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From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [IA-IRISH] Bio of A.J. McKeever
Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2003 18:40:22 -0500


Surnames: McKeever, O'Kane

Gue, B.F. Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of Iowa. Des Moines:
Conaway & Shaw Publishers, 1899.

McKeever, A. J., of Sheldon, O'Brien county, is a product of Ireland, the
little green isle that has furnished so large a quota of the men who have been
foremost in preserving and developing this great land of the free. His parents,
Michael and Rose (O'Kane) McKeever, were farmers, and despite the despicable
system of landlordism prevailing in Ireland, were in moderate financial
circumstances when they came to the United States in 1860.
The youth of Mr. A. J. McKeever was spent on a farm in Dubuque county,
where his parents resided until 1884, when he removed to O'Brien county. In 1888
he engaged in the grocery business at Sheldon, in partnership with Mr. Theodore
Geiger, and after one year's prosperous business Mr. McKeever bought out the
interest of his partner and continued the business alone. In his youth he
learned well the lessons of prudence, frugality and industry, so valuable to men
everywhere in business, and these qualities enabled him to increase his stock
and extend his business until now he owns and occupies the handsomest business
block in that city. He is the embodiment of a first-class business man; strictly
honorable in his dealings, courteous to all, and genial and companionable to a
high degree. He makes a friend of everyone with whom he comes in contact. Coming
direct to Iowa from Ireland in 1860, he begun with pioneer life, and has lived
to see the wild prairie upon which he first came for a home transformed into a
grand agricultural paradise, all settled up with good citizens and industrious
farmers, and has accumulated for himself a goodly portion of this world's wealth
to make himself comfortable in old age. Religiously, like the greater share of
his nationality, he is a Catholic, and is faithful in his labors for, and self
sacrificing in his devotion to, his church. In polities he is a democrat, but
one of that kind who has the greatest consideration for the views of those
opposed to him.

Cathy Joynt Labath
The Irish in Iowa
http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/index.htm


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