Mrs. James Keegan, nee Kathryn O'Mara, whose death was briefly mentioned in last week's Bee, passed away at her home northwest of Rock Valley, December 2, 1929, following an illness of six weeks in the Sacred Heart hospital, in LeMars. A few days before her death she was removed from the hospital to her home, as it was evident that nothing further could be done for her.
Mrs. Keegan had lived in this vicinity for thirty-five years, having come to northwest Iowa in 1894. After coming here, she taught school for three years, and on November 16, 1897, she was united in marriage to James Keegan, who survives her. She was a woman who was loved and respected by all who knew her, and she will be greatly missed not only in her home but also in this community where she spent so many years of her life.
Mrs. Keegan was born at Petersville, Iowa, August 13, 1876, where she received her early training and grew to womanhood.
Besides her husband, she leaves to mourn her death eight children, Percy, Kathryn, Clement, and Margaret at home, Arlene of Sioux City, Florence of Denver, Colorado, Irma of Maurice, Iowa, and Clarence of Inwood. She also leaves two brothers and two sisters, Mrs. J.H. Smith, of Alvord, Iowa; Mrs. John Clark, of Aneta, N. Dak; Mr. T.J. O'Mara, of Farmington, Minn., and Daniel O'Mara of Aneta, N. Dak, and two grand children, Charles Buckley and Mary Ellen Keegan.
Funeral Services were held from St. Mary's church in Rock Valley at nine o'clock last Thursday morning. The services were largely attended by sympathizing friends.
James W. Keegan is one of the younger agriculturists of Lyon County, and that knowledge and skill which should characterize the modern farmer mark his management of the family estate in Doon Township. He gives the closest attention to his work, and is becoming widely known as one of the progressive and up-to-date tillers of the earth in this part of the state.
Mr. Keegan was born in 1868 on a farm in Clinton County, Iowa, where his father, James Keegan, of Irish birth, had long been established. The father who came to this country was an old settler in Lyon County, where he died in March 1895.
James W. Keegan was the youngest born in a family of four children, and grew to manhood in Clinton County, where he was inured to hard farm work and trained to steady labor. When his parents removed to Lyon County in 1886, he assisted them in their removal to what was then a frontier, and assisted his father in the development of the farm, being the southwest quarter of section 31, Doon Township. He remained with his father until the death of that gentleman in 1895. From 1893 he ran the farm as a family concern with his brother until 1895, when the property was divided. James W. Keegan now owns a place comprising one hundred and ninety acres, all cultivated, and provided with a most desirable set of farm buildings and a grove that was planted in 1888.
Mr. Keegan was married in 1897 to Miss Katie O'Meara, a daughter of John O'Meara and a native of Clinton County, Iowa. By this union Mr. Keegan has become the father of four children: Florence, Percy, Clarence and Irma. Both he and his wife are well thought of in the community, where they have many friends and well wishers, won at first by their open hearted kindliness, but retained by solid worth and genuine character.
Source - Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. (1905)
Source - Year: 1925; Iowa State Census Collection, 1836-1925; Census Place: Doon, Doon, Iowa; Roll: IA1925_1822; Image: 84
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Keegan, James (line 102)
Source - Year: 1925; Iowa State Census Collection, 1836-1925; Census Place: Doon, Doon, Iowa; Roll: IA1925_1822; Image: 85
Page 3 of 3
Keegan, James (line 102)
Source - Year: 1925; Iowa State Census Collection, 1836-1925; Census Place: Doon, Doon, Iowa; Roll: IA1925_1822; Image: 86
Last Rites for Mrs. James Keegan
Mrs. James Keegan, nee Kathryn O'Mara, whose death was briefly mentioned in last week's Bee, passed away at her home northwest of Rock Valley, December 2, 1929, following an illness of six weeks in the Sacred Heart hospital, in LeMars. A few days before her death she was removed from the hospital to her home, as it was evident that nothing further could be done for her.
Mrs. Keegan had lived in this vicinity for thirty-five years, having come to northwest Iowa in 1894. After coming here, she taught school for three years, and on November 16, 1897, she was united in marriage to James Keegan, who survives her. She was a woman who was loved and respected by all who knew her, and she will be greatly missed not only in her home but also in this community where she spent so many years of her life.
Mrs. Keegan was born at Petersville, Iowa, August 13, 1876, where she received her early training and grew to womanhood.
Besides her husband, she leaves to mourn her death eight children, Percy, Kathryn, Clement, and Margaret at home, Arlene of Sioux City, Florence of Denver, Colorado, Irma of Maurice, Iowa, and Clarence of Inwood. She also leaves two brothers and two sisters, Mrs. J.H. Smith, of Alvord, Iowa; Mrs. John Clark, of Aneta, N. Dak; Mr. T.J. O'Mara, of Farmington, Minn., and Daniel O'Mara of Aneta, N. Dak, and two grand children, Charles Buckley and Mary Ellen Keegan.
Funeral Services were held from St. Mary's church in Rock Valley at nine o'clock last Thursday morning. The services were largely attended by sympathizing friends.
Source - Rock Valley Bee - Dec 13, 1929
When my mother [Kathryn O'Meara] was about 9 and Uncle Dan [Daniel O'Meara] about 7 both their parents were dead. The children were taken to Kemptville, Ontario, Canada. My mother lived there until she was 16. She then came to Alvord, Iowa and lived with her sister Jennie [Jane] Smith. She taught school near there until she married my father [James Keegan]. Dan stayed there until he was a young man. Then came to Anita, North Dakota where his sister Nell [Ellen O'Meara] and family lived. He was a mail carrier all his life.
Born : 13 Aug 1876
