James Wesley Keen was born before the Civil War, in Charlton Co., GA, son of David Myre and Nancy Walker Keen. His father, David, served in the Civil War. He married Charity Mary Jane Tanner, born Jan. 1, 1856, daughter of John "Josh" Tanner and Eliza Bradley Tanner. They had 14 children. He made his living as a farmer and a timberman in Nassau Co FL. He built a large two story home on Ratliff Road and also had a commissary nearby. He owned the first sawmill in the Keen settlement, and owned around 4,000 acres of land, James mapped out the way for the Georgia Southern Railroad to be placed through the Keen settlement. He was elected County Commissioner for Nassau Co., in 1916 and served for 16 years. James and Charity M. J. Keen are buried in the Keen cemetery Nassau Co FL. Photo made about 1921.