Chapter Eight - Mathew and Catherine's Descendants

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Chapter Eight - Mathew and Catherine's Descendants

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Mathew William O'Keane/Keane (born: circa 1817 in Ireland; died: 02 November 1879; buried at St. Columba Cemetery, "Lake Five," Village of Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA). 

and

Catherine O'Keane/Keane (nee Prendergast) (born: circa 1821 in Accony (Aghany), County Mayo, Ireland; died: 21 December 1876; buried at St. Columba Cemetery, "Lake Five," Village of Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA)

their children, chronologically:

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A. George Keane (Caine) (born: circa 1841 in Ireland; died: possibly killed in action (K.I.A.) on 18 June 1855; age 14; buried following the First Attack on the Redan, Crimea; Private, #2901, 7th Regiment of Foot (Royal Fusiliers) of the British Military; no known offspring; source: Crimean War Roll of Honour at http://www.angelfire.com/mp/memorials/crimroll5.htm. and Crimea Casualties at http://hometown.aol.co.uk/heatherasplin/CRIMAC.html . The author of a book about the Crimean War, Orlando Figes, describes the war as a conflict so dimly understood that, when it began, even the participants were unclear about its objective. Figes goes on to note that France and Britain sided with the Ottoman Empire in its clash against Russia over disputed territories and spheres of religious influence. (The date of death in 1855 was explored and discovered after a message was found by Nancy in the "Boston Pilot" newspaper which was a popular way for people to attempt to contact missing family members by placing a message in that newspaper. A message was discovered that was sent to "Mrs. Kane, originally of Castlebar.") that matched the timeline of family stories of George's death in the Crimean War.

B. Bridget Keane (born circa 18 December 1846 in Aglish Parish, Knockthomas Townland, Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland; died: May 1848; age 15 months; aboard sailing vessel with burial at sea)

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C. Richard O'Keane (born: 18 January 1849 in Albany, New York; died: 28 November 1923 in the Town of Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin; cancer of the eye according to James J. O'Keane; buried at St. Columba Cemetery, "Lake Five," Village of Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA)

Richard is the first American-born child of Mathew O'Keane and Catherine (Prendergast) O'Keane. He is probably named after his maternal grandfather as was traditional for the second-born son in the Irish culture. 

Richard "held his own" when he remained on "The Six Acres" to defend it against a reported "Indian Uprising" in September of 1862. According to an article in the Milwaukee Journal newspaper, dated 07 June 1984, rumors spread following a Sioux uprising in the central Minnesota town of Acton that members of the Sioux tribe were likely to link up with Wisconsin's Chippewa and Winnebago tribes and continue to raid as far as this southeast corner of Wisconsin. One story reported that 300 "Indians" were moving through Wisconsin burning and destroying everything before them.

Except for Richard, the family, along with most of the community and surrounding communities, left hurriedly by horse and wagon to seek protection in Milwaukee where militia were known to be billeted. The family only got as far as the village of Colgate (about 5 miles away) when they were told that the whole incident was a hoax. It was speculated that the rumors could have been started by Confederate spies who were sent to disrupt northern states since the American Civil War had just recently begun. Later, people came to believe that it was just people determined to carry out a prank and have the rumors take on a nature all their own.

Richard stays in this same area for the rest of his life after being born in Albany, New York in 1849, a year after Mathew and Catherine emigrated from Ireland, and a year before arriving in Wisconsin by 1850. He is around 15 years of age when he decided to defend the first land purchase, "The Six Acres," against an "Indian Uprising."

Later, in 1874, the 80-acre farm southwest of Plat was purchased from the Shannon family, and Richard becomes the owner of this farm. Richard farmed this 80-acre property immediately southwest of the unincorporated village of Plat, at the intersection of Plat Road and Monches Road in Section 31 of Richfield Township. In recent years, the township has changed its government form to that of a "village" with the same approximately 6-mile by 6-mile shape as when it was a township.

Like many Irishmen, Richard marries later in life at the age of 38. His bride is Mary Ann Daley (17 July 1854-28 July 1929). She is from an early settler family in the nearby Monches area. They are married in Chicago and go on to raise two sons, Mathew Richard (19 January 1889-12 September 1932) and Ambrose (September 1891-01 February 1928), and two daughters, Catherine Lucille "Lucy" (14 July 1893-18 February 1967) and Mary Ellen (24 March 1896-05 June 1879).

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Richard and Mary Ann O'Keane's older son, Mathew Richard, marries Mary Elizabeth "Mae" Burg (26 October 1887-12 July 1982), who is from the Monches area. They settle in Milwaukee where Mathew becomes the herdsman for the Milwaukee County Farm, located on the Milwaukee County Grounds that is now a part of the Milwaukee suburb of Wauwatosa. Mathew dies at the relatively young age of 43 and the family moves to the Monches area for a time to live with their Burg and Purtell relatives.

Mathew and Mae's first child is John Joseph O'Keane (29 January 1914-13 February 1985) who married Irene Mary Wildman (10 December 1914-18 December 1978). Their second son is Edward Patrick O'Keane (17 March 1916-22 March 1971) who marries Irene Mazurczak (07 January 1921- ) on 24 June 1944. Mathew and Mae's third son is Vincent Francis O'Keane (23 March 1918-25 December 1981) who marries Jean F. Foulks (05 February 1926-25 January 2004) on 14 February 1945. Mathew and Mae's fourth child is Catherine "Kitty" Mary O'Keane (25 February 1920- 24 November 2009) who marries Joseph Palmersheim ( -13 January) at St. Rose Parish in Milwaukee, on 28 June 1941. Mathew and Mae's fifth child is Margaret "Marge" Dolores O'Keane (26 March 1926-22 December 2016).

Richard and Mary Ann O'Keane's second son is Ambrose. He is born in September of 1891 and dies on 01 February 1928 of "progressive pernicious anemia" He dies at the fairly young age of 37 and was single. 

Richard and Mary Ann O'Keane's third child, "Lucy" (14 July 1893-18 February 1967), married Francis E. Burg (22 February 1894 - 19 June 1964) from the Monches area on 14 April 1920 at St. Columba Church, "Lake Five." They eventually lived just south of Monches on Lake Keesus in Waukesha County. They had no children. Lucy was a teacher. Francis was the son of Joseph and Catherine Burg.

Richard and Mary Ann O'Keane's fourth child, Mary Ellen (24 March 1896-June 1979), enters St. Joseph's Convent, Mount Carmel, near Dubuque, Iowa and took the name Sister Mary Cornelia and became a BVM nun. She received a degree of Bachelor of Science in Education at the University of Dayton on 03 August 1958. She is buried at Dubuque, Iowa.

Richard's obituary in the Menomonee Falls News of December 7, 1923 states: "Richard O'Keane of Plat died at his home Thursday at 1:30 A.M., November 29th, after a long illness. He was born at Albany, New York, and in his youth came to Wisconsin. He was 74 years of age. Mr. O'Keane is survived by a widow [Mary Ann Daley], one brother, James, four sisters, Mrs. Edward Flynn, Mrs. Mike Flynn, Mrs. James Prendergast and Mrs. Charles Fleming, also two sons and two daughters, Mathew, Ambrose, Mrs. Francis E. Burg and Mary Ellen O'Keane. The funeral was held Saturday, November 29th, at St. Columba's Parish at Lake Five. The Reverend Father William Millaya of St. Norbert's College, De Pere, Wisconsin and Reverend A. Grace officiating. Interment took place in the church cemetery."

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Cousin Margaret "Marge" O'Keane (R.I.P.), the granddaughter of Richard and Mary Ann (Daley) O'Keane, provided most of the information for her Richard O'Keane branch of the family tree.

Margaret O'Keane and Kevin Kearns in 2007

Margaret died on 22 December 2016 at the age of 90. Her Krause Funeral Home obituary notes that she was a retiree of MetLife (Insurance Company) and member and past president of The Christ Child Society. She was also a longtime parishioner of St. Margaret Mary Parish, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Margaret was an accomplished photographer as well. She gave us a package of notecards that had one of her photographs on the cover---a close up of a flower's petals. These notecards were for sale as a fundraiser at The Christ Child Society offices located at Our Lady of Good Hope Parish in Milwaukee. At Margaret's funeral service, we sat with a lady who worked in the department that Margaret supervised at MetLife. The lady said employees would try to get assigned to her department because Margaret was such a great person to work for.

The following, more detailed family tree information, comes from a "Burg, Kelley, Hayburn Families" family tree compiled by Lenora (Weber) Mulock and follows the Mathew Richard O'Keane and Mary Burg family line. It is available for viewing in the Hartford History Room located in the Jack Russell Memorial Library in Hartford, Wisconsin. (Minor changes have been made to spellings and dates. Younger, living family members have been left out.)

1st Generation:  

Richard O'Keane and Mary Ann Daley

2nd Generation: 

Mathew Richard O'Keane (born 19 Jan 1889 in Wisconsin; died 12 Sep 1932 at age 43); married Mary Elizabeth "Mae" Burg on 6 May 1913 at St. John's Monches, Town of Merton, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. She was the daughter of John Edmund Burg and Mary E. Purtell.

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In the 1920 US Census for Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin it lists Matthew Okeane, age 30, carpenter on Railroad, born in Wisconsin, parents born in Wisconsin, wife, Mary, age 31, born in Wisconsin, with John, son, age 5 ½ , Edward, son, age 3 4/12, Vincent, son, age 1 2/12. Mary was born 26 Oct 1887 and was christened 30 Oct 1887 at St. John's Monches, Town of Merton, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Mary died 12 July 1982, at the age of 94, and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. They had five children, as follows:

3rd Generation:

John J. O'Keane, born 29 Jan 1914 in Wisconsin. He married Irene Wildman. She was born 10 Dec 1914. Irene died 18 Dec 1978, at age 64, and was buried in Arlington Park, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Her obituary, dated 19 Dec 1978 in the Milwaukee Journal reads: "Irene M. O'Keane (Nee Wildman), Dec. 18, 1978, aged 64. Beloved wife of John J. O'Keane, sister of Lily Hubatch, Evelyn St. Clair and Frank Wildman, devoted daughter-in-law of Mary O'Keane, also survived by other relatives and dear friends. Funeral Wed. Dec. 20 at 9:30 A.M. from Scheutrell & Son Funeral Home, 2433 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. to Immaculate Conception Church at 10 A.M. Entombment Arlington Park. In state Tues. 4-9 P.M. Retired U.S. Postal Employee. Memorials to American Cancer Society appreciated." John died 13 Feb 1985, at age 71. John lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee Journal obituary dated 13 Feb 1985 reads: "John J. O'Keane, Wed. Feb 13, 1985, age 71 years. Beloved husband of the late Irene (nee Wildman). Dear brother of Catherine Palmersheim, Margaret O'Keane, the late Edward (Irene) and the late Vincent (Jean) O'Keane, also survived by nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial Sat., Feb. 16, 1985, 10am. At St. Margaret Mary Church, N. 92nd and W. Capitol Dr. In respect to John's wishes his body was donated to the Medical College of Wisconsin."

Edward P. O'Keane was born 7 Mar 1916 in Wisconsin. He was the son of Matthew Richard O'Keane and Mary Elizabeth "Mae" Burg. Edward died 22 Mar 1971, at the age of 55, and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. He married Irene Mazurczak on 24 Jun 1944.

Vincent F. O'Keane was born 23 Mar 1918 in Wisconsin. He was the son of Matthew Richard O'Keane and Mary Elizabeth Burg. Vincent died 25 Dec 1981, at the age of 63. He married Jean Foulks 14 Feb 1945. She was born 8 Feb 1926. Jean died 25 Jan 2004, at the age of 77. Her Milwaukee Journal obituary, dated January 26, 2004 reads: "O'Keane, Jean F. (nee Foulks), born to Eternal Life January 25, 2004, age 77 years. Beloved wife of the late Vincent F. Sister-in-law of Marge O'Keane, Irene O'Keane and Catherine Palmersheim. Also survived by other relatives and friends. Visitation 4 to 7 Wednesday Wednesday, January 28 with Services 7 pm at the Zwaska Funeral Home, 4900 W. Bradley Rd. (414) 354-5330."

Catherine "Kitty" O'Keane was born 25 Feb 1920. She is the daughter of Mathew Richard O'Keane and Mary Theresa Burg. She married Joseph Martin Palmersheim on 28 Jun 1941. [Catherine died 24 November 2009.]

Margaret "Marge" Dolores O'Keane was born 26 Mar 1926 in Wisconsin [and died 22 Dec 2016. She was single.]

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D. Mary Jane O'Keane (born February 1851 in the Town of Merton, Waukesha County, Wisconsin; died: 24 November 1937 in the Town of Erin, Washington County, Wisconsin).

Mary Jane is the first American-born daughter of Mathew and Catherine. By the time of the 1870 US Census she is listed as Mary Cosgrove after the Thomas Cosgrove entry and residing at the Cosgrove farm (which is the farm at 378 Sherman Road, Colgate, Wisconsin---my parent's James and Ruth O'Keane's farm). Thomas Cosgrove's age is given as 35 and Mary Jane's is given as 19---so, there is a definite age difference. Also listed at this location were  her brother Terence and her younger sister Elizabeth. Thomas' parents, John and Priscilla Cosgrove, originally purchased this property from the US government by a US Land Grant dated 01 August 1844.

Those US Census records have Thomas born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1835. The local, Village of Richfield's Sesquicentennial book has "Thomas (born 1835)" marrying "Mary (born 1851)." The parents are listed as John Cosgrove (1796-03 April 1869) and Priscilla (1794- ). They are early settlers in the Plat area. The other Cosgrove children and their birthdates are: James (1825), Patrick (1827), Michael (1827), Sarah Ellen (1829), William (1831), John ( - ), and Catherine ( - ).

The Latter Day Saints (LDS) (Mormon) film # 1871065 (for St. John-Monches and St. Columba-Lake Five) has Thomas Cosgrove, the son of John Cosgrove, marrying Mary Jane O'Kane, daughter of Mathew O'Kane, on November 26, 1868. Local historian and author, John Von Haden recorded Milwaukee Archdiocesan church records from about 1845 to about 1920. He gives the baptism record of a Catharine Cosgrove, daughter of Thomas and Mary Jane (O Kane) Cosgrove, being born on June 5, 1870 and baptized on June 5, 1870, with Terance OKane and Mary Fahy as sponsors. The unusual birth and baptism on the same date raises the possibility that the child died at birth, especially since there were never any family stories that identified this child and no other records have been found. Perhaps, it is a matter of not dwelling on an infant's death.

A mortgage record has "Thomas Cosgrove and Mary Jane, his wife" selling the farm mentioned above to a Catharine McCormick of Milwaukee on 23 February 1869. Family stories and records have Thomas and Mary Jane moving to DeKalb County, Illinois where Thomas worked for the railroad. He was said to have been killed in a work accident. Thomas and Mary Jane had a son, Thomas James Cosgrove (1874-02 April 1949).

Dad always said that all of the Cosgrove family eventually moved to the Chicago area. Over the years, they would occasionally drive back to Wisconsin to visit. According to dad, they would come with blocks of ice on the floor of the back of their car so that they could bring back butter and eggs from local farmers because they believed it was so much better than what was available in their local Chicago stores.

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Family stories talked about the likelihood of contact being made with the Prendergast family back in Ireland to tell them that Mathew and Catherine have a widowed daughter. So, could there have been news sent about a widow with property and a railroad pension? Dad said Mary Jane inherited the Cosgrove Farm which was later purchased by dad's father, James O'Keane.

By 1878 there is a marriage license in Cook County, Illinois, for the marriage of the widow, Mary Jane O'Keane Cosgrove, and James Prendergast (born 01 August 1847, Accony, Kilgeever Parish, County Mayo, Ireland and died 07 January 1929 in the Town of Erin, Washington County, Wisconsin). The certificate gives their ages as 26 years for James and 25 years for Mary J. Cosgrove. The marriage was officiated by a priest, J. M. Cartan, on 28 April 1878.

Mary Jane's second husband, James Prendergast, is the son of Catherine Prendergast O'Keane's brother, James "Seamus Mor" Prendergast and Mary McHale (initially misspelled as "McKay") of Accony, Ireland. As first cousins, James and Mary Jane needed to obtain a dispensation from the local bishop to be allowed to be married, according to family stories. This appears to have been a somewhat common need since many families in small communities maintained close relationships with one another. There is supportive evidence that matches the timeline for a James Prendergast as a passenger aboard the ship "Scythia," arriving in New York City on 16 June 1875 from a Liverpool departure.

This close family relationship actually helped line up the correct Prendergast family relationship back in Ireland. The correct connection was further locked in by both our family here in America and the Prendergast's in Ireland having the same story of a "Sick Geoffrey," a Prendergast nephew coming to visit his American relatives, that was mentioned earlier in this story in my contact message with the Accony School Reunion committee back in 2009.

On the 1880 US Census, James and Mary Jane are residing in DeKalb, Illinois, along with two children---Thomas James Cosgrove and infant daughter, Kathryn "Katie" Prendergast, 4 months old. Then, on the 1890 US Census they are in the Town of Erin, Washington County, Wisconsin, with the following children: Thomas Cosgrove, Kathryn "Katie," Richard "Richie Dick," Mary Jane "Mayme," Margaret Agnes "Agnes" and Rose Helen.

They started off in the house that is well in off the north side of County Line Q at 5522 County Line Q where the Lubbert family lived for many years, located between St. Augustine Road to the east and Dieball Road to the west. Later on, James and Mary Jane's son, Richie "Dick" Prendergast, who was a carpenter working for Jim Melville, built the new house, which is three doors west at 5576 County Line Q, according to Mary Ann (Whipp) Felix, Leo Whipp's and Bertilla (Whelan) Whipp's daughter. The Copper Kettle garlic farm is located there now. Dad always said that young Tommy Cosgrove built the house and also noted that the old farmhouse was a log structure.

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Tommy remained single and eventually moved to Milwaukee. Mary Ann (Whipp) Felix shared an undated newspaper obituary: "Cosgrove, Thomas J., residence, 754 N. 22nd St., [Milwaukee, Wisconsin], April 2, aged 76 years, brother of Richard Prendergast, Mrs Edward Clark, Niles, Calif.; Sister Mary Marie [sic, should be Mario], O.P., and Sister Mary Columba, O.P. Funeral Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. from M. Goodwin & Son Funeral Home, 731 N. 16th St. Services at Gesu church at 9 a.m. Interment St. Columba cemetery, Lake Five, Wis. In state Tuesday, after 2 p.m."

James and Mary Jane's eldest daughter, Kathryn "Katie" Prendergast (born 1880, died in February of 1903), married Edward F. Whipp, Jr. (born 12 April 1872 in the Town of Merton, Waukesha County, Wisconsin) on October 23, 1900 at St. John's, Monches, Town of Merton, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Edward was the son of Edward Whipp Sr. and Margaret Whelan. Edward and Katie lived on the Whipp homestead which is the first farm east of Center Oak School in the Monches area on Hickory Road where Camp Whitcomb Road comes in from the south. According to my dad (James J. O'Keane), Ed was a great horseman. He owned heavy dray horses and used them to build and do landfill work. Katie died in February of 1903, shortly after their son, Leo, was born. I think my father said the cause was influenza. Leo was born on May 29, 1902 and died in 1976.

As Ed's employment changed from place to place, he left Leo with the James and Mary Jane Prendergast family where he was raised pretty much as one of the family, according to my father.

Leo Whipp married Bertilla Whelan on October 12, 1926 at St. Gall's in Milwaukee. Bertilla was the daughter of Albert Whelan and Annie (McCartan) Whelan. Albert was born to Patrick F. and Mary (Phelan) Whelan, early settlers of the Town of Erin. Annie was born to Edward McCartan and Mary (Melville) McCartan of Lake Five. There were six other children in Bertilla's family: Anne, Albert Leo, Mary, Leona, Esther and Vincent.

A very young Leo Whipp

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Mary Ann (Whipp) Felix, one of Leo and Bertilla's daughters, shared the following story that her Great Uncle William Whipp submitted to the Wisconsin State Historical Society:

"The first pioneer in the Township of Merton, Waukesha County, Wisconsin, was my grandfather, John Whipp, and his wife, Jennie Whipp, who emigrated from Coventry, England, to Wisconsin in the year 1842. They had four sons, my father, Edward, plus John, James and William. They were thirty-three days crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a sail ship.

They reached Milwaukee in October, 1842, and erected a log cabin on the shore of Lake Michigan near what is now Juneau Park in Milwaukee ('No Man's Land'). The U.S. surveyors staked out the farm in November, 1842, and my grandfather and William, his oldest son, built a log cabin and log barn on the farm during the winter of 1842-1843. My grandparents were the first settlers in the Township of Merton, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.

Grandfather bought a large tract of land which extended to the Oconomowoc River at Monches, so each son had a farm with water for livestock when he grew up. The homestead farm is still owned by my sister and has been in the family ever since my grandparents settled on it in 1842.

There is a large English style Colonial grout house on the farm in good repair built in 1856. The Indian Chief Monches lived in what is now Monches in the winter beside a large spring. In spring, they moved up near Green Bay, Wisconsin, and raised corn and gathered wild rice which grew in abundance near Green Bay, Wisconsin. In the fall of 1843 the Indians under Chief Monches returned to what is now Monches, and due to an early frost in Green Bay, Wisconsin, they had no corn for the winter.

Grandfather had planted a large tract of corn on his farm on a tract of land that had only a few trees and he kept the Indians in corn all winter. By giving the Indians corn that winter, grandfather made fast friends with Chief Monches' tribe, and never had any trouble but once in later years. This happened when a saloon opened in the Village of Merton in the Township of Merton where three young braves had too much rye whiskey. They passed the log cabin about three hundred feet to the south and each one shot at a candle grandmother had on the kitchen table about dusk. All three shots entered the same window pane, and imbedded in the logs on the opposite side of the kitchen. Next morning Chief Monches brought the three young braves up to grandfather's house and told grandfather to thrash them good and plenty, but he only told them not to do it again.

In the winter of 1847 the Indians contracted small pox and Chief Monches sent an Indian guide to Green Bay for the medicine man. When he arrived at Monches the Indians were told to cut a hole in the ice on the Oconomowoc River, and each sick Indian was given a bath in the icy water. Grandfather Whipp found out what they were doing, and Chief Monches did as grandfather told him and wrapped them in blankets and furs and kept a good fire going although three of them died.

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The reason Grandfather Whipp left England was as follows: He was a weaver of fine woolen cloth, and he invented a small weaving machine. The workers pestered him so much, saying with machines to weave cloth, there would be work for so few weavers that he decided to come to America.

A Swiss named Mr. Kuntz erected the first grist mill in Monches, Wisconsin, in about 1853. He ground wheat flour which was real coarse on one single stone. Game was everywhere when Grandfather Whipp settled his farm, and wild pigeons clouded the sky in the fall of the year. There was plenty deer, wild geese, duck, pigeons, and fish to be had at all times."

Mary Ann (Whipp) Felix also shared more of the Whipp and Prendergast lineage:

John Whipp (born in 1798 and died in 1852) and his wife Jane arrived in America from England in July of 1842 with six of their seven children---all sons. Those born in England were Richard, William, James D., Edward, John Jr. and Robert. The seventh son, Franklin, was born in Wisconsin. Edward Whipp Sr. was first married to Jennie Dooley and they had one son, James. Jennie died in 1866. Edward then married Margaret Whelan and they became the parents of nine children: John Joseph, Mary, Edward F. Jr., Catherine, William Thomas, Sara, James, Francis and Margaret.

James and Mary Jane Prendergast's son, Richard George Prendergast (born September 1882, died 1956, buried in St. Columba Cemetery, "Lake Five"), married Margaret C. Quaid (born 01 April 1879 in the Town of Merton, died 02 April 1969, buried in St. Columba Cemetery, "Lake Five") on June 24, 1908 at St. John's, Monches, Town of Merton, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.

James and Mary Jane's second daughter Mary Jane "Mayme" Prendergast (born August 1884, died 1952), married Edward "Ed" Francis Clark (born 1881, died  - ) on May 19, 1912. Edward's father is listed as John Linehan on the church marriage records. Mayme and Ed had a daughter, Rosemary Clark (1916-1987) who married William Strong. Rosemary and William had two children, Mary Margaret Strong and William Strong. The Clark's moved to California, possibly Fresno and/or Niles. There are "Clark's" in the Flynn family line too when Michael and Catherine (O'Keane) Flynn's daughter "Annie" (Anne Elizabeth) married "John Clark." They also moved to California.

James and Mary Jane's two youngest daughters, Margaret Agnes "Agnes" Prendergast (born 31 October 1894, died 1994) and Rose Helen Prendergast (born 31 October 1894, died 1978), were twins and both became nuns, Sister Mary Columba O.P. and Sister Mary Mario O.P., respectively. ("O.P." stands for Ordinis Praedicatorum," meaning the Order of Preachers, a religious group founded by Saint Dominic.)

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The Prendergast twins, Sister Columba and Sister Mario, 

at two different times of their lives

---their First Communion on the left and their 

Golden (50th) Anniversary as nuns on the right.

Mary Jane's obituary from the Milwaukee Journal, 26 November 1937:

"PRENDERGAST: Wednesday, Nov. 24, Mary Jane (nee O'Keane), beloved mother of Thomas W. Cosgrove, Richard W. Prendergast, Mary Jane Clark, Sister M. Mario and Sister M. Columbia [sic, should be Columba], also survived by 1 son-in-law, 1 daughter-in-law, 2 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, 1 brother and 2 sisters, aged 86 years. Funeral Saturday, Nov. 27, at 9:30 a.m., from the residence on County Line to St. Columbia [sic, should be Columba] Catholic church at Lake Five."

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E. Terence Joseph O'Keane is somewhat the "black sheep" of the family---or, at least, he was more of an adventurer than the rest of the family. One old family record has his date of birth as December 13, 1853. Church records have him being baptized on January 31, 1853. He is listed on the headstone of his parents, Mathew and Catherine O'Keane, in the St. Columba Cemetery at "Lake Five," as having died on November 6, 1910, presumably the day he went missing. There are records of him living in Chicago, Illinois, Appleton, Wisconsin and Milwaukee, Wisconsin before drowning in the Milwaukee River in 1910, in Milwaukee. The family story relates that authorities assumed that it was likely that Terence was attacked by some men who robbed him and threw him into the river.

Terence O'Keane         

His body was recovered after the river thawed in the spring. Family stories note that the family knew he had been in Milwaukee and filed a missing person report. His brother Richard and his sister Eliza went to the morgue in Milwaukee to identify the body, according to family stories. Eliza only needed to see his hand coming out from under the sheet to know it was her favorite brother Terence, according to another of the family stories.

But, earlier on, from the 1880 US Census, Terence O'Keane is listed as "brother," age 25, single and a farmer, with his older brother Richard listed as head-of-household.

Somehow, Terence connects with and marries Catherine "Katie" Comer (01 May 1854-06 February 1933) from Valders, Cato Township in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, which is about 90 miles northeast of the Village of Richfield and not on a typical traffic pattern. There are Cain-Caine-Kain-Kane-Keane surnames in historical records for this area, so a connection with a distant cousin could be possible, but there are no family stories or records for this connection. Interestingly, Katie's Comer family emigrated from Ireland, specifically Achill Island, an area just north and west of the O'Keane/Keane and Prendergast homelands of Castlebar and Accony. Their marriage is dated 26 November 1887 on the marriage certificate issued in Cook County, Illinois.

Catherine Comer is the daughter of Peter Comer and Bridget (Burke) Comer. The 1860 US Census has the Comer family living in Cato Township, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin as follows: Peter, age 41, farmer; Bridget, age 36; Sarah, age 11; Mary, age 9; Catharine, age 6; Bridget, age 4; and Thomas, age 2. Peter and Bridget were born in Ireland. Sarah and Mary were born in Canada and Catherine, Bridget and Thomas were born in Wisconsin. The 1880 US Census has Catherine still living with her parents in the Town of Cato.

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Catherine's father, Peter, emigrated from Ireland to America in late autumn of 1847, according to the book written in 1955 by Catherine and Terence's daughter, Josephine O'Keane. Peter came with his siblings: John, David, Catherine and Sarah. David died of "ship's fever" (cholera) shortly after landing on Grosse Isle, Canada, in the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Peter and the others remained in Canada for a time to earn money. While there, Peter married Bridget Burke. Their parents, Thomas and Catherine Comer, had remained in Ireland with the youngest daughter, Bridget, until 1851. After they emigrated too, the entire family started for Wisconsin and settled in the Manitowoc area. (More about Bridget Comer will come later.)

In an 1892 Chicago voter registration record, a T. J. O'Kane, born in Wisconsin, is listed as being in the precinct for one month and being in the county and state for eight years. If this is our Terence, this would make him an Illinois resident from about 1884 to 1892. In an 1896 Appleton City Directory, there is a "Clarence" O'Keane and a T. J. O'Keane listed as living at 511 State Street. Both Clarence and T. J. are listed as laborers. In an 1897-1898 Appleton City Directory, Terence O'Keane is listed as living at 1200 Emily Street as a laborer.

Terence and Catherine have three children:

+ Josephine Catherine (born 27 March 1889 in Illinois; died 11 April 1961 in Billings, Montana) who remained single, 

+ Helen Grace "Grace" (born 19 December 1892 in Illinois; died 09  August 1969 in Los Angeles, California) who married Harold J. Carney in Seattle, Washington, and 

+ Paul (born 26 August 1898 in Appleton, Outagamie County, Wisconsin; died in infancy on 09 October 1898). Paul's death was listed as cholera infantum, cerebra-spinal (meningitis). He is buried in an unmarked children's section in St. Mary's Cemetery, 312 S. State Street, Appleton, Wisconsin. His obituary in the local Appleton newspaper reads: "Died. Paul, the six weeks old son of Mr. and Mrs. Terrance O'Keane, on Emily street died Sunday afternoon and was buried yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock from the St. Mary's church" (Appleton Crescent, Vol. XLVI, No. 22, Appleton, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, October 15, 1898).

The 1900 US Census for District 0069, Appleton Ward 03, Outagamie County, Wisconsin has "Teranz Okane," age 48, married 12 years, working as a laborer at a paper mill and Catherine has a birthday of May 1854, age 46, married 12 years, in 1888. Also listed are "Josfine," daughter, with a March 1889 birthday, age 11, and Hellen G., daughter, with a December 1892 birthday, age 7. Terence and Catherine are listed as being born in Wisconsin and Josephine and Helen Grace are listed as being born in Illinois.

The 1905 Wisconsin Census, dated 01 June 1905, has Terence, Catherine, Josephine and Grace living in Appleton. A 1907 Milwaukee City Directory has Terence living at 97 Potter Avenue and working as an "Oiler."

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A 1910 Appleton City Directory has Terence and Catherine with Josephine and Helen Grace living at 814 Superior Street. Terence is listed as being an "engr." (engineer?). Josephine is listed as being a teacher and Helen Grace is listed as a student at business college.

On the 1910 US Census, recorded on April 22, 1910, Terence, Catherine, Josephine and Helen Grace are listed as residents of Appleton. Terence's occupation is listed as engineer-steelworker and Josephine's occupation is listed as teacher.

Terence's "registration of death," dated 14 January 1911, lists the cause of death as asphyxia due to drowning and the date of death is listed as 12 January 1911 at 3:10 P.M. The location was listed as the East Water Street Bridge, Milwaukee River, 3rd Ward. The Waukesha Freeman newspaper, dated January 19, 1911, noted his death in the "Lake Five" section of the paper: "The remains of Terrance O. Kean, a former resident of this place, whose dead body was found near the East Water street bridge in the Milwaukee River Thursday were brought here Monday morning for burial in the Lake Five cemetery." The Hartford Times newspaper with a "Lake Five correspondent" noted in a 20 January 1911 column: "The sad news of the death of Terrance O'Keane, who was found drowned in the Milwaukee River last week, came as a shock to this community. The remains were brought to Lake Five for burial last Monday. Father Malone officiated. Terence's headstone---where he is listed on the same headstone as his parent's, Mathew and Catherine's---lists his date of death as 06 November 1910, presumably the day he went missing.

 A 1914 Milwaukee City Directory has Catherine listed as the widow of Terence at 348 20th Street, with Helen Grace listed as a stenographer and Josephine listed as a teacher. Catherine and her daughters, Josephine and Helen Grace, eventually travel to Montana to live near their Walsh cousin, Thomas Walsh, and his wife. The 1920 US Census has Catherine Okeane, age 65, Josephine Okeane, age 29, and Helen Grace Okeane, age 26, residing in Columbus, Stillwater County, Montana. Catherine is listed as "head of household" and "widowed."

And here is where the Walsh connection to the Comer family comes in. Bridget, the youngest Comer daughter and Catherine's aunt, had met and married Felix Walsh in Manitowoc Rapids on February 8, 1853. Bridget and Felix raised their family in Manitowoc County and their third child, and Catherine (Comer) O'Keane's second cousin, Thomas James Walsh, became a lawyer and eventually a four-term US Senator from Montana.

Thomas Walsh moved from Wisconsin to the Dakotas and then to Montana where he worked as a lawyer in a large Irish community that was there because of the need for workers in the mining areas of Montana. Senator Walsh later became famous for his investigation of the "Teapot Dome scandals." He helped write the Eighteenth amendment (prohibition) and Nineteenth amendment (women's right to vote) and worked for the abolition of child labor. Senator Walsh died mysteriously in 1933 while aboard a train heading for Washington, D. C., to accept the appointment as Attorney General in President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Cabinet.

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In an interesting connection, our Flynn cousin, Sue Boelk, who has an extensive Boelk and Flynn family tree on Ancestry.com, corresponded online with Patrick McGinley from County Galway, Ireland, who is related to our Prendergast family line in County Mayo. Patrick is a history buff who knew the entire story of Senator Walsh and emailed the details of the mysterious death of Senator Walsh. Patrick firmly believes the theory that Senator Walsh was murdered aboard the train. He also noted that all of Senator Walsh's State documents and papers disappeared at the same time. He believes it was on the direct order of the man Thomas Walsh planned to sack the following week---J. Edgar Hoover.

In 1955, Catherine (Comer) O'Keane's daughter, Josephine, wrote a biography of Senator Walsh entitled "Thomas J. Walsh: A Senator from Montana" (Marshall Jones Co. Publishers, Francestown, New Hampshire). I was able to purchase a used, autographed copy of the 284-page book and it is an interesting read, in addition to giving a little more information on the Comer family.

Which brings us back to Terence's widow, Catherine (Comer) O'Keane, and her two daughters, Josephine and Helen Grace.

A 1927 online U.S. City Directories (1822-1995) listing has "O'Keane Cath (wid Terence)" and "O'Keane Josephine bkpr Giese Creamery Co" both residing at "h401 S. 30th" in Billings, Montana. Another listing, but undated, in the same U.S. City Directories, has "O'Keane Josephine at 319 N 33d" in Billings, Montana listed under the Public Accountants section. The 1930 US Census has Josephine as the head-of-household and Catherine as a resident in Billings, Yellowstone County, Montana. Josephine is listed as a school teacher and Helen Grace is listed as an office stenographer.

Josephine appeared in several newspaper articles that were discovered by the Chicago genealogist, Nancy:

• A 1954 article: "Miss Josephine O'Keane of 319 N. 33rd St. is the author of an article, 'Strange Story of a Famous Sword,' that appears in the June issue of The Irish Digest. The article is a sketch of early Montana history in connection with the sword of Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher."
• Undated article: "From Bowler comes word of an experience of Miss Josephine O'Keane, daughter of Mrs. C. O'Keane of this city, who is teaching in a Carbon  county school. Before six the morning after last week's bitter blizzard, Miss O'Keane heard a rap at the door and opened it to find a wanderer in the talons of the frost king. He was weak from all night's exposure and badly frozen. With rare presence of mind, the teacher ministered first aid and in due time got him on his way to the hospital at Red Lodge where he is doing nicely."
• A 1933 article: "Cortege Train To Be In Billings Tonight" "Billings, March 7, AP, The body of Senator T. J. Walsh will be met on its arrival here tomorrow night by Miss Josephine O'Keane, a second cousin. The train bearing the body is scheduled to arrive over the Northern Pacific at 11:59 p.m., and will leave 16 minutes later for Helena."

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A Seattle, King County, State of Washington marriage certificate, dated December 10, 1920, has Helen G. O'Keane of Columbus, Montana marrying Harold J. Carney of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 07 December 1920 at St. James Cathedral, 9th and Marion [Streets], Seattle, Washington. Bartholomew J. Saunders and Mary Bouchy are listed as witnesses and the officiating clergyman is a Catholic priest named Rev. A. McHugh.

There is a Michael Carney, listed as an early settler of  Catherine (Comer) O'Keane's hometown of the Town of Cato in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, whose family line could include this Harold, but research has not been done to determine this.

The 1930 US Census also has a Grace Carney as head-of-household, at age 35, with a Deane Carney, at age 8, as her son. The Census lists Grace as married and employed as a stenographer. The census lists "Harold Deane Carney" as being born in the State of Washington and his father being born in Wisconsin. The 1940 US Census has Grace Carney and Harold Deane Carney living in Los Angeles. California voter registration lists from 1944 and 1956 have Harold J. Carney and Mrs. Grace Carney living at the same address in Los Angeles. Harold's occupation is listed as "Clerk." The California Death Index has a Helen G Okeane, born on 19 December 1897 in Illinois, mother's maiden name is Comer, dying on 09 August 1969 in Los Angeles, California.

Harold J. Carney is assumed to be the father and Harold Deane "Deane" Carney is assumed to be the son. Helen Grace's husband Harold J. and her son, Harold Deane, remain a mystery thus far. Helen Grace's use of her maiden name on the California Death Index (1940-1997) suggests some type of separation or death in the relationship with her husband Harold. The California death index has a Harold D. Carney with a DOB of 23 January 1922 in Washington State and a DOD of 18 May 1970 in Los Angeles. So, this may be a dead end part of the story.

Catherine (Comer) O'Keane's certificate of death from Billings, Yellowstone County, Montana has her date of death as 31 January 1933. The principal cause of death was given as influenza, with an onset of 05 December 1933. Contributory causes were arteriosclerosis and cardi-renal disease. Her date of birth was listed as 01 May 1854 and she died at the age of 78 years, 8 months and 30 days. Her birthplace was listed as Valders, Wisconsin. Her parent's names were Peter Comer and Brigid Burke, both born in County Mayo, Ireland. Josephine O'Keane was listed as the informant.

The 1940 US Census has Josephine as the head-of-household in Billings, Yellowstone County, Montana. Josephine Catherine O'Keane's certificate of death from Billings, Yellowstone County, Montana has her date of death as 11 April 1961. The cause of death was listed as adeno-carcinoma pancreas, with the condition known as onset five years previously. Her date of birth is listed as 27 March 1889 and she died at the age of 72. Her occupation was listed as bookkeeper for a ladies wear business. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and her parents were Terrance O'Keane and Catherine Comer. She was single, never married. The informant was Grace Carney of Los Angeles, California.

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The "Find-A-Grave" person who memorialized Catherine's burial information clarified a double listing for Catherine's burial site that was initially confusing. A Katherine O'Keane was listed as being buried in Calvary Cemetery in Billings, Yellowstone County, Montana, according to the Find-A-Grave memorial, with the date of death as 31 January 1933. But, there was also a Catherine O'Keane buried in Mountview Cemetery in Billings, Yellowstone County, Montana, according to a Find-A-Grave memorial with the date of death as 06 February 1963. Josephine O'Keane is also buried in Mountview Cemetery in Billings, Yellowstone County, Montana, with a date of death as 11 April 1961, according to Find-A-Grave. In email correspondence recently with the lady who entered the information on Find-A-Grave, I asked her to check out the conflicting information and she discovered that Catherine's remains were transferred from Calvary to Mountview Cemetery so that she could be buried with her daughter, Josephine.

A will and codicil for Catherine (Comer) O'Keane turned up on the Ancestry.com website. The will is dated 19 February 1923 and the codicil is dated 05 February 1925. The codicil revokes a particular bequest in the will and directs money to be expended by her executrix, Catherine Josephine O'Keane, for Masses for the souls in purgatory. There is a new bequest for her grandson, Dean Carney to be held in trust by his mother, Helen Grace (O'Keane) Carney, until the age of twenty-one years. (Note that the legal name on this record has Josephine O'Keane listed as "Catherine Josephine" O'Keane.)

A family mystery is dad's (James Joseph O'Keane's) explanation that a "Julia Colmer" was Terence's wife as shown in the photo to the right. The photo is from a Wilson photo studio, located at 389 State Street, Chicago. That's dad's handwriting at the bottom of the photo. It always seemed strange that he would find it necessary to explain this relationship, as if someone might give a different spouse's name---which appears to be the actual case. Interestingly, the John Von Haden book of Milwaukee Archdiocese records notes in its cemetery records section for St. Columba-Lake Five for Terence O'Keane that he was married to Julia Colmer. The source of who provided those records is not included. So, whether there was divorce, annulment, double marriage or other factors has not been determined. Julia Colmer has not appeared in record searches so far.

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F. James O'Keane, born 15 November 1854, died 21 August 1942, married Anna Kiley (born 10 March 1859, died 23 July 1921). They are shown in the photo on the right. They are both buried at St. Columba Cemetery, "Lake Five," Village of Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin.

The Latter Day Saints (LDS) (Mormon) film # 1871065, item 7 record lists the baptism of James O'Keane on 26 November 1854, son of Mathew O'Keane and Catharine (nee Prendergast) with James Murphy and Mary Kenealy as sponsors and Rev. Patrick Kernan officiating. Their children are:

+ Catherine M. O'Keane (24 February 1886-06 September 1973) who marries John Michael Sheehan (1880-1957), also listed on some records as Michael John. Catherine and John's children are: 

• Olive Sheehan (21 March 1913-1937) who remained single & died at age 24
• Lester Sheehan (1910-1983) who marries Rose Beck (1914-2005)
• Anna "Ann" Sheehan ( - ) who marries John Brockner ( - )
• Gerald "Gerry" Sheehan ( - ) who marries Beverly ____ ( - )

+ Viola O'Keane (07 November 1887-o5 February 1977) who remains single

+ Ellen "Nellie" Elizabeth O'Keane (22 February 1890-07 April 1980) who marries Joseph "Joe" John Whelan (08 February 1886-11 June 1957) of the "Holy Hill Whelans." Their children are:

• Margaret Mary Whelan (26 November 1915-30 January 2002) who marries Dean Kellogg (1916-31 May 1984)
• John "Jack" Whelan ( 21 September 1917-10 April 2011) who marries Mary Louise Marceilles (1917-19 December 2014)
• ___(living)___ who marries Howard "Howie" Beach ( -2018)
• James "Jimmy" Whelan (1921-21 February 2017) who marries __(living)__
• Joan Whelan (28 February 1923-29 October 1980) who remained single
• Cecilia "Ceil" Whelan (17 September 1924-15 August 1973) who marries Robert Risch (-23 August 1995)
• Patricia "Patti" Whelan (29 December 1925-28 March 1998) who marries Eugene "Gene" Timmel ( - 10 March 2000)
• Rosemary Whelan (18 February 1928-30 March 2007) who marries __(living)__
• Terese "Terry" Whelan (13 June 1930 - 20 April 2020) who marries Kenneth "Kenny" Young ( -14 Sep 1980)

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+ Florence O'Keane (04 October 1892-22 June 1977) who marries Everett "Ev" Whelan (14 April 1899-20 July 1960) of "the Monches Whelans" on 20 November 1937; they have no children

+ James Joseph O'Keane (26 April 1895-25 June 1990) who marries Ruth Myra Reis (29 November 1910-10 January 2004) on 25 May 1935 at the St. Johns-Monches Rectory; they have four children: 

• Mary (died at birth) (30 June 1936 - 30 June 1936), 
• __(living)__, 
• Kathleen O'Keane (15 March 1942 - 1994) and 
• __(living)__

+ Francis Edward O'Keane (07 September 1898-20 November 1963) who marries Irma E. Loew (04 September 1907-15 March 1990); they have three children:

• __(living)__
• __(living)__
• __(living)__

+ John "Jack" Richard O'Keane (10 January 1901-27 May 1991) who marries Antoinette "Tootie" Marie Olinger (08 May 1905-28 November 2000); they have one daughter:

• Mary (O'Keane) Kearns (12 June 1937 - 16 August 2012)

Here are several more records on the family:

The Latter Day Saints (LDS) (Mormon) film # 1871065, item 9 record for the marriage of James O'Keane and Anna Kiley: "I joined in matrimony on the 3rd of June 1885, James O'Keane, son of Mathew O'Keane and Catherine Pendergast [sic] and Anna Kiley, daughter of Michael Kiley and Mary Kirby. Witnesses James Flynn and Alice McCartan; Rev. J. E. Harlin."

The Hartford Times with a "Lake Five correspondent: noted in a 02 May 1895 column: "One day last week our people were surprised at the melodious strains of music that filled the air. No time was lost in investigating the matter when it was found that a bouncing young son was born to Mr. and Mrs. James O'Keane and Jim, to give vent to his great joy, produced the angelic selections which had been so greatly wafted to our ears." (Probably, a very true story after their first four children were daughters---and now, finally, a son was born to possibly take over the family farm later in life.)

The 1900 US Census has James O Keane, age 43, and Anna O Keane, age 41, residing in the Town of Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin. Their children are also listed as follows: Katie M. O Keane, age 14, Viola A. O Keane, age 12, Nellie E. O Keane, age 10, Florence A. O Keane, age 7, James J. O Keane, age 5, and Francis E. O Keane, age 1. (Their seventh child, John "Jack" will not be born until 1901.)

The 1905 Wisconsin Census has James age 49, and Anna O'Keane, age 46, residing in Richfield Township, along with Cathie O'Keane, age 19, Viola O'Keane, age 17, Nellie O'Keane, age 15, Florence O'Keane, age 12, James O'Keane, age 10, Francis O'Keane, age 7, and John O'Keane, age 4.

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A June 26, 1914 article in the Hartford Times told about Nellie (O'Keane) Whelan's wedding: "A very pretty wedding occurred Wednesday morning June 24th, at half past nine at St. Columbus' [sic] Catholic church at Lake Five, when Joseph Whelan of Holy Hill and Miss Nellie O'Keane of Lake Five were united in marriage by the Rev. Father Friemann. The bride wore a beautiful gown of white crepe meteor and shadow lace and carried a bouquet of sweet peas and lilies of the valley. She was attended by Miss Mayme Whelan, sister of the bridegroom, and Miss Florence O'Keane, sister of the bride. Both attendants wore pretty dresses of crepe de chine and carried sweet peas. The bridegroom was attended by his brother William, and James O'Keane, a brother of the bride. After the ceremony a reception was held at the home of the parents of the bride, Mr. and Mrs. James O'Keane, only nearest relatives being present. The young couple left the same day for Mankato, Minn., where they will spend their honeymoon. On their return they will make their home on the farm of the groom, in the vicinity of Holy Hill. The bride is an accomplished young lady of pleasing manner and liked by all who know her. The groom is a young man of model habits and held in highest esteem by all who know him. He is enterprising and a good citizen. We extend our best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Whelan for many years of happiness."

A November 26, 1937 Hartford Times article told about Florence (O'Keane) Whelan's wedding: "Florence O'Keane and Everett Whelan, the former a Plat young woman, and the latter a resident of Monches at one time, took the vows of wedlock last Saturday, November 20 in a service at St. Columba's church, Plat [sic]. The nuptial Mass was read at 9 o'clock by the Rev. Lincoln Whelan, a brother of the groom, who is the assistant pastor at St. Raphael's church, Madison. The attendants were Miss Margaret Whelan, a niece of the bride, and Erwin Whelan, a friend of the groom. Miss O'Keane, who is the daughter of James O'Keane, Plat, is a teacher in one of the Milwaukee schools, while the groom is an employee at the Allis-Chalmers plant, that city. They will make their home in Milwaukee. The groom is the son of the late Mrs. and Mrs. Peter Whelan of Monches."

Dad told me a little of Jack and Tootie's background when there was to be their 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration as part of a Whelan get-together at Bob and Rosemary (Whelan) Tittelfitz's place. I can remember writing personal lyrics to the tune of the song "East Side, West Side" ("The Sidewalks of New York") that were handed out and sung that day. It included noting that Jack drove a "wire-rimmed Chevy" to court Tootie. They were married at St. Elizabeth's Church in Milwaukee. Tootie's sister, Cele Olinger and Jack's brother, Francis, were their witnesses for the marriage ceremony. Tootie took in a lot of foster children as infants over the years. They lived in Milwaukee initially, then moved to a home in Greendale that had been moved out to what was then an almost rural area. I was impressed that Jack was a natural musician who could play the trumpet, violin and banjo---all "by ear," never learning a musical note. He would play in local bands in Milwaukee nightclubs, but Tootie never liked him being in "those places" so he soon retired from that night time work and stuck to his work at the Allis-Chalmers factory. After retirement, they moved out to the Whelan farm on Emerald Drive and rented there for several years. Their last home was an apartment in Slinger, Wisconsin.

Obituary for Mrs. James O'Keane: "Mrs. James O'Keane (Anna, nee: Kiley), Hartford Times, 05 August 1921, Special to The Times from Lake Five correspondent: 'For the first time, death entered the home of James O'Keane at Plat when on Saturday evening, July 23 [sic], the loving wife and mother passed away in eternal sleep after a short illness. The deceased had been in good health up to three weeks prior to her death, and at which time it was discovered that cancer had begun its deadly work.

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In spite of every effort of medical attention and tenderly nursing hands to ease her suffering, all was in vain and her soul departed to the home for which she had made a lifetime preparation. Anna Kiley was born on a farm in the Town of Richfield, one-half mile from her late home on March 10, 1859, and at the time of her demise had reached the age of 62 years, 4 months and 12 days. At the age of 16 she went to Fond du lac where she took a course in sewing, and her home and many neighboring homes bear evidence of her skill in this area. A few years later she taught school in her home district for two years. She was united in marriage to James O'Keane, the sacred ceremony taking place at St. Columba's church at Lake Five on June 3, 1885. To this happy union were born seven children, as follows: Katharine (Mrs. John Sheehan of  Colgate), Nellie (Mrs. Joseph Whelan of Holy Hill) and Viola, Florence, James, Francis and John, all at home. The deceased also leaves seven grandchildren, one sister, Mrs Ed. McCartan, of Lake Five, and three brothers, John, James and Michael Kiley, all of Plat, one brother Matthew, having preceded her in death 10 years ago. Mrs. O'Keane was a type of rare womanhood and to her friends and neighbors she was all that could be desired, ever considerate and thoughtful of the rights of others. Although she has departed from this world, she leaves a void which can never be filled, and the many friends of the surviving family join them in sympathy over their deep affliction. The funeral, the largest ever seen in this locality, was held from St. Columba's church, of which she was a faithful and lifelong member. Rev. Greenwall officiated at the last sad rites. Interment was made in the adjoining cemetery. That the deceased was beloved by all was shown by the large and many beautiful floral offerings sent by many sympathizing friends.' "

James O'Keane obituary: (Menomonee Falls News, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, 27 August 1942) "James O'Keane, 87, Passes Away at Plat" "James O'Keane, 87, retired farmer of the town of Erin [sic; should be Town of Richfield], passed away at his home at Plat on Friday, August 22. He was born in that vicinity and had lived there his life time. Surviving Mr. O'Keane are three sons, James, Francis, and John; four daughters, Viola O'Keane, Mrs. Nellie Whelan, Mrs. Katherine Shean [sic; should be "Sheehan"] and Mrs. Florence Whelan; one sister, Mrs. Ann Flynn and 18 grandchildren. Funeral services were held Monday, August 24 from the residence at Plat at 9:45 a.m. to St. Columba's church at Lake Five, the Rev. Restle officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.

According to my father, James J. O'Keane, Grandfather's death was the result of being kicked by a heifer that they were attempting to get loaded onto a truck to sell. His hip was broken and he died of complications from this injury.

Wisconsin Death Index (1959-1977): OKEANE VIOLA A, age 89, on 05 Feb 1977 in Waukesha County, Village of Menomonee Falls.

Wisconsin Death Index (1959-1997): OKEANE FRANCIS E, age 65, 20 November 1963 in Waukesha County, City of Waukesha

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Patrick Flynn & Catherine (McCartan) Flynn---                  The Flynn Homestead

Edward and Michael's parents                                             north of Plat

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G. Anne "Annie" O'Keane The Latter Day Saints (LDS) (Mormon) film #1871065, item 7 for St. John's Monches, Waukesha County, Wisconsin has the baptismal record for Anne, daughter of Mathew O'Keane and Catherine (nee Prendergast), born on the 13th [of November 1856]. Her sponsors were Michael Fahey and Maria Stenson, and the service was officiated by Rev. Frances Stenson.

Anne "Annie" O'Keane (13 November 1856-25 July 1948) and Edward Flynn (21 May 1853-07 April 1929) marriage record is also on the Latter Day Saints (LDS) (Mormon) film #1871065, under item 8: On the 14th of November 1883, joined in matrimony, Edward, son of Patrick Flynn and Catherine (nee McCartan), and Anna, daughter of Mathew O'Keane Catherine (nee Prendergast), whose witnesses were James Flynn and Elizabeth O'Keane, officiated by Rev. Eugen Reilly [and took place at St. John's Monches]. Edward Flynn was born on 21 May 1853 and died on 07 April 1929 at his home in Lake Five, Washington County, Wisconsin. Edward is the son of Patrick Flynn and Catherine (McCartan) Flynn who were early settlers to the Plat area.

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Anne "Annie" (O'Keane) Flynn and Edward Flynn had eight children:

+ Joseph Edward Flynn (27 August 1884-1956) who married Leone (Ripple) Flynn; their children are Thomas and Grace. Grace married Theodore Pollock.

+ William Patrick Flynn (February 1888-1959) who married Ann (Busch) Flynn; their children are Rosemary, Edward, William and Tim

+ Walter Thomas Flynn (13 October 1892-16 November 1965) who married Catherine (Claffey) Flynn; their children are __(living)__ who married Mary "Toots" Kohl ( - ), __(living)__ who married John "Jack" Beier) and Kathleen Ann ( -)

+ George Raymond "Raymond" Flynn (22 February 1898-1929) single; died at age 31)

+ Mary Jane (Flynn) Boelk (24 October 1890-1985) who married Walter Boelk; their children are Kathleen (who married Joe Burrus), James (who married Billy June Scott), William (who married Virginia Kopper) Richard (who married Gloria Obenmeier), Roger (who married Jan Stich), Monty (who married Bill Havel), Edward (who married Helen Kromquest) and Nancy

+ Kathryn M. "Katie" (Flynn) Walsh (20 February 1895- ) who married John Walsh; their children are Thomas, Mary Jane (who married George Woelfel) and Joan

+ Eugene Flynn (08 March 1886-15 May 1887) single; died at age 1 year, 2 months

+ Francis Flynn (1897- ) little information; died in infancy?

Sue Boelk, a descendant of the Walter Boelk and Mary Jane (Flynn) Boelk family, has a complete "Boelk Family Tree" available online on Ancestry.com that includes the Flynn's. (Remember that you can usually access Ancestry.com for free by using the computers at your public library.)

The Flynn homestead is located just north of the village of Plat at 601 Plat Road. This is where Patrick Flynn and Catherine (McCartan) Flynn settled when they came to America. Edward and Anne purchased a farm south of Plat and were considered to be more in the "Lake Five" area.

Mrs. Anne (O'Keane) Flynn obituary: Menomonee Falls News, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, 29 July 1948; "Lake Five Pioneer Dies at Age of 91" "Mrs. Anna Flynn (nee O'Keane) aged 91 passed away Sunday, July 25th [1948] at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Katherine Walsh in the town of Hartford. Her death came after an illness of four years. She was born in the town of Richfield, November 13, 1856 and spent her life time in that vicinity. Surviving are her children, Joseph, William, Mrs. Mary Boelk, Walter and Mrs. Katherine Walsh; also 19 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Funeral services were held, Wednesday, July 28th at 9:15 a.m. from the Haack Funeral Home to St. Columba's church, Lake Five at 10 a.m. Interment was in the church cemetery.

Edward is also buried at St. Columba Cemetery, "Lake Five," Village of Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin.

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H. Catherine "Kitty" O'Keane The Latter Day Saints (LDS) (Mormon) film #1871065, item 7 at St. John's, Monches, Waukesha County, Wisconsin has the baptismal record, held at St. Columba, Lake Five, for Catherine O'Keane, baptized on the 17th of September [1858], daughter of Mathew O'Keane and Catherine (nee Prendergast), whose sponsors were William Fahey and Margaret Cosgrove, with [Rev.] John Tieman officiating.

Catherine "Kitty" O'Keane (01 September 1858-27 February 1942) marries Michael Flynn. Michael was born 16 December 1840 in Providence, Rhode Island and died 25 September 1926. He was the brother of "Annie" (O'Keane) Flynn's husband, Edward Flynn. They are both buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with a family headstone that also includes their children: Agnes, Mark, Ralph and John.

Catherine "Kitty" (O'Keane) Flynn and Michael Flynn had  seventeen children:

+ "Agnes" (Catherine Agnes) Flynn (12 March 1880-1970)

+ Ann "Annie (Flynn) Clark (28 April 1881-1964) who married John Clark; their children were Joseph (who married Ruth Boyer), Gayle Elizabeth (who married James Busch), Joy Ann (who married David Stone) and Colleen Catherine

+ Michael Henry Flynn (31 July 1886-27 February 1971) who married Ella (Gauger) Flynn; their child was Patricia (who married Bill Greene)

+ George Francis Flynn Sr. (16 June 1888-07 February 1923) who married Mary "Mamie" (Mathews) Flynn; their children were George Francis Jr., Catherine Mary "Nan" (who married Raphael "Ray" Walsh), Joseph Francis (who married Mary Cecilia Kirtchen), Margaret Evelyn (who married Robert Custer), Robert Henry (who married Stephanie Ann ((Heinen)) Flynn)

+ James Patrick Flynn (20 March 1890-14 April 1976), who married Lillian (Bucholz) Flynn; their children were Patrick (who married Alice Stark), Marion (who married William Landwehr), James Jr., and Kathleen (who married Norbert Oleske)

+ Mark Flynn (25 July 1892-1935) single; died at age 43

+ Joseph Ralph "Ralph" Flynn (06 August 1894-1923) single; died at age 29; family headstone notes: Private, Company A, 1st Infantry

+ Frances Mary Flynn (07 July 1891-07 July 1891) died at birth

+ Austin Flynn (04 December 1895 - ) twin to Rose; who married Lenore (May) Flynn; their children were Larry (who married Mary Ann Dondlinger) and Maureen

+ Rose Flynn (04 December 1895-24 July 1985) twin to Austin; single

+ Mary Ellen "Mae" (Flynn) Gavigan (18 August 1884-1974) who married John "Jack" Gavigan; their children were Mary Patricia (who married Ralph Frederiksen) and Kathryn Ann (who married Paul Joseph Wingert)

+ Loretta (Flynn) McCartan (17 May 1897-1979) who married Edward McCartan; their children were Edward (who married Mary May), __(living)__ (who married Earl Gilgenbach), Mary Joan (who married Ted Kieliszewski) and John (who married Rosemary Wahl)

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+ Richard Flynn (20 December 1902-06 November 1977) who married Dorothy (Freisch) Flynn; their children were Gerald (who married Florence Dobroski), Richard (who married Charlotte Snyder), Mary Rose (who married Henry Zacher), Judy (who married Ken Moshinsky and then Jerry Sanders) and Catherine "Kathy" (who married Dave Dziedzic)

+ Marion (Flynn) Weiss (24 April 1899-1926), who married George Weiss; their children were William Francis (who married Elizabeth Haendel), Austin George (who married Delores Victoria Banaszynski), Gregory John (who married Patricia Marilyn Croasdaile), Nancy Rita (who married William Anthony Dutton) and George Phillip (who married Mary Latsoudis)

+ Genevieve (Flynn) Markey (27 September 1901- ) (twin to Jerome) who married Frank Markey; their children were Patrick (who married Terry Hoffman and then Mary Lanza), Daniel (who married Marlene Kramar and then Betty ____), Catherine and Terrence (who married Anne Marie Wendt)

+ Jerome (27 September 1901 - ) (twin to Genevieve); little information; died in infancy?

+ John Edward Flynn (15 October 1882-1946); family headstone notes: Private, Company B, 3rd Engineers

Before eventually moving to Milwaukee, Michael and Catherine lived at the original Flynn homestead north of Plat that was described earlier. As noted earlier in this history, there is a marriage to a "Clark" in the Flynn family line just like there is a "Clark" marriage in the Prendergast family line. Michael and Catherine's daughter, Anne, marries "John Clark" as noted above. James and Mary Jane (O'Keane) (Cosgrove) Prendergast's daughter, Mary Jane "Mayme" marries Edward "Ed" Clark. Both families moved to California.

I. Elizabeth Ellen "Eliza" O'Keane "Eliza" was born on 15 November 1862. She married Charles Edward Fleming on 05 February 1890 at St. John's Monches. She died on 26 August 1920 at Waukesha Municipal Hospital, Waukesha, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Charles Edward Fleming was born in 1863 and died 06 August 1957. The Wisconsin Historical Society Marriage Record Vol. 3, p. 346 notes: "Lizia" [sic; should be "Eliza" or Elizabeth] Ellen O'Keane, Waukesha County, marriage date: 05 February 1890.

As mentioned at the beginning of this family history, two Fleming descendants, Jean Fleming Miller and Kathleen Fleming Griffin, shared information on their family and on the Prendergast line in Ireland. The following information comes from some of their records.

The oldest known ancestor of the Fleming's is Patrick Fleming who lived in Tinnymuck, County Westmeath, Ireland with his wife who was a Lally. Their son, John J. Fleming Senior (1808-1889) married Bridget Claffey (1817-09 February 1888) in 1833, and they came to the US in 1837, sailing from Liverpool with their son, John Junior (1837-1887) who was six months old.

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John Sr. and Bridget had four more children in the US. They were Michael (1839 - ) who married Kathryn Riley, Charles Sylvester (1844-1915) who married Bridget Dunn, Kathryn (1848 - ) who married Michael Golden and Thomas Fleming (1850- ). John Fleming Sr. worked on the Erie Canal before moving on to Wisconsin. In 1842, he acquired a land grant from the government in Washington County, near Lake Five. The farm is located on the northwest corner of the intersection of State Road 164 and Monches Road, just east of Plat.

John Fleming Jr. married Ann Flynn, the daughter of Patrick and Catherine (McCartan) Flynn. Ann is the sister of the Michael Flynn and Edward Flynn who married the two O'Keane sisters, Anna and Catherine, described earlier. John and Ann had the following seven children: Michael Henry Fleming 1865-1888), Mary E. Fleming (1870-1953), Margaret Fleming (1870-1959), Joseph Fleming (1872-1909), Charles Edward Fleming (1863-1957), James Fleming (1874- ) and Katherine Fleming (1877-1961).

Charles Edward Fleming married Elizabeth Ellen "Eliza" O'Keane and had the following children:

+ John "Jack" Joseph Fleming (1890-1963) who never married. He served in World War I. He lived at the farm in the 1940's and, later on, spent his last year at the VA nursing home in Wood, Wisconsin. He had beautiful white, wavy hair and very blue eyes.

+ Mary Frances Fleming (1892-1979) who also never married. She had reddish-gold hair and blue eyes. She was a domestic, a nurse's aide, and accompanied an elderly man to Florida as his nurse. She returned to the farm after her mother died and cared for her father until his death in 1957. After her father ("Paw") died, she moved to Los Angeles and lived with her sister, Marie, until her death.

+ Martha Agnes (28 July 1894-28 October 1983) who married Charles Whiteing (1893-1976) when she was in her early 40's. Martha had raven black hair and brown eyes with very distinctive, almost bushy, eyebrows. She was a schoolteacher in Wisconsin and lived with students' families during the school year. In the late 1920's, she moved to Los Angeles where she met Charles.

+ Michael Mathew Fleming (1895-1918) who died of influenza as an enlisted soldier in World War I. He died in North Carolina and his father had to take the train to claim his body.

+ Charles Sylvester Fleming (1896-1976), called "Sylvester," who never married. He was a larger man, somewhat balding as he got older and very quiet. He was an attorney in Milwaukee and lived alone. He gave Christmas gifts to each one of the grandchildren each year---very nice gifts.

+ James Marquette Fleming (07 December 1898-18 January 1995) was called "Marquette" for many years, although "Jim" in later years. He married Victoria Degenefe (1899-1959). He was a schoolteacher for some years, having completed his training as had Martha at a Normal School (a teacher preparation college). After his teaching career, he sold appliances in Milwaukee and then moved to Los Angeles around 1947. He built a home in East LA, sent at least his two younger children to college and sold "Extension" magazine and, later, ads for church bulletins. At about age 90, he began to have health problems---a heart attack and some memory problems. He moved in with his sister, Marie (Anne Marie) at Park La Brea in Los Angeles.

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Jim had blue eyes and became bald, although he reportedly had beautiful, black hair when young. Their children are __(living)__, __(living)__ and __(living)__.

+ Catherine Blanche Fleming (1900-1975) was called "Blanche." She was a redhead and a fairly quiet woman who married Fred Fisler. Fred was an attorney who became a domestic judge in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Their daughter, Kay, married _______ and they lived in Chicago, Illinois. Blanche became very deaf and senile as she aged and ended up moving to a nursing home.

+ Anne Marie (29 March 1902-16 September 1996) was called "Marie." She also was a redhead who moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1940's. She worked for the telephone company and was promoted to management several years before she retired so that she retired with very nice pension benefits. She cared for her close friend Gladys Kamps, who had moved out to LA with her. She proceeded to also care for her sister Mary, her sister Martha and even Gladys' sister, Dot Kamps McDermott, until their deaths. She then cared for her brother, Jim.

+ Daniel Sarto Fleming (29 September 1905-1968) who married Dorothy Birkholtz (1910-1985). He was a dairy salesman living in Milwaukee.

+ Paul Edward Fleming (29 June 1908-2004) who married Jean Fons (1915-2004).

I always enjoyed the story that dad (James J. O'Keane) told about the Fleming farm being on the trail that the Native Americans---Chief Monches and his tribe---followed when traveling between their winter home in the Monches area and their summer home in the Green Bay and Fox River Valley areas to the north. By past experience, Charles and Eliza knew the Native Americans would sort of poke around the outbuildings as they came through and, from time-to-time, take something along like a corn knife or other small item.

To sort of provide a "peace offering," Eliza was said to have made a fresh pie when word came that the Native Americans would be traveling through and set it in an open window to cool. Traditionally, someone would consider the pie a gift of sorts and take it along on the journey.

Mrs. Charles Fleming obituary in the West Bend News, West Bend, Wisconsin, 03 September 1930: "Mrs. Charles Fleming" "Mrs. Charles Fleming, who was formerly Elizabeth Ellen O'Keane of the town of Richfield, died Tuesday evening, August 26 [, 1930], at 10:45 o'clock at the Waukesha Municipal hospital. Mrs. Fleming had been ailing for the past year with heart trouble and on the morning preceding her demise she had been operated on at the hospital because of a blood clot which necessitated the amputation of her right leg. However, death came to relieve her of her suffering. She had attained the age of 68 years. Mrs. Fleming was born November 15, 1862, in the town of Richfield where she lived all her life. She was married to Charles Fleming on February 5, 1890. Besides the grief-stricken husband she leaves nine children, namely: John and Mary at home; Martha of Los Angeles; Charles of South Milwaukee and Marquette, Blanche, Marie, Sarto and Edward, all of Milwaukee. One son, Michael, died in army camp in 1918. She also leaves three sisters, Mrs. Katherine Flynn of Milwaukee, Mrs. Anna Flynn of Lake Five, and Mrs Mary Prendergast of Lake Five. One brother, James O'Keane of Lake Five also survives her."

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The funeral was held at 10 o'clock Friday morning at St. Columba at Lake Five, the Rev. A. Grace officiating. Interment was made in the cemetery adjoining the church. Her daughter Martha of Los Angeles, in order to attend the funeral, flew to Chicago by airplane from where she took a train to arrive in time for the last sad rites. Mrs. Fleming was the very personification of excellent womanhood. She was a kind and loving wife and mother and her memory will be deeply revered by her family and the numerous friends with whom she came in contact."

Mr. Charles E. Fleming obituary (unknown source and date): "Death claimed one of the old-time residents of Washington County when Charles E. Fleming of Lake Five, in the Township of Richfield, passed away at his farm homestead on Tuesday, August 6, 1957, at the age of 93 years, seven months and 25 days. The deceased lived all his life on the farm homestead at Lake Five, which had been originally settled upon and obtained by government patent by his grandfather, John Fleming, who had first emigrated to the Buffalo Lockport region of New York from Westmeath County, Ireland, in 1837. The father of the deceased, also named John Fleming, was known in the Lake Five community as one of the early horse-drawn threshing machine operators, which he operated in partnership with his brother-in-law, Michael Flynn, of the same locality. His father was later killed in 1877 as a Soo Line engineer in a train wreck in Minnesota's sparsely settled frontier territory. The deceased retained a keen and active mind until the last, and had a vivid memory of the historic events that transpired during his lifetime. Among his earlier recollections were the sight of the last remnants of the Indian tribes which in reduced numbers passed over the farm homestead in the late 1860's on their fishing trips to the neighboring lake regions, and of helping his grandfather carry the passenger pigeons he had so easily shot as provisions for the family table, while they flew by in great multitudes. The wife of the deceased, Elizabeth Ellen O'Keane, a member of another pioneer family of the region, preceded him in death August 26, 1930. Surviving are the following children: James M. and Miss Marie of Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Blanche Fisler of Green Bay; Charles S., Sarto and Edward of Milwaukee. Also two sisters: Margaret Fleming of Ozanam Home, Milwaukee; and Mrs. Katherine Riley of Long Beach, California. Also, fifteen grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many other relatives. One son, Michael, died in service during World War I. Mr. Fleming was a lifetime member of St. Columba's Catholic Church of Lake Five and a member of its Holy Name Society. Funeral services were conducted from the Haack funeral home at Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, on Friday morning, August 9, with the funeral Mass at St. Columba's church at 10:00 a.m. Father McLaughlin, the local priest of the parish, conducted the funeral Mass, with Father Adrian Trost, a former pastor of St. Columba's and Father Lincoln Whelan of Joan of Arc church in attendance. A large number of old neighbors, relatives and friends attended the burial services and the parish vigil conducted at the funeral home on the preceding night. Interment was made in the family plot in adjoining St. Columba's cemetery."

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