Harvesting hay at the early homestead of Jonathan Keeney

Jonathan Keeney first came West in 1834 to trap furs with Jim Bridger's company, which discovered the South Pass through the Rocky Mountains. The South Pass opened the way for emigrants to come to Oregon by team and wagon. in 1843, he led one of the first wagon trains across what would become the Oregon Trail. He earned the title of Captain during the Oregon Indian Wars.

Keeney returned East and in 1851 brought a wagon train and 300 head of cattle to the Willamette Valley in Oregon, losing 80 head along the way primarily to theft by the Indians. After driving the cattle to the gold mines in California and doing some gold mining for himself, he came back to this area. In 1863, he established the first ferry at Fort Boise on the Snake River. He built a small willow and adobe cabin near the hot springs on the Malheur River, which became the first building in Vale. He also established the first homestead in the area near Dell, now known as Jamieson.

After delivering cattle from his Jamieson homestead to gold miners in Mormon Basin, he accidentally shot himself and is buried in the Dell Cemetery above his homestead. The gold he brought back in payment for his cattle from the miners in Mormon Basin has never been found.

A later owner of the Keeney Homestead in Jamieson was the noted J.R. Simplot. who went on to build an agriculture products empire. The completion of this mural was made possible in part by the J.R. Simplot Foundation.

Address: A Street and Glenn (Law Offices)

Artist: Art Mortimer (painted in 2005)