Keenan Family Ireland Pennsylvania, pt 4 of 6

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The Keenan Families of County Monaghan, Ireland, and
Allegheny County and Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

Compiled by Sean Furniss
Revised 29 January 1999

 

30. Thomas Johnston5 Keenan (Thomas Johnston4, James3, Thomas2, James1) He was the founder of the Pittsburg Press, a member of the International League of Press Clubs and Publishers Association. His picture appears in Notable Men of Pittsburgh and Vicinity and in an article in the The Pittsburg Index of 13 January 1910.[84]

He purchased 3,000 acres on the Isle of Pines, Cuba, where he built a winter residence. "On the north of the estate rise the forests of pine, and on the other side is the celebrated stream of magnesium water. One ot the treasurers of the estate is the mountain of marble found here, and the owner is building a marble house near the river front."[85]

   

32. Mary5 Clarke (Isabella4, James3, Thomas2, James1) She married Albert H. Bell on 19 March 1885. He was the son of John R. Bell and Margaret Singer. Albert H. Bell was born in 1857 at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Albert Bell attended public schools at Stahlstown in the Ligonier Valley in Westmoreland County. After completing school he taught at both public and private schools for about six years. While employed as a teacher, he studied for a degree at Mount Union College, Mount Union, Ohio. Between 1880 and 1883 he served as deputy clerk of the courts for Westmoreland County, under his father who was the clerk of the court. He began the study of law in 1880 and was admitted to the Westmoreland County bar on 8 April 1884. He had a large and successful law practice. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church. He served as a member of the board of education and was on the board of trustees of Westminster College for eleven years.[86]

+57.iJames Clarke6 Bell
58.iiMary Margaret Bell educated at Westminster College and lived with her parents in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
59.iiiAlbert H. Bell, Jr. born 3 October 1893 at Greenburg, Pennsylvania, died 23 July 1918 near Fere-en-Tardenois, France, in the second battle of the Marne. He graduated from high school in 1911. He entered the University of Pittsburg Law School in 1915. He passed the State board law examinantions and was admitted to the bar 4 December 1917. He enlisted in the Army in August 1917. He completed Officer's Training and was commissioned a second lieutenant on 26 November 1917. He was assigned to Company B, Fourth United States Infantry. He landed with his regiment in France on 26 April 1918.[87]

 

41. Edward W.5 Keenan (John Barclay4, James3, Thomas2, James1) He was born 19 August 1857. He attended the public schools of Youngstown. His first job was working as a shoemaker. He worked as a hotel keeper begining at an early age. "With his brother he next conducted the Keenan house. In 1883 they took charge of the Fisher House at Greensburg, and conducted it until September, 1886. He leased the Parker House in 1886 for two years; ..." After leaving the Parrker House in Latrope, he took over management of the Monongahela House in Monessen. He was active in politics. In 1889, he had been a candidate for the office of sheriff and received 2000 votes in the democratic primary.[88]   

He married Annie Easton (Anna Eason) on 10 January 1884 at the Greensburg Catholic Church. Notice of the marriage was published in the Pennsylvania Argus on 16 January 1884. She was the widow of William Jack and the daughter of John Easton (Eason).She died 6 November 1885.[89]

They had one child.

+60.iJohn Hilary6 Keenan born 23 January 1885.

 

52. John Joseph5 Keenan (Daniel Xavier4, Hugh3, Thomas2, James1) He was born 13 March 1891 at his family residence on Glasslough Street, Monaghan. He had a history of stomach problems and was operated on for a stomach ulcer about 1938-1939. He died as a result of stomach cancer on 26 May 1967 at Monaghan, Co. Monaghan. Buried at Latlurcan Cemetery at Monaghan, Ireland.[90]

He worked as State Solicitor in Monaghan, County Monaghan, Ireland. Among his duties as State Solicitor, during elections he was the person who decided if questionable votes were valid. Early in his career, John Keenan was a strong supporter of the Sinn Féin. In 1918, there was a great deal of antagonism between the differing factions. It was reported in book Towards the Irish Free State that "A vigorous campaign was also fought in North Monaghan. When Frank O'Duffy, Peadar O'Donnel, and J. J. Keenan, tried to address an election meeting at Ballyoisin, they were met with yells and boos. Stones were thrown at them, men advanced on them with sticks and hurleys, and they were lucky to escape without injury." He was listed as an officer on the committee of the Sinn Féin for North Monaghan comhiarle ceantair in late 1919.[91]

Articles about his sucessful completion of the intermediate examinations for apprentices to solicitors appeared in the Belfast Evening Telegraph, Freemans Journal and the Democrat. Stories about his being admitted to the law were reported in the Independent (28 January 1915), Irish News (29 January 1915) and Northern Standard (13 January 1915, 30 January 1915). His first appearance in court was reported in the Northern Whig (10 March 1915), Irish News (10 March 1915) and Freemans Journal (11 March 1915).[92]

On 29 April 1916 the Northern Whig published a story "Alarums and Excursion - Motorists' Exciting Experience" that involved J. J. Keenan. The story was about the arrest of J. J. Keenan and friends in Portadown at 3:57 pm on 27 April 1916. They were thought to be terrorists, thought to members of the Sinn Fein organization. They were released after 1 hour and 15 minutes. An additional story about this event was printed in the Monaghan Democrat, 6 May 1916 and was titled "My Experiences in Portadown - Alleged Gunrunning Expedition."[93]

He participated in several theatre productions in Monaghan. He played Mrs. Peculia in a comic negro sketch entitled "The Black Judge" in Monaghan Town Hall, Thursday 28 December 1911 and Basil Raymond in "The Little Scamp Next Door" in Monaghan Town Hall, Tuesday 21 May 1912.[94]

His daughter Maire Keenan said that he was a good piano player. When Mr. Wm. Ludwig (Carl Rosa Opera Company) came to Monaghan, "Master J. Keenan, Glasslough street, performed the duties of pianist during the evening. ... For a boy of his years Master Keenan possesses great ability at the piano."[95]

Two articles, published about 1898, on the St. Louis Convent in Monaghan included references to John Keenan's academic skills (No. 1 Passes in all subjects at examination) and his piano playing. An article entitled St. Macartan's Brass Band also notes his skill with the piano. "One matter which stands out prominently in connection with this part of the programme was the performance of Master J. J. Keenan. This little gentleman, as a pianist, accompanied the boys of the schools in their vocal items and the drill exercises, and discharged the work with an ability of which many of his seniors would be proud."[96]

He was also active in sports. In Blackrock College Sports (26 June 1908), it was reported that J. J. Keenan took first in the 880 yard run (Juniors), he sprinted from the pistol, was never caught, and won easily. On 3 July 1913, he took 2nd place in the 100 yds flat race; 2nd place in the 440 yds flat race; 1st place in the 880 yds flat race; 1st place in the mile relay team (noted in the Monaghan Recreation Club Sports). About 15 August 1914 he took 1st place in the 100 yds flat open (noted in Middletown Sports).[97]

On 24 March 1918 - Final Lecture on Irish History - The Union by John J. Keenan, Solicitor at St. Macarten's Hall, Monaghan.

His obituary noted "... He had a distinguished record as a student and qualified in 1915 after his apprenticeship under his father. Though his final Law Examination was taken at an unusually early age for that time, he took sixth place in Ireland. With the upsurge of Sinn Fein he became enthusiastically involved and was Election Agent for Mr. Ernest Blythe when he won the North Monaghan Constituency for Sinn Fein in the 1918 Parliamentary Election. In the subsequent struggle for Independence he played a leading role in the establishment of the Sinn Fein Courts which quickly won the confidence of the people of Co. Monaghan in their admiration for justice--a very vital factor in the struggle. On the establishment of the Irish Free State he became County Monaghan's first State Solicitor in 1923. ...

His eloquence and his ability as a lawyer won him respect in every Court in which he practised. He was most meticulous in upholding the highest traditions of his profession and his straight-forwardness won him the implicit trust of the public. Following the death of Mr. M. E. Knight, Clones, he became Father of the Monaghan Sessional Bar, but relinquished that office on retiring from practice in 1961. Courteous, kindly with an ever-present sense of humour, he was a most friendly personality in private life but a formidable and unrelenting opponent in the practice of the profession he adorned for so many years in this county.

In his early years, Mr. Keenan was an outstanding athlete. He was a leading half-miler while at Blackrock College and subsequently competed successfully at local athletic meetings. he was also an accomplished musician and performed at many Monaghan concerts and, generally, took a leading part in the social life of the town. He maintained his interest in sport throughout his life and was a staunch supporter of local football competitions. He was Chairman of the Monaghan Football and Athletic Association for a number of years prior to and during the last war.

Devout and charitable, he was a faithful adherent of the Catholic Church throughout his life and his many acts of kindness were unobtrusively carried out. In 1962, he was honoured by having the Papal Honour, "Pro Pontifice et Ecclesia," conferred on him. ..."[98]      

He married Catherine Gallagher 5 February 1921. She was the daughter of Edward Gallagher and Harriet Thomas. (See Gallagher Genealogy for information about the Gallaghers) She was born 6 March 1890 at Strabane, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. She died 11 December 1976 at Monaghan and is buried in Latlurcan Cemetery at Monaghan, Co. Monaghan, Ireland.

She was trained as a nurse at St. Vincent's Hospital in Dublin, Ireland. She joined the Territorial Force Nursing Service at the 1st Northern General Hospital, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, on 1 December 1914. She was posted for service abroad about 19 October 1915. She served in Egypt and Salonika. She arrived at Southampton, England, on the Hospital Ship Dunluce Castle and proceeded to the London Headquarters on 17 November 1916. She re-joined the 1st Northern General Hospital on 15 December 1916. She resigned on 4 June 1917 while she was on leave because of her forth-coming marriage.[99] It is not known why four years passed between her resignation and marriage.

Prior to 1926, the Keenans lived opposite the old hospital which had been converted into a military barracks during the time of the "Black and Tans." At that time telephones were not common in Monaghan. If you needed to summon the fire department, you had to run through town shouting fire. As circumstances would have it, one Christmas night, when the soldiers had taken to celebrating and were "well drunk," a fire occurred. As the soldiers heard the call of "fire" they began to shoot their weapons. As a number of rounds hit the house, Catherine Gallagher took her daughter Maire Keenan out of her bed and placed her on the floor for greater safety.[100]

After that the Keenans moved on to Cappagh Lodge, where they lived until about 1928. The house at Cappagh was by a little river and had it's own tennis court. The Keenans used to have tennis parties at night and used Auntie Rosa's van to gather up people for the parties. The bread van (horse and cart) came out to Cappagh twice a week, in fact just about all deliveries were made by horse and cart. The family had a pony and trap [a type of carriage] which they used to ride to church. One day while Kay and Maire were riding the donkey down the avenue in Monaghan, the donkey died. The family bought their first car while at Cappagh. After the clutch of the new car burned out while being driven by Catherine Gallagher, John Keenan provided her with a driver to take her to the places she needed to go.[101]

The big stone house at Cappagh had two separate sets of stairs between the two floors. When going up and down the stairs at night, candles were used to illuminate the way. The down stairs entry was large enough to turn a car around. In the kitchen was a coal burning stove. There were two gardens, one for flowers and one for vegetables. When the girls would go out picking strawberries and other fruit, their mother used to make them whistle so she would know that they were not eating fruit.[102]

Cappagh also had a hen house which was the site for another colorful tale. One day when John Keenan and his daughter Maire went to the hen house to gather eggs, Kay locked them in the hen house. Catherine Gallagher realized that something had occurred when she found Kay hiding behind the furniture. Upon asking Kay what she was doing, Kay told her mother that "Kay had died and gone to hell," and that her name was Barcelona not Kay. Upon determining the nature of the problem, John Keenan and his daughter Maire were released from the hen house. Maire got into almost as much trouble as Kay because she had refused to climb out through the hens doorway which had been covered with chicken droppings.[103]

In 1931, they moved to the North Road opposite Swan's Park Hall. This home was rented from Pat O'Brien, who owned the antique shop across the street.[104]

In the summer of 1938 they moved to their long time home of Greenmont across from the church. The home was the first one in Monaghan to have an electric refrigerator. This refrigerator was used by the doctors and local hospital to store penicillin supplies.[105] The home was divided into apartments in the 1970's after the death of John Keenan. Catherine Keenan kept an apartment on the first floor until her death.

After moving to Greenmont, the Keenans, the Graham family and the Desmond McCaldin families hired a band and rented John McNally's hall (Swan Park Hall) for an annual Christmas party and booked guest rooms for company at the Western Arms Hotel. The front of the home had flower gardens, a large vegetable garden was planted along the side, and a large greenhouse was located behind the home.[106]

They had four children that lived. One miscarriage occurred while the Keenans lived at Cappagh Lodge in Monaghan.[107]

+61.iMaire6 Keenan born 25 October 1922 at Monaghan, Co. Monaghan, Ireland.
+62.iiCatherine Keenan born 3 January 1924 at Monaghan, Ireland.
+63.iiiJohn Edward Keenan born 11 August 1927 at Cappa Lodge, Monaghan, Ireland.
+64.ivJoan Keenan born 21 October 1931 at Monaghan, Ireland.

  

56. Daniel Xavier5 Keenan (Daniel Xavier4, Hugh3, Thomas2, James1) He lived in Canada until his middle forties. He was listed as being a retired insurance official in the probate records. His estate was valued at £12,664. At the time of his death, he resided at 21 Neville Road, Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland. He died 20 April 1971 at Dublin and is buried at Dublin, Ireland. [108] He married Bridget [-?-] They are believed to have had at least three children, possibly four or five.

65.iDanny6 Keenan
66.iiMarie Keenan twin sister of Kitty.
67.iiiKitty Keenan twin sister of Marie.

 


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References


[84] Percy F. Smith, compiler, Notable Men of Pittsburgh and Vicinity (Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Printing Co., 1901), p. 165, seen at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA; Martha L. Root, Isle of Pines A Winter Home, in The Pittsburg Index (Pittsburgh, PA), 13 Jan. 1910, p. 11, seen at the Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh, PA.

[85] Martha L. Root, Isle of Pines A Winter Home, in The Pittsburg Index (Pittsburgh, PA), 13 Jan. 1910, p. 11, seen at the Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh, PA.

[86] Hedley, Old and New Westmoreland, Vol. III, p. 58, 59.

[87] Hedley, Old and New Westmoreland, Vol. III, p. 58.

[88] Civil War Pension Files for John Barclay Keenan, National Archives, Military Pension Applications, Record Group 15, Widow's Application 56304, Certificate 40347; lists dates of birth and baptism of Edward W. Keenan; Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, p. 107-108, entry for Edward W. Keenan; Lewis Clark Walkinshaw, Annals of Southwestern Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 194-), p. 297, entry for Judge J. Hilary Keenan, seen at the Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh, PA.

[89] Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, p. 107-108, entry for Edward W. Keenan; Della Reagan Fischer, compiler, Marriages 1866-1900 Old Newspapers, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, 1970, p. 157, entry for Edward Keenan and Mrs. Annie Jack.

[90] Certified Copy of Birth Certificate for John Joseph Keenan, No. U 1132/11, Registrar of Births and Deaths, Office Monaghan, District of Monaghan; copy obtained by John Edward Keenan in possession of writer; Information provided by his daughter Maire Keenan; Tombstone of John Joseph Keenan was seen at Latlurcan Cemetery, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan, Ireland, by the writer in July 1980.

[91] Tape of discussion between Maire Keenan and Catherine Keenan 6 December 1988, tape in possession of writer;
Author unknown, Towards the Irish Free State (place, publisher, date unknown), p. 375, 377; photocopy of page provided by Catherine (Kay) Keenan, in possession of writer.

[92] Newspaper articles (unknown paper, date) from the scrapbook of John J. Keenan, originial in possession of Joan (Keenan) Crostwaite, photocopy of original in possession of writer.

[93] Newspaper articles (unknown paper, date) from the scrapbook of John J. Keenan.

[94] Newspaper articles (unknown paper, date) from the scrapbook of John J. Keenan.

[95] Mr. Wm Ludiwig's Visit To Monaghan, newspaper article (unknown paper, date) from the scrapbook of John J. Keenan, originial in possession of Joan (Keenan) Crostwaite, photocopy of original in possession of writer.

[96] Newspaper articles (unknown paper, date) from the scrapbook of John J. Keenan.

[97] Newspaper articles (unknown paper, date) from the scrapbook of John J. Keenan.

[98] Obituary Notice for John Joseph Keenan, Northern Standard, Monaghan, Ireland, Friday, June 2, 1967, p. 1, col. 7, photocopied at the National Library, Dublin, Ireland, July 1997, copy in possession of writer.

[99] A. Churchill (Departmental Record Officer, Ministry of Defence) to Mrs. J. Crosthwaite, letter of 20 April 1990; letter relates nursing assignments with the Territorial Nursing Service, in possession of writer.

[100] Tape of discussion between Maire Keenan and Catherine Keenan 6 December 1988, tape in possession of writer.

[101] Tape of discussion between Maire Keenan and Catherine Keenan 6 December 1988.

[102] Tape of discussion between Maire Keenan and Catherine Keenan 6 December 1988.

[103] Tape of discussion between Maire Keenan and Catherine Keenan 6 December 1988.

[104] Tape of discussion between Maire Keenan and Catherine Keenan 6 December 1988.

[105] Tape of discussion between Maire Keenan and Catherine Keenan 6 December 1988.

[106] Tape of discussion between Maire Keenan and Catherine Keenan 6 December 1988; Recollections of the writer from visits to the house in the 1950's.

[107] Oral interview with Maire Keenan on 7 November 1988, notes in possession of writer.

[108] Undated typed notes of Maire Keenan, in possession of writer; Probate record and will of Daniel Xavier Keenan, dated 9 September 1971, extracted from the Probate Office of the High Court, Republic of Ireland; copy obtained by John Edward Keenan in possession of writer.


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