BIO: John KEAN, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 189-190.
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  KEAN, JOHN, was born October 3, 1762, in Philadelphia and died 
December 9, 1818, in Harrisburg, Pa.  He was the son of John Kean 
[1728-1801] and Mary Dunlop [1728-1819].  His father removed to what is 
now Dauphin county, Pa., in 1775.  In 1780 he entered the Revolutionary 
service, and was with the army until after the capitulation of 
Yorktown.  Upon his discharge he was placed with James Clunie, a 
merchant at Hummelstown, second sheriff of Dauphin county, at a salary 
of one hundred dollars a year  and boarding.  In this period he taught 
himself conveyancing and surveying.  In 1785 he located at Harrisburg, 
in partnership with Mr. Clunie.  In 1788 he was one of the members of 
the famous "Harrisburg Conference."  He was one of the managers of the 
first library company, established in 1787, and the same year elected a 
commissioner of the county; one of the trustees of the Harrisburg 
Academy, 1788; treasurer of the Presbyterian congregation in 1790; 
chosen captain of the first volunteer company upon the resignation of 
General Hanna, and president of the first fire company, and in 1792 
appointed an associate judge.  In 1796 Mr. Kean purchased, with John 
Elder, Jr., New Market forge, about three miles from Palmyra, and 
removed thence.  Was elected to the State Senate, and re-elected in 
1798, serving until 1802.  In 1805 he was appointed by Governor McKean 
register general, serving for three years.  He removed to Philadelphia 
in 1810, was a merchant there, returned to Harrisburg in 1813, was 
again appointed justice of the peace by Governor Snyder, which office 
he filled until his death.  Judge Kean married, first, in 1786, Mary 
Whitehill, daughter of Robert Whitehill, of Cumberland county.  By her 
he had one daughter, Eleanor, who married, first, March 24, 1808, 
William Patton, M. D., son of Thomas Patton and Eleanor Fleming, born 
in 1775, in Derry township, Lancaster, now Dauphin county, Pa.; died 
March 30, 1816.  Mrs. Patton married, secondly, Christian Spayd, and 
left descendants.  By his second wife, Jean Hamilton, born June 1, 
1774; died March 20, 1847, at Harrisburg; daughter of John Hamilton, 
there were four children, all deceased.