Mr. Kerrin Keegan 1819-1896

KEEGAN, SMYTH, CROW, DOLPHIN, KINSELLA, MURPHY

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 12/15/2017 at 17:26:40

Cascade Pioneer, February 21, 1896, page 1, column 3

Death’s Insatiate Hand.

The death of the aged and infirm is so in the natural course of things that while it saddens it may not shock us as when one in the fullness of life, the zenith of strong manhood, is, without premonition struck down; yet it fills us with sorrow and regret when we realize that a familiar figure, respected and honored, after a long life of usefulness, passes from the realm of action and is no more. The final summons that called Kerrin Keegan to his eternal home last Saturday morning, when announced by the funeral knell, sent a sudden thrill of sadness through the community, though it was known that for weeks past his life bad been hanging by a slender thread.

Mr. Keegan was a man of strong mental and moral character, firm in his beliefs, decisive and just in his application of the rule of life, and his career was ever upright and honorable. He had a genial and happy side to his nature, and in reminiscence moments, was an interesting conversationalist and companion, but the last few years of his life were saddened by the terrible calamity that befell his favorite son John, who was killed near Fillmore on the narrow gauge railroad on the night of April 11, 1892, by a handcar operated by unknown persons. This unhappy end of his youngest child weighed heavily upon the father, and it might almost be literally said "that he never smiled again." To add to his burden of sorrow seventeen months later, or September 8, 1893, his wife died suddenly while seated in her arm-chair conversing with her husband and grand-daughter. Mr. Keegan never fully recovered from the shocks occasioned by these two visitations of death, and his decline from a robust physical condition was gradual and inevitable.

He was born in the town of Cloghan, Kings county, Ireland, in 1819, and was therefore 77 years of age. In 1837 he emigrated to the United States and resided in New York City six years. While a resident of the metropolis, (in the year 1841), he was married to Miss Margaret Smyth. From New York he went to New Orleans and in that city followed the occupation of a drayman for eleven years. In 1856 he came to Iowa and located in Whitewater township, Dubuque county, purchased a farm and entered upon the busy life of an agriculturalist, he was prosperous, and owned one of the largest and best improved farms in the county. Not only that, but of the surplus that he realized he assisted his sons Thomas and James in the purchase of their farms in Delaware county.

About 1890 Mr. Keegan and wife retired from the farm and took up their residence in Cascade.

Mr. Keegan is survived by three daughters and two sons: Mrs. Kate Crow, of Cascade; Mrs. Thomas Kinsella, of Cascade; Mrs. John Dolphin, of Prairieburg; Thomas and James Keegan, of Ryan, Delaware county. One of his daughters, now dead, was the wife of Captain Murphy, of the Dubuque city police.

The funeral took place from St. Martin's church Monday morning and was largely attended by friends and neighbors. Rev. L. Roche officiated in the last solemn rites over his respected and mourned parishioner.

Contributor:
Joseph Cahill