He was born in 1846/47, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, apparently to James Keen and Margaret [unknown family name]. [sources: date: 4 (17 in 1864), 9 (4 in 1850), 10 (15 in 1860). place: 4 (Philadelphia), 9 (NJ) 10 (NJ) parents: 8, 9, 10]
In 1850, he may be the Samuel Keene living in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey. He was living with James and Margaret Keene (presumably his parents), and with James and Frederick (presumably his siblings), along with two others. [source: 9]
In 1860, he may be the Samuel S Keene living in ward 10, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with James and Margaret Keene (apparently his parents), with James, Edward W, George F, and Adde Keene (apparently siblings), along with three others. He had attended school within the year. [source: 10]
When he enlisted, he was a laborer, and was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 4]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 3 inches tall, and had a light complexion, hazel eyes, and brown hair. [source: 4]
He enlisted and was mustered into service, at Frankford, Pennsylvania, on 25 February 1864. He was a private in company D. [sources: 1, 4, 11]
He was wounded in action. [source: 1]
He died in the field, in Virginia, on 18 June 1864 of wounds received in action. He was a private, in company D. [sources: 1, 3, 4, 5, 11]
The Record of the Federal Dead lists him as being originally buried on Prince George Road, one-half mile east of Meade Station; other soldiers from this same area were moved to Poplar Grove Cemetery, but most of them are now listed as unknown soldiers at Poplar Grove. [source: 2]
On 21 July 1864, his mother, Margaret L Keen, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension. She received $8 per month, retroactive to 18 June 1864, paid at the Philadelphia Pension Agency. [sources: 6, 7, 8]
On 21 November [?] 1873, his sister, Mary H Leo, applied successfully for a pension. [sources: 6, 7, 8]
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster) (Samuel H Keen)
2 Poplar Grove Cemetery records (thanks to Elizabeth Dinger-Glisan for the information!) (Henry Keen)
3 company D, register of deaths (Samuel H Keen)
4 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 9 August 2004 (Samuel H Keen)
5 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 29 June 1864 (Private Keen)
6 pension index, by name (Samuel H Keen)
7 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company D (Samuel H Keen)
8 dependent's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, certificate WC 36,428 (Margaret L Keen mother of Samuel H Keen)
9 1850 US census, New Jersey, Essex County, Newark, West Ward, microfilm series M432, film 448, page 359 recto = 717 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Samuel Keene)
10 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 10, microfilm series M653, film 1160, page 775 = 27 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Samuel S Keene)
11 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Samuel H Keen)
| line | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Dwellings visited | 535 | ||||||
| Families visited | 782 | ||||||
| Name | James Keene | Margaret " | James " | Frederick " | Samuel " | Ann Regan [?] | Mary Rock |
| Age | 50 | 47 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 20 |
| Sex | M | F | M | M | M | F | F |
| Color | |||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | none | none | |||||
| Real estate owned | 30.000 | ||||||
| Birthplace | N. Jersey | " | " | " | " | Ireland | " |
| Married within year | |||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | ||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Dwelling number | 169 | |||||||||
| Family number | 189 | |||||||||
| Name | James Keene | Margaret Keene | James Keene | Edward W. Keene | George F. Keene | Samuel S. Keene | Adde Keene | Ann Schloss | Agnes Harlurig [?] | Jane Whitlock |
| Age | 50 | 45 | 24 | 21 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 25 | 18 | 35 |
| Sex | M | F | M | M | M | M | F | F | F | F |
| Color | ||||||||||
| Occupation | Gentleman | Merchant | Clerk | |||||||
| Value of real estate owned | 11,000 | |||||||||
| Value of personal estate | 2000 | 4.000 | ||||||||
| Place of birth | New Jersey | do | " | " | " | " | " | Hesse Germany | Prussia | New Jersey |
| Married within year | ||||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |