling, Ruth Addie Keeling, Ruby Omega Keeling, Blanche Merzell Keeling, David Pierce Keeling Jr., Zenith Estelle Keeling, Mattie Pearl Keeling, and Fred Lawrence Keeling.  Mr. Keeling passed away March 28, 1934 and Mrs. Keeling died October 12, 1945.

 

KELLY, HARDNEY RICHARD “BILLY”, son of Hardney Louis Kelly and Beatrice Sample Kelly, was born in Athens, Texas, February 16, 1918.
   With his family he moved to Rockdale, Texas in 1924 and attended the public schools of that city.  He was graduated from Rockdale High School with the Class of 1936.
   In June 1937 he moved to Hearne, Texas and was employed by W. S. Hoyt at the Post Office Pharmacy.  He worked at this position until he entered the U. S. Navy in June 1940 and served in the Pacific area until August 1946 during World War II.  After receiving his discharge from military duty he returned to Hearne to resume his employment at the Post Office Pharmacy and continued his employment until 1948 when he accepted employment in the office of the South Texas Cotton Oil Company in Hearne.  During the latter part of 1948, in partnership with W. S. Hoyt Jr. he entered the drug store business and established the City Drug Store on the corner of Magnolia and Fourth Streets in Hearne.  He purchased his partner's interest in this business in 1954.
   On February 14, 1947, he was married to Thelma Archer, daughter of Alva Archer and Dora Dorrough Archer.  Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have a son, Jimmie Archer Moore.
   Hardney Richard Kelly has been active in the business and civic life of Hearne and is a former member of the Hearne Lions Club; a member of the Hearne Chamber of Commerce; a member of the Miles Scriviner American Legion Post; and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Kelly are members of the First Baptist Church of Hearne.

 

KELLY, HENRY CLIFTON "JACK" was born January 26, 1919 at Alice, Texas.  After reaching manhood and serving a four year hitch in the U. S. Air Forces during World War II, he moved to Hearne, Texas and was employed by the Planters & Merchants State Bank, October 15, 1945.
    He was married to Miss Reo Turner of Mississippi, September 15, 1945 and Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have a daughter, Nancy Kelly who was born in 1953.
    Mr. Kelly is very active in the business and civic life of Hearne and is Past President of the Hearne Lions Club; former Treasurer of the Hearne Chamber of Commerce; Past Director of the Hearne Chamber of Commerce; Past Commander of the Miles Scriviner American Legion Post of Hearne; a member of the Hearne Golfer's Association; a member and Past President of the Hearne Volunteer Fire Department.  Both he and Mrs. Kelly are active members of the First Baptist Church of Hearne.
    He has served three terms as a member of the Hearne City Council and in 1957 he was elected as Mayor of the City of Hearne.  In addition to his business connection with the P. & M. State Bank where he is Vice-President and Cashier, he is also the owner of the Kelly Oil Company, distributors for petroleum products.
    Mayor Kelly has the distinction of being one of the youngest mayors in the state.  He is also very active in youth work and was one of the hardest workers in the securing of the Little League park and organization for Hearne. 

 

KENNER, SAMUEL E. was born in Newberry, South Carolina, September 9, 1862.  He lived in his native state until he was I 1 years old when his family moved to Houston, Texas.
    He came to Hearne in 1887, having been transferred from Houston as manager for the Crescent News & Hotel Company in connection with the H. & T. C. Railroad Company and the I. & G. N. Railroad Company.  He served in this capacity until 1907 and for the remainder of his life devoted his time to his personal business.  He owned and operated a lunch counter at the passenger depot for many years and also operated a railroad men's rooming house near the union passenger station.
    Mr. Kenner was married, in 1889 to Miss Fannie Bayliss of the Hearne community.  Mr. and Mrs. Kenner were the parents of Bayliss Kenner and Nena Mae Kenner Johnson.  Grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. Kenner are: Louise Kenner Sullivan, Billy Frances Johnson, junior Johnson, and Jesse Kenner Reinhardt.
    By reason of his long residence in Hearne, Mr. Kenner was known to practically everyone in this area.  He and Mrs. Kenner were communicants of St. Philips Episcopal Church.  Mr. Kenner died in 1942

.

KIRK, OBIE WELDON, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Kirk, was born at Gause, Texas, April 3, 1911.
   He attended school at Gause and later transferred to Hearne High School where he attended during 1929 and 1930.  He played left tackle on the Hearne Eagle football team in 1929.  He returned to Gause where he was graduated in 1932.
   He attended Texas A&M College, Sam Houston State College, Southwest State College, and John Tarleton junior College.  He worked while attending all of these schools and he said that it wasn't unusual for him to exist on $9 a month during his college days.
   He taught school at Gause, Camp Creek, and Wortham for seven years before going to work for the post office in Hearne.  He served in the U. S. Navy during World War II and returned to his position with the post office department after being discharged from the Navy.
    He was married to Miss Katie Gladys Jones of Gause, September 21, 1930, and five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kirk: Juanita Kirk Taylor, Wanda jean Kirk, Gladys June Kirk, Obic Weldon Kirk Jr., and Donna Kay Kirk.
   Both Mr. and Mrs. Kirk are members of the Hearne Church of Christ.  Mr. Kirk is a member of the Golden Rule Masonic Lodge and his 32nd Degree Masonic membership is in Austin.  He is a charter member of the Hearne Lions Club and a member of the Miles Scriviner American Legion Post.

 

KLAPPER, FREDERICK ALBERT, was born October 31, 1896 in Coleman, Texas, the son of Earnest William Klapper and Esther Moffat Klapper.  Both of his parents were born in London, England.
    He attended the public school in Coleman and was graduated from Coleman High School.  Upon completing his schooling, he engaged in the Title Abstract business from 1915 until 1918 in Coleman County, Texas.
    In 1918, during World War I, he enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps and served for twenty-two months.  Upon receiving his discharge from military service he returned to Coleman and engaged in the painting contract business.
    In 1931 he moved to Hearne, Texas to make his home and to continue his painting contract business.
    He was married to Amelia Lee Harding, daughter of Enoch Harding and Lelia Mae Cummings Harding, June 8, 1927.  The marriage was performed at Hearne, Texas.  Amelia Harding Klapper was born in Fort Worth, Texas, June 28, 1900.  A daughter, Virginia Lee Klapper, was born to Frederick Albert Klapper and Amelia Harding Klapper.  Virginia Lee Klapper, who was born in Coleman, Texas, married Robert Charles Duke and the following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Duke: Robert Charles Duke Jr., Barbara Harding Duke, and James Frederick Duke.
    Brothers and sisters of Amelia Harding Klapper who at one time lived in Hearne are: Baten Harding, Enoch Harding Jr. Mason Harding, Henry Wildy Harding, Paul Harding, Philip Harding, and Beth Harding Easterwood.
    Frederick Albert Klapper is a member and Past Master of the Golden Rule Masonic Lodge of Hearne; a member and Past Commander of the Miles Scriviner American Legion Post; a Director of the Hearne Building & Loan Association; and a member of the Board of Deacons of the First Baptist Church.  Mrs. Klapper is a member of the First Baptist Church; a member of the Women's Missionary Society; Sunday School Nursery Superintendent; Superintendent of Adult Training Union of the First Baptist Church; a substitute teacher in the Hearne Public Schools; and a member of the Hearne Shakespeare Club.

 

    KLEMENT, ALFRED W. was born at Rockdale, Texas, November 30, 1901 and in early life with his family moved to Oklahoma where he attended schools in that state.
    Later his family moved to Clovis, New Mexico where he was graduated from high school in 1917.  He then moved to Tyler, Texas where he attended Tyler Commercial College.  After graduating from this college in 1921, he accepted a position with a supply company at Mexia, working in that city during the "Oil Boom" days of the early 1920's.
    In 1923 he went to work for the Lawrence Grocery Company in Bryan, Texas and moved to Hearne in 1926 continuing to represent that company as salesman.
    In 1933 he went into the wholesale grocery business for himself in Hearne and at this time established the Hearne Wholesale Grocery Company.
    He was married to Miss Elizabeth England of Ennis, Texas, October 5, 1922.  Mr. and Mrs. Klement have four sons: Captain A. W. Klement Jr., John Klement, Louis Klement, and Allen Klement.  All of the Klement boys are graduates of Hearne High School.
    A. W. Klement is one of Hearne's most active business men.  He is a member of the First Baptist Church where he serves on the Board of Deacons; is active in Church Brotherhood work; Past President of the Hearne Rotary Club; a Director in the Hearne Chamber of Commerce; a former member and President of the Hearne School Board; has been made a Silver Beaver Boy Scout in recognition of his work with youth.

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Page Modified: 25 October 2023

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