Keegan, Edward J.

KEEGAN, COMISKEY, RICKE, FLEEGE

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 1/4/2010 at 19:22:43

History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Vol.II, 1912, p.98

Edward J. Keegan, who engages in the livery business in Williams, is one of Hamilton County's self-made men, such success as has come to him being the direct result of his own diligence and enterprise. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, on the 28th of November, 1881, and is a son of John and Mary (Comiskey) Keegan.
The parents were born, reared and married in Illinois, the father's birth having occurred in Putnam County, on the 27th of August, 1853, and that of the mother in La Salle County, that state. In 1883, they located on a farm in the vicinity of Streator, Illinois, remaining there until 1887, when they came to the city of Streator.
Here the mother passed away, but the father is still living and now makes his home with the subject of this sketch at Williams. Mr. and Mrs. Keegan had five children, the son Edward J. being the youngest. In order of birth the others are as follows : Frank, whose birth occurred on February 26, 1876, a resident of Louisville, Kentucky; John M., whose natal day was the 13th of August, of Covington, Kentucky; Maggie, who was born on the 18th of January, 1879, the wife of a Mr. Greenley, of Dubuque, Iowa; and Lydia, who was born in 1879, and died in that year.

Edward J. Keegan was a child of two years when his parents removed to Streator and a youth of sixteen when he came to Iowa.
Having been reared on a farm, he was early trained to agricultural pursuits and worked out as a farm hand in the vicinity of Williams, when he first came to Hamilton County. He subsequently purchased a dray line which he operated until 1911, when he and his brother-in-law, John Ricke, engaged in the livery business. They have one of the best equipped barns in the county, having not only a fine line of teams and vehicles of various kinds, but automobiles. They are both energetic, capable men, and are meeting with success in the development of their business. Mr. Keegan owns his residence and has other property interests in Williams.

The 7th of February, 1906, was the wedding day of Mr. Keegan and Miss Rose Ricke, who was born near East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, on the 18th of March, 1883, and is a daughter of Bernard and Theresa (Fleege) Ricke. The father was born in Freren, Hanover, Germany, on April 25, 1837, and emigrated to the United States in 1854. Here he subsequently met and married Miss Fleege, who was born in Lengerich, Hanover, on the 7th of October, 1842, and came to America with her family in 1846. They resided for some years in Illinois, coming from there to Hamilton County in 1884. Upon their arrival here they settled on a farm in this township, located four and a half miles north of Williams, which the father successfully cultivated until the spring of 1906, when he retired from active work and removed to Williams. Here he passed away on March 19, 1909, but the mother is still living and continues to make her home in Williams in the residence which they purchased when they first left the farm. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Ricke numbered twelve: Bernard, who was born on the 11th of August, 1860, and died at the age of four years; Henry, born on May 18, 1862, a resident of Kossuth County, Iowa; Mary, who was born on March 30, 1864, the wife of Henry Hendricks, of Jo Daviess County, Illinois; Christina, who was born May 15, 1866, now Mrs. Fred Engelking of Lyon County, Iowa; August, whose natal day was February 13, 1868, a resident of Lyon County; Frank, who was born on the 18th of February, 1870, a resident of Redwood County, Minnesota; William, who was born April l0, 1872, and died on the 8th of December, 1907; Clemmons, whose natal day was January 30, 1874, residing in Williams township; a son born on the 1st of May, 1876, who died in infancy; John, whose birth occurred January 18, 1878, engaged in business with Mr. Keegan; Theresa, who was born on July 20, 1880, now Mrs. Lutzke of Clarksville, Iowa; and Mrs. Keegan. The latter is the mother of one son, Everett William, who was born on March 25, 1908; and a daughter, Velora Agnes, whose natal day was May 5,1910.

Mr. and Mrs. Keegan are communicants of the Roman Catholic church and in politics he is a republican. He is a young man of more than average capability, and is making rapid and orderly progress in his business career, which gives every assurance of being a successful and highly creditable one.