William T. Kean (1868-1949) was born on October 3, 1868 to Daniel and Sylvania (Buckner) Kean in Louisville. Not much is known about Daniel. However, Sylvania lived with or near the family for the duration of her life working as a laundress. She was mother of 3 sons: William, Henry Kean, Arthur Kean, and James Buckner. The family lived on Delaware Street (now Garland Avenue) in Limerick Neighborhood. On January 21, 1893 William married Alice Garrett (1875-1951). Not much could be found about her parents. Together, the couple had 4 children: Henry Arthur, Olive, William Lee, and Daniel Gardner. William worked as an expressman before he was sexton of the First Presbyterian Church where he was employed 36 years. By 1930, the family had moved to 2235 W. Walnut Street in the Russell Neighborhood.
On April 17, 1944, Sylvania died at the age of 99 and was buried in Section B, Range 14, Lot 69 of Eastern Cemetery. She shares a headstone with her mother Sarah and son Arthur. On November 16, 1949, William died from heart disease at the age of 81. He was buried in the same lot as his mother. William’s obituary in the “Louisville Leader” called him “one of Louisville’s well-known pioneer citizens.” Alice died on December 6, 1951 from bronchitis, and she was buried with her husband. They share a headstone with their daughter Olive (Kean) Boone (1896-1978) and Daniel Gardner Kean (1912-1988). Olive was a teacher at Dunbar Elementary School, director of music at Calvary Baptist Church, and a member of the Semanites Club. Daniel was the Director of Minority Relations for Gulf Oil Corp. He joined the company in 1954 as the first African American marketing representative.
