(1929-1934) 

2nd husband – 21 Nov 1894 to William H. Stopf (Stone) 

3rd husband – 1906(?) to William Rains 

4th husband – unknown date to Mr. Kohler 

5th husband – 24 Aug 1918 to Johnathan Keeney 

Edith Matheny was born in Salem, OR in 1870 to Samuel Matheny and Almira (Judson) Matheny. Samuel was a scout who led early settlers to the Oregon Territory and Almira Judson was the daughter of one of the earliest Oregon Methodist missionaries.  

Edith married five times. She had five children and several stepchildren. In 1891, her first marriage was to Elijah C Bressler and produced one child named Harry. Elijah died from a self-inflicted gunshot after three years of marriage in March of 1894.  

Without visible means of support and a child, Edith married William H. Stopf (Stone) on 21 Nov 1894. He was ten years her senior. This union produced two children: William A. and Almira Margery Stopf (Stone). They all used the last name Stone interchangeably. Edith divorced William and by 1906, had married William Rains. She was 33 years old, and there is no indication that up to this point, she had ever worked outside her household. In 1907, William and Edith had a son named Earl A. Rains who died at age 3. The couple divorced shortly thereafter. Edith then married a man named Kohler and moved to Oregon City. Little was discovered about this union, which did not last more than a couple of years. 

 Edith’s last husband was Johnathan Keeney whom she married on 24 August 1918 in Oregon City. They moved to Eugene for a short time but by 1920, the couple had moved to Salem where John worked as a carpenter. John’s daughter Hazel Keeney, from a previous marriage also lived with the couple at 996 Trade St.  

In 1920, at age 50, Edith began work at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, but left after becoming pregnant with her last child, Allen J. Keeney. Husband John followed the carpentry work, often leaving the family in Salem. We lose track of him by 1930, when Federal Census records list Edith as the head of house with son Allen, age 9 years old. She rented a house at 435 S. 17th St. and worked as a weaver at TKWM. In 1939, property that John owned was sold at a sheriff’s public auction, to pay back taxes.  

In the 1940 Federal Census records, we find Edith, age 70, listed as a widow. Son Allen, then 19 lives with her at 345 E. Bush St. Edith still works as a weaver at TKWM. Edith retired five years later, at the end of WW2. She may have relied on support from her children who still lived in or near Salem. Edith died at age 91, in 1962. She was buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Oregon City.  

1910 Edith Rains 41 born about 1869 in Oregon. Home in 1910:  West Oregon City, Oregon on West Portland Road and Bolton Village. Married 

Father’s Birthplace: Missouri. Years Married: 5.  Number of Children Born: 5.  Number of Children Living: 5. William Rains 42, Edith Rains 41, Earl A Rains 3, Harry Bressler 19, Margery Bressler 11, Eva M Bressler 9. 

1920 Edith Keeney 51. Est Birth: 1869 in Oregon. 996 Trade St. Married. Wife of HOH. Laborer in Mill. Husband John Keeney a Carpenter. Father’s Birthplace: Missouri. Mother’s Birthplace: Oregon. John Keeney 50, Edith Keeney 51, Marjory Stone 21, Eva Stone 20, Hazel Keeney 19 (Dau).  

1930 Edith G Keeney. Est Birth: 1871 in Oregon. Married. HOH. 435 S. 17th. Weaver. Rented. Age at first Marriage: 49.  Father’s Birthplace: Missouri. Mother’s Birthplace: Oregon. Edith L. Keeney 59, Allen J. Keeney 9 (son). 

1940 Edith Keeney 69. Est Birth: 1871 in Oregon. Widow, HOH. 345 E Bush. Weaver. Rented. Highest Grade Completed: 8th grade Weeks Worked in 1939: 52 Income: 892. Edith Keeney 69, Allen Keeney 19.  

1928 Edith G Keeney (no occupation listed). 1924 N Water Salem, Oregon. Spouse: John J. Keeney.  

1930 Mrs Edith G Keeney. 435 S 17th, Salem, Oregon. Weaver (John not listed in this edition) 

1932 Edith G Keeney (Wid John J Keeney) 2066 S Cottage, Salem, Oregon, Weaver. 

1935 Mrs Edith G Keeney. 265 N Commercial apt 18 

1939 Edith M Keeney, Weaver, TKWM 109 S Commercial 

1941 Edith M Keeney, Weaver TKWM 345 Bush 

1942 Edith M Keeney, Weaver TKWM 230 S 14th 

1945 Edith M Keeney, Weaver TKWM  952 S Commercial 

1947 and later – no listings 

The residence where the young man committed the act was thoroughly investigated and the position of the body also. Then it was decided to remove the body to the undertaking rooms of A. M. Clough, on State street, and there examine the witnesses and held a post-mortem examination of the remains, if deemed necessary. The witnesses summoned to appear were Geo. Bressler, the deceased’s father, Joseph Bressler, his brother, Edith Bressler, his wife, Francis Bressler, his sister-in-law, Herman brown, and E. Cooper. 
At 1 o’clock Drs. J. N. Smith and Lane were called to hold the post-mortem and their report was to the effect that the deceased “came to his death from the effects of a gun-shot wound, received in the head, which shot entered the top of the head a little to the left and ranged down and forward.” 

Joseph Bressler was the first witness called. He has been a resident of Oregon about 15 years, he moved into the same house occupied by his brother on Monday last, his brother, he said, was aged about 26 years and had been a resident of that portion of Salem since October last. At the time of the shooting, he was sitting by the kitchen stove. He noticed his brother take the gun down from the rack on the wall and he never said anything as to what he intended to do with it. Then his brother went into his bedroom and told his family that he intended to take his gun and clothes and go away. He came out into the kitchen a few feet and resting the stock of the gun on the floor held the end of the barrel in his left hand and with a stick in his right touched the hammer and the gun was discharged. He partially sank on his knees and fell over backward. His wife was standing near the stove in the room used as the kitchen. Just as he leaned over the muzzle of the gun he was heard to say, “here goes.” 

The young man had caused some trouble during Thursday night by appearing to become temporarily insane. About 11 p.m. his wife was awakened by his loud ravings and frequent calls for his gun. She got him quieted and then arose and went and took the gun down from the rack on the wall and asked that it be hid in his (Joseph Bressler’s) bedroom. He said that he noticed whenever his brother had employment, he was quiet but, generally, when not engaged he seemed to be taken with fits of rage. Joseph said his brother was always of a quarrelsome disposition. 

Immediately upon the shot being fired he rushed out of the house and started to notify his parents who reside a short distance away. The jury questioned him quite closely regarding any trouble between himself and his brothers but did not succeed in eliciting much information on that point. 

Eda Bressler, the deceased’s wife, was called. She has been his wife a little over a year. She stated that her husband got up yesterday morning and built a fire and then went over to his father’s place. Returning he took the gun down and loaded it and then shot himself. (She described how he held the gun.) 
Her husband awakened her Thursday night about 11 o’clock by his wild talk in reference to wanting his gun. She managed to quiet him and then went and told his brother what had happened, and the gun was taken down from the wall and she hid it in her brother-in-law’s room. She told him that she would get his gun in the morning. 

After he left the house to go to his father’s home she went and brought the gun out and placed it back on the rack. During the night he often said, “that his gun was his best friend.” One time when they attended a dance together at a neighbor’s house her husband refused to enter into the dance and when she accepted an invitation to dance one number, he afterwards abused her by calling her vile names and seemed to be most jealous of her thereafter. Her husband frequently called for his knife during the night when he learned that he could not have the gun. She slipped the knife out of his pocket and also hid it in the morning when he was absent from the room, she took the knife and laid it on the floor by the bed. By this he would think the knife fell from his pocket and he would not become enraged by reason of supposing that she concealed it from him. She was afraid that he might kill her also while in his mad spells. 

Frances Bressler’s testimony consisted of about the same statements as the above. George Bressler, father of the deceased, said that his son came to his residence early yesterday morning and appeared to be in a despondent mood. He made the remark to his parents that he had but one friend and that “was his gun.” He was talked to in a manner by his folks that was intended to discourage such an idea and later he started on his return home. Soon afterwards he heard the report of a gun and then saw his son Joseph coming towards his home. He went to where his dead son was lying on the floor of the kitchen. 

The evidence of Brown and Cooper was then taken. Andrew Coss, chief engineer of the Salem fire department, had been one of the number to visit the scene of the shooting ad he had discovered where some shot had entered the ceiling of the kitchen. He dug them out and brought them to one of the jurymen. His evidence was taken concerning this. 

Another witness was subpoenaed, and his testimony will be heard by the jury at 10 a.m. today, adjournment having been taken till then. The deceased leaves (besides his wife) one child. The body is now lying in a rude coffin at Mr. Clough’s undertaking parlors and will be given burial soon after the coroner’s jury reaches a verdict. The gun and the empty shell, and a nickel open-face watch with leather chain, a knife, a couple of loaded cartridges taken from his pocket and some other small articles are in the charge of Justice Batchelor. 

It is evident that someone of the jury suspicions that Bressler did not commit suicide – that someone murdered him. The family and relatives of the deceased did not exhibit the feelings of sadness that are generally expected under such circumstances, but it seems impossible to establish such a crime upon any one of them. It is almost certain that sufficient evidence cannot be brought out on that point.   

 Elijah C Bressler  Birth: 1868. Death: 9 Mar 1894 (age 25-26). Burial: Salem Pioneer Cemetery, Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 24112443. OBITUARY:  Oregon Statesman 10 March 1894 4:2-3  

Earl A Rains  Birth: 1907. Death: 21 Nov 1910 (aged 2-3). Burial: Mountain View Cemetery, Oregon City, Oregon. Memorial ID: 35706646 

 Jonathan Jacob Keeney  Birth: 7 Mar 1870 in Eugene, Lane County, OR. Death: 21 Sep 1946 in Tacoma, Pierce County, WA. Burial: Mountain View Memorial Park, Lakewood, Pierce County, WA. Memorial ID: 99346671 

Marriage Certificate: 13 Jun 1925. Elmira M Edwards (26) to Elbert D Crooks (21) Both of St Johns, OR. Second marriage for Elmira whose occupation is Weaver.  

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