Keegan,James Sr 1822-1895&Catherine Sheehan w/son Michael

KEEGEN, SHEEHAN, MCGINN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 3/11/2022 at 18:05:39

Keegan, James Sr. 1822-1895 & Catherine Sheehan w/ son Michael’s Family
This story was taken from pages 104-105 of the Rock Valley St. Mary’s Catholic Church Book written for the centennial of the church in about 1982(?). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society, some additions were added by way of research by Wilma J. Vande Berg.

In 1886, JAMES KEEGAN and his wife, CATHERINE, came to Rock Valley from Petersville, Iowa. They were both born in Ireland. Both James and Catherine were returned to Petersville IA to be buried. Their children were: Michael, Julia (see John Hayden), Mary (see James Lowery) and James W.

1.MICHAEL was married in 1890 to Margaret McGinn at Petersville. They farmed the same farm northwest of Rock Valley owned by the Keegan family for 90 years. They were the parents of eight children: Raymond, Mae, Elizabeth, Elnora, William, John, Francis and Leo. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Keegan and four sons, Raymond, John, William and Francis are buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Rock Valley. Leo Keegan is buried in Martin, South Dakota.
Mae and Elizabeth taught school for many years in Iowa and are now retired in Sioux Falls. Elnora graduated from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Sioux City and worked for many years for the Veterans Administration in California. She is now retired and living in Santa Monica.
John Keegan was born in Rock Valley and married Francis Mann of Doon. John is deceased and Francis resides in Doon. They were the parents of ten children.
Donna and her husband, Jim Breuer, of Sheldon are the parents of ten children, Barbara of Storm Lake, Bonnie of Orange City, Kathy and Mary of Des Moines, Lori of Cherokee, Margaret of Sheldon, Jimmie of Portland, Oregon, Steven of Texas, Bill in the United States Air Force in England and Theresa of Cedar Falls.
Joe and his wife, Delores Zeutenhorst were members of St. Mary’s until they transferred to Alvord, Delores joined the church and their son, Paul made his First Communion in St. Mary’s. They reside in Doon with their five children, Paul, Jennifer, Alison, Molly and Matthew.
Pat married Mary Irons of South Sioux City and had two adopted children, Mark and Marta. Pat and Mary are both deceased.
Jack and his wife, Carol Raube, reside in Minneapolis with their three daughters, Susan, Patty and Amy.
Janet, Mrs. Mel Wilton, has two children, Pattie and Tom, and lives in Enid, Oklahoma.
Bill and his wife, Alice Van’t Hull of Rock Valley, and their two children, Rachelle and Michael, live in Doon.
Connie, Mrs. Louis Tysuer, lives in Storm Lake, Iowa with their three children, Tim, Tara and Tom.
Mary, Mrs. Dean Rosenberg, lives in Lake Crystal, Minnesota and has three children, Johnny, Anne and Sarah.
Francis M. Keegan and his wife, Elizabeth Whalen of Larchwood, were members of St. Mary’s until they moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After the death of her husband, Elizabeth moved to California. They were the parents of eight children, Kevin of Sioux Falls, Coleen Hess of Wichita, Kansas, and Tom, Terry, Pat, Michael, Dan and Judy of California.
Leo J. Keegan and his wife, Marion Bullard of Martin, South Dakota, were the parents of four children, Kenneth of Martin, South Dakota, Delores, Jean and Betty of Colorado.

2.JULIA KEEGAN born abt 1863 Mrs. John Hayden. There is a narrative in the St. Mary’s book on her family. Her obituary information is added herein:
From the Rock Valley Bee, December 21, 1928:
Mrs. John Hayden Died Wednesday
Mrs. John Hayden passed away at her home in Rock Valley Wednesday morning after a few days illness with pneumonia. She was reported to be improving some Tuesday and hopes held out for her recovery at that time, but a change for the worse took place Tuesday evening and she continued to fail until the end came. A further account will be given next week.
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From the Rock Valley Bee, December 28, 1928:
MRS. JOHN HAYDEN PASSED AWAY
As briefly announced last week, Mrs. John Hayden passed away last Wednesday afternoon, December 19, following three days of illness with pneumonia. She had been troubled with asthma for some time but was not taken seriously ill till three days before her death.
Mrs. Hayden was born at Lyons, Clinton county, Iowa, November 25, 1864, where she spent her early life and grew to womanhood. She came to Rock Valley in the spring of 1886, and lived here continuously until the time of her death. She had many friends here and her sudden death is mourned by them, as well as by her husband and son, and other relatives.
She was united in marriage with John Hayden at Rock Valley, Dec. 28, 1887. To this union eight children were born, six of whom died in infancy, and one, James, who died Jan. 9, 1916. She leaves her husband and one son, Earle, one sister, Mrs. James Lowery and one brother James Keegan, all living in Rock Valley and vicinity.
Funeral services were held in St. Mary’s church in Rock Valley Friday morning. The services were largely attended and many beautiful floral offerings were in evidence. Many friends of the bereaved family extend sympathy to them in their great sorrow.
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Her death certificate has Julia Hayden, wife of John Hayden; born Nov. 25, 1864 in Lyons, Iowa; father James Keegan, mother Shehan (no forename given), both born in Ireland; resident of Rock Valley 32 years; died at about 6 a.m. December 19, 1928; cause, “pneumonia (flu) complicated with bronchial asthma with severe anginal pain”; buried at Rock Valley. (She does not appear in the Sioux County Cemetery Index, however.)

3. MARY KEEGAN born abt 1867 Mrs. James Lowery. Her family narrative does appear in the St. Mary’s church book. Here obituary is noted herein:
Source: Sioux Center News (9-29-1938)
Born: September 26, 1865
Died: September 19, 1938
Mrs. Mary Lowery (nee) Keegan, passed away at her home in Rock Valley, Monday, September 19, 1938, following an illness of four years, one month and one day.
Mrs. Lowery was born at Lyons, Iowa on September 26, 1865 where she spent her early life up to the age of 19 when she came to Rock Valley vicinity with her parents. Here the remainder of her life was spent.
Miss Mary Keegan was united in marriage to James B. Lowery on June 5, 1901 and to this union were born three daughters, Katherine (Mrs. C.B. Bogaard of Rock Valley), Mrs. Anna Mae Dorsey of Sioux City, and Miss Veronica Lowery of Chicago, Illinois. Two grand children Elaine and Donald Patrick Bogaard are also left to mourn her passing. She also leaves a foster sister, Miss Stella Conley of California.
Two brothers Michael and James Keegan and one sister, Mrs. John Hayden preceded in death. Her husband James B. Lowery preceded her in death on October 7, 1936.
Funeral services were held Wednesday morning conducted by Reverend A.J. Foerster in the St. Mary’s Church and interment in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Many beautiful floral tributes were presented in the honor of this quiet lady who spent the past four years in her home having been a victim of paralysis.

4 . JAMES W. KEEGAN born abt 1867. His information was in the St. Mary’s church book also, and there is a separate BIOS for his family.

OBITUARY OF JAMES KEEGAN Sr. 1822-1895
From the Alton Democrat of March 30, 1895 Rock Valley Items.
James Keegan, an old and respected citizen of this place, died after a short illness at the age of 73 years. his remains were taken to Quigley IA for interment.
From the Rock Valley Register of Mar 22, 1895.
James Keegan died Monday of congestion of the lungs, 73 years, born in Ireland, came to USA in 1850 to Clayton County, had wife and two sons (and more) In the obit of his wife Catherine Sheehan born Sep 13, 1835 Ireland, died 27 Mar 1916 Rock Valley, married 1852 in Kenosha WI. Nine children were born to them, several died in infancy. Michael died just before his mother, surviving in 1916 were - James, Mrs. Julia Hayden and Mrs. Mary Loura of Rock Valley)

OBITUARY of Catherine (Mrs. James Sr. Keegan)
From the Alton Democrat, April 1, 1916: Rock Valley news:
Mrs. Catherine Keegan (nee Sheehan) died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. James Loura, in Rock Valley March 27th, due to old age. The deceased was born in the county of Limrick, Ireland September 13th, 1835, and at the time of her passing was 80 years, 6 months and 14 days old. When but a girl of fifteen, she emigrated with her parents to America about the year 1850 and located at Kenosha, Wis., where she grew to womanhood.
In 1852 she married James Keegan at Kenosha, Wis., whose marital relations were pleasant and their life was one of intense activity. She was the mother of nine children, several died in infancy, except her son Michael, who preceded her to the spirit world about two months ago. Three survive her, namely, James Keegan, Mrs. Julia Hayden, and Mrs. Mary Loura, all of Rock Valley.
In 1856 they came to Lyon, Ia., where they resided for a period of seventeen years. From there they moved to Petersville, where they lived for fifteen years, and in 1886 they came to Sioux county and located on a farm northwest of Rock Valley and endured hardships, privations and sacrifices incident to those days. She was bereft of her husband in 1895, and since that time has found a home among her children, who kindly and tenderly cared for her and ministered to her every want as far as practicable in the decline of her life. She retained the keenness of her intellect until but a few days previous to her death. She was a devout member of the Catholic church.
Funeral services were held at St. Mary's Catholic church Wednesday morning, conducted by Rev. Father John O'Rielly. Her remains were shipped to Petersville, Ia., accompanied by her son, James Keegan, and grandson, Raymond Keegan, for interment by the side of her companions. The bereaved ones have the sympathy of their many friends in their hour of sadness.
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There was no picture found for the James Keegan Sr.
Since a lot of the narrative has information on son Michael’s family, have included a picture of Michael Keegan and wife Margaret McGinn.

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