The following was first transcribed from the original letter by Michael J. Keating on 06/29/1980. I later re-typed it on 08/13/1996. This letter mentions all three immigrant Keating brothers, John, Patrick, and Simon. The story of the shipwreck still captivates me to this day. I’ll follow up on this letter with some anecdotes regarding the contents.

AN ACCOUNT OF JOHN CHARLES KEATING: A LETTER FROM HIS SON, THOMAS P. KEATING, TO CHARLES A. KEATING OF FROSTBURG, 02/23/42.

John C Keating was born in the small city of Ballymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland, about 35 miles from Dublin. He was one of a large family of seven boys and two girls. They all grew up large, strong and healthy men and women. On account of the coercive laws of England they had no schools at that time, and as a result they had no education.

As a young man, he worked at carrying large sacks of grain up in a large building for storage purposes (there were not any elevators in those days). He was a large, strong man, 5′11-1/2 in his stocking feet, and 210 lbs.

He married early in life Julia Hyland, also from Ballymore, a very smart and capable young woman. The Keating family were poor, while the Hylands were well to do. The bride was very popular, and they had many valuable wedding presents. They packed all into four large trunks and started on their wedding trip to America, the land of freedom and of their dreams.

This was before steamboats came into use. They started on a sail boat. The trip generally took six weeks; this trip took eleven weeks. They were wrecked in mid-Atlantic Ocean at midnight. John C. Keating and a watchman were the only ones on deck when the storm struck. The first wave burst in the hatch on one side of the boat, and the water rushed down on the passengers and crew in their berths. They were frantic, and all rushed for the ladders. John C. Keating and the watchman stood at the top of the ladder and pulled them up. Each person had a hold of one ahead and would not let loose until their hold was broken. This made it hard work; they had to pull until someone’s hold broke; sometimes two would come, and sometimes three. It was daylight before they got them all up. Then in the meantime they got the pumps working and carpenters boarding up the side. John C. Keating was the hero on this occasion. The passengers presented him with a purse to show their appreciation.

This same ship was wrecked again when going through Long Island Sound. It ran on a sandbar. There was a life-saving station there, and they got a line to the boat, then a second line. They took the passengers off two at a time loaded in the little boat (women first). So Father and Mother were separated and landed at different parts of the shore. He wandered and searched all night, wet, cold, and hungry, for Mother. It was a cold winter night. He finally found her sitting on the steps of an old building looking out at sea nearly frozen with her wet clothing. They lost all their baggage. Of course, they still had some money and the purse the passengers gave him. They drifted down to a small town in Connecticut where he secured a job cutting ice during the winter.

This was in 1853; James Buchanan was president of the U.S.A., and the country was in an awful depression. The government opened poor houses to help feed the people. They rationed out corn meal and bacon twice a week.

They lived there during the winter, and while still there his brother Pat Keating came out from Ireland — left his wife and one young son behind. Pat got a job cutting wood with an axe and chopped his foot; he never used an axe before (They used a Bil Hook for choppingin Ireland). Then they all left for Mt. Savage, Md.

John C. Keating secured a job on the railroad, and Pat went to work as housman for a Mr. A.C. Greene, Supt. of the old Borden Mining Co.. This was in 1854.

The railroad had wooden rails with one-inch strap iron spiked on; the road bed was not solid. This caused much vibration, and the spikes on the ends worked loose and out, and caused the strap iron to cock up on the loose ends. If it got high enough, it would run over the top of the wheels and wreck the engine or train. So they pushed a flat car in front and had a man posted there as a lookout to watch ahead. This was his first job, and he was getting along all right.

Then they rented a house on a sixty acre farm two miles from Mt. Savage about 1/2 a mile east from the village Allegany, and this was the first effort to start the Keating clan in Western Maryland.

After about three months at his job, he missed seeing one of the loose joints sticking up, and he landed in a culvert on his head; he was out for ten hours; his neck and shoulder were badly bruised and skull fractured. Being a very strong man, he seemed to recover quickly and it did not bother him. He continued until he was getting up to about fifty years and it continued to get worse and evenutally caused his untimely death, he being only 58 when he passed away.

After he fully recovered, he went to work in a rolling mill in Mt. Savage, swinging a 95-lb hammer. There was two such hammers in use there; the other one was swung by his brother, Simon Keating. This was heavy work, and it took a very strong man to do it, and it paid extra. His brother Simon stood 6′2 in his stocking geet and weighed 220lbs.

After a couple of years, Pat Keating quit his job with Mr. Greene and left Frostburg for Fort Duquesne — now Pittsburgh, Pa. — over the old Braddock’s Road in a heavy old-time jolt wagon with his wife and child through the wilderness of the Allegheny Mountains. Pat was a man with vision and plenty of nerve. Coal was just coming into use, and he started the first coal yard in Pittsburgh and made a lot of money quickly. Then he quit the coal business and he and John C. Keating went into building new railroads all around the country. They spent about fifteen years at railroad building, made plenty of money, and spent and lost money. After that John C. Keating went to work at the New Hope Mine as coal inspector (or dock boss).

After building the house [183 McCulloh St. in Frostburg], the family moved from the little farm. Your father [John W. Keating, 1871 - 1941] was about fourteen years old when we moved. All of the family were born there except the oldest girl, Jerry Counihan’s mother.

John C. Keating was always on time for all his duties or appointments in life; he never missed one. He kept his word at all times; he was very quiet and reserved. He was not only a Catholic, but he lived his religion. He went regular to all his duties, and all his family had to join him at 9 P.M. each night to recite the holy rosary. He never bought anything on credit. He could look the whole world in the face for he envied not any man. I have pulled back the curtain that (illegible) his life and found no dark spots or skeleton in his closet. And he is surely gone to heaven.

Sister Mary Esprit

FROSTBURG — Sister Mary Saint Esprit of the Order of the Good Shepherd, 92, died Tuesday in St. Mary’s Hospital, Troy, N. Y., following a fall in which she suffered a broken hip.

The former Miss Agnes Keating, she was born near Frostburg, a daughter of the late John C. and Catherine Keating, who came hear from Ireland in 1847. She was the last surviving member of her family.

Sister Mary served as Mother Superior at convents in Springfield, Mass., and Albany and Troy, N. Y.

Surviving are a number of nieces and nephews, six of whom are members of religious orders.

A requiem mass was celebrated yesterday in Troy and interment took place there.

Source: Sister Mary Esprit, Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, 12 December 1958, p. 14.

Sister Mary St. Esprit was my great-grandaunt. She can be found in my database here. This article indicates that she was 92 at the time of her death, but records indicate that she was born in 1867, which would have made her 91.

Mrs. William McGrath

Mrs. Catherine M. McGrath, 82, died yesterday at Memorial Hospital. She had been a patient at the Cumberland Nursing Home.

A native of Frostburg, she was a daughter of the late John and Mary (Keating) Counihan and was the widow of William J. McGrath. A former resident of Upper Darby, Pa., she moved here two years ago and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Teresa Ann Simmons, Philadelphia, Pa.; two brothers, Jerry Counihan, Eustis, Fla., and John Counihan, city; two grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

The body is at the Scarpelli Funeral Home where friends will be received from 2 until 4 and 7 until 9 p.m.

Mass of the resurrection will be celebrated tomorrow at 9 a.m., at St. Mary’s Church. Interment will be in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Frostburg.

The rosary will be recited at the funeral home today at 7:30 p.m.

Source: Mrs. William McGrath, The Cumberland News, Cumberland, Maryland, 2 July 1971, p. 18.

Jeremiah Counihan

Jeremiah Counihan

Jeremiah (Jerry) A. Counihan, 91, formerly of 224 Harrison Street, died yesterday. He had been ill three years.

Born in Frostburg, he was a son of the late John and Catherine (Keating) Counihan.

Mr. Counihan was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and was an avid tennis enthusiast, having played while in his seventies.

He was a retired assistant district superintendent of the Prudential Insurance Company and was a member of Knights of Columbus Council 1442, Frostburg and the Third Degree of that Council.

Twice married, his first wife, Mrs. Theresa (Burkey) Counihan, died in 1918, and his second wife, Mrs. Regina (Mattingly) Counihan, died in 1969.

Surviving are two sons, Joseph P. Counihan, RD 3, Bedford Road; Thomas P. Counihan, this city; two daughters, Mrs. Julia Wilson, Bowman’s addition; Mrs. Rose Shaffer, city; 15 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.

Friends will be received today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Shaffer Funeral Home.

Services will be conducted in the funeral home tomorrow at 1 p.m. The Rev. Charles Paskel will officiate and interment will be in the Branch Mountain Methodist Cemetery, Three Churches.

Source: Jeremiah Counihan, Cumberland Sunday Times, Cumberland, Maryland, 14 December 1975, p. 34.

Jerry, my first cousin-twice removed, was indirectly responsible for getting me hooked on genealogy. His letter to my Granduncle Charles Keating, detailing the Keating family history and immigration, was what started me on this journey.

Deaths Reported Oct. 19.

Manhattan and Bronx

KEATING, Catherine, 411 W. 25th St. 38 [Age in Yrs.] 18 [Date D'th Oct.]

Source: Deaths Reported Oct. 19, The New York Times, New York, New York, 20 October 1920. Available via the New York Times archives.

Miss Catherine Keating

Lonaconing—Miss Catherine Keating, 89,  a former resident, died yesterday in Fairmont, W. Va.

She is survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

Requiem mass will be celebrated tomorrow 9 a.m. in St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Fairmont. A graveside service will be conducted at 1 p.m. tomorrow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, here, with Rev. Fred Duke, officiating.

Source: Miss Catherine Keating, Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, 29 March 1966, p.

Counihan Services

Mass of the Christian Burial for Jeremiah (Jerry) A. Counihan, 91, formerly of 224 Harrison Street, who died Saturday will be celebrated tomorrow at 11 a.m. in St. Patricks Church. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

A Christian Wake will be held today at 8 p.m. at the Silcox–Merritt Funeral Residence where friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m.

Pallbearers will be Gene Counihan, William Wilson, Bernard Wilson, Paul Kenney, Bernard Kenney and Charles Keating.

Source: Counihan Services, Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, 15 December 1975, p. 16.

Jerry Counihan was the eldest son of my immigrant ancestor’s first daughter, Catherine Elizabeth Keating. Some of the first family history I collected was from Jerry, through my Grand–Uncle Charles Keating. – JWK3

Mrs. John W. Keating

Frostburg — Mrs. Elizabeth Keating, widow of the late John W. Keating, 3500 Plateau Avenue, Baltimore, died Thursday at her home following an illness of five months.

Daughter of the late George and Mary (Carney) Pope, of Garrett County, she is survived by five daughters, Sister Mary Patricia, Emmitsburg; Sister Mary Joan, Fayetteville, N.C.; Mrs. Mary Lynn Cooper, Owings Mills, and Mrs. Sarah Byrnes and Mrs. Catherine Serio, both of Baltimore; five sons, Terrance Keating, Vacaville, Calif.; John Keating, Phoenix, Ariz.; and Michael Keating, Dennis Keating and Joseph Keating, all of Baltimore; two sisters, Mrs. Lou Bowman, Baltimore, and Mrs. Genevieve Miller, Camp Hill, Pa.; two brothers, Paul C. Pope, Baltimore, and Claude S. Pope, Meyersdale, Pa., and 14 grandchildren.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be conducted at All Saints Catholic Church Baltimore, with interment in Woodlawn Cemetery, there.

Source: Mrs. John W. Keating, Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, 13 September 1974, p. 18.

[My grandmother. I remember a mad dash across the country from Phoenix, and sitting in the back of the car during the viewings, mostly clueless about what was happening. - JWK3]

City Auditor Dies, Victim of Pneumonia

Bernard Keating, Distinguished Citizen, Succumbs After Short Illness.

City Auditor Bernard Keating died at 8 o’clock last evening at his home 128 Park place closing a period of more than 50 years of service for the city of Bridgeport. Mr. Keating, who was seventy–eight years old, had been city auditor for the past 42 years and prior to that served as a councilman and as city clerk. He had also served on various important municipal commissions.

Auditor Keating was sick but a few days. He was in his office in City hall Wednesday as usual, but in the afternoon was taken ill and removed to his home. It was thought at first that he was suffering from an attack of heart trouble but Thursday afternoon pneu- [sic] ceived in the public schools of age the city auditor was unable to successfully combat the attack of pneumonia as a younger man might have done.

Mr. Keating was one of the best known city officials in Bridgeport. He was described by his friend Attorney Thomas M. Cullinan as the dean of Connecticut’s public officers.

Born in Ireland

He was born in County Claire, Ireland April 13, 1847 and at the age of nine years made the trip to America alone, going to Springfield and Holvoke where he lived for a year, then joining his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Keating, who in the meanwhile had come here and settled in Bridgeport.

His elementary education was received in the public schools of Bridgeport. He took an interest in politics as a young man and was elected councilman in 1874 during the term of Mayor R. T. Clarke. He was elected from the Third Ward located on the East Side and served until 1878 when he was elected city clerk.

While city clerk he studied law at Yale Law School and was graduated in 1880 practicing law in connection with his city office which was a common practice at that time. He was admitted to the bar at New Haven county the same year that he graduated from Yale.

Owned Meat Market

At one time he conducted a meat market in East Bridgeport being associated in this business with the father of John F. Dowling, former chief clerk in the office of the Board of Assessors. Although prospering  in this business he remained in it but a short time deciding to devote his energies to public service.

After serving four years as a councilman and being elected city clerk, he served six consecutive terms as city clerk.

Upon the vote of the Board of Aldermen in March, 1883, he was appointed city auditor, for a three-year term. He was successively reelected until an act of the Legislature passed April 19, 1905 as a charter amendment, gave him life tenure in office during good behavior.

During his term as city auditor, two of the friends of his early life, Henry Lee and Dennis Mulvihill, with whom he boarded  in the old Sheridan house at Crescent avenue and Kossuth street in 1871, both served as mayors of Bridgeport.

Ex-mayor Lee, commenting on Auditor Keating’s death yesterday said “He was the most effimiet and competent officer that this or any other state ever had. He always devoted his best energies to the office that he held. In his death the city loses its most prominent and best-known citizen.”

Mr. Keating was a member of the Financial Advisory committee at the time of his death. He served as secretary of the Paving and Sewer commission from its inception to its abolishment in 1923. He was a member of the City Plan commission, a member of the commission which effected the city water company contract, and of the commission which consolidated the town and city governments of Bridgeport.

He was a charter member of Park City council, Knights of Columbus and of the “Forty-Seven” club. He was a member of Scared [sic] Heart parish.

His wife, Catherine Donahue Keating, whom he married in 1883, died April 10 last. Mr. Keating is survived by four sons, John F., cashier of the Bridgeport Gas Light company; Vincent L., former prosecuting attorney in City Court; Walter A., who is associated with the Conlin Paint company; and Joseph P., of Stamford; and one daughter, Miss Helen Keating. During the war one of Auditor Keating’s sons saw service in the Army and two in the Navy.

The funeral will be held Monday morning at 9 o’clock from his home, with a solemn high mass of requiem in Sacred Heart church as 9:30 o’clock. Burial will be in St. Michael’s cemetery.

Source: City Auditor Dies, Victim of Pneumonia, The Bridgeport Post, Bridgeport, Connecticut, 9 May 1925, pp. 1-2.

KEATING – April 30, 1967, Joseph B. of Mullets Nursing Home formerly of Linden St., Bristol. Son of the late Michael & Catherine Keating. Survived by several nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends and members of Bristol Elk’s Lodge 970 are invited to attend the funeral Friday 9 a.m. Murphy’s Funeral Home, 1002 Radcliffe St., Bristol, Pa. Requiem High Mass celebrated 10 a.m. St. Mark’s Church interment St. Mark’s Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday evening.

Source: Keating, Bucks County Courier Times, Levittown, Pennsylvania, 1 May 1967, p. 23.

Barbara (Wright) Keating, of Larkin Street, Larksville, passed away peacefully Tuesday at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital with her loving family and friends by her side.

She was born on August 12, 1948, in Edwardsville. She was a daughter of the late Francis and Anna Myers Wright. She was a 1966 graduate of Edwardsville High School.

Barb was formerly employed by Heritage House, Wilkes-Barre, and Mercy Center, Dallas. She was a member of All Saints Parish, Plymouth. Barbara was a loving and compassionate wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and nurse. Her overwhelming generosity touched the lives of everyone she encountered. The love she had for her family and life were admirable.

She and her husband, James, celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary on Sunday, October 14. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter, Barbara Jean and her husband, Joseph Zekas, Sweet Valley; sons, James and wife Cherilyn Keating, Mountain Top; Timothy Keating and his girlfriend, Kimberly Wolfe; grandson, Connor Zekas; brother, Frank and wife Janet Wright; sisters, Patricia and husband Bruce Waugh; Mary Lou and husband John Pekarovsky; Ann Marie and husband Joseph Pavlick; sister-in-law and close friend Catherine Keating; several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her brothers Richard, William, James and John Wright.

Funeral will be held on Saturday at 9:45 a.m. from Mamary-Durkin Funeral Service, 59 Parrish St., Wilkes-Barre, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in All Saints Parish, Plymouth.

Interment will be in the St. Ignatius Cemetery, Pringle. Friends may call Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. Those who desire may give memorial contributions to Mercy Center, Dallas; or All Saints Parish, Plymouth.

Published in the Times Leader on 10/18/2007. Found on TimesLeader.com on 19 February 2008.

Catherine A. Donahue Keating.The funeral of Catherine A. Donahue Keating, wife of City Auditor Bernard Keating of 128 Park place, will be held this morning in the Church of the Sacred Heart at 9:30 o’clock with a solemn high mass of requiem. Burial will be in St. Michael’s cemetery.

Source: Catherine A. Donahue Keating, The Bridgeport Telegram, Bridgeport, Connecticut, 14 April 1925, p. 15.

Catherine A. Donahue Keating.

The funeral of Catherina A. Donahue Keating, wife of City Auditor Bernard Keating was held yesterday morning from her home, 128 Park place, with a solemn high mass of requiem in the Church of the Sacred Heart. Rev. R. F. Moore, LL. D., was celebrant, assisted by Rev. James Killian, as deacon, and Rev. Hubert Craig, sub-deacon. Miss Theresa O’Brien, Mrs. Molly Daly Ogren and William Chew sang the music for the mass. Burial was in St. Michael’s cemetery. The pallbearers were Thomas and John J. Cullinan, James McNamara, Robert Hurley, Dr. William J. McLaughlin and Thomas Keating of New York.

Source: Catherine A. Donahue Keating, The Bridgeport Telegram, Bridgeport, Connecticut, 15 April 1925, p. 18.

Bernard Keating, who died May, [...] after serving as city auditor for over 42 years left an estate with an estimated value of $35,000 it was learned yesterday. The estate consists of real estate worth $11,000 and personal property valued at $25,000, it was said.

Mr. Keating died intestate. Attorney Vincent L. Keating, a son, was named administrator by Probate Judge Frederick Bartlett yesterday on agreement of heirs-at-law.

Five children will share in the estate, John F. Keating, Helen L. Keating, Vincent L. Keating, and Walter A. Keating, all of this city and Joseph P. Keating of Stamford.

Thomas P. Keating

Lonaconing, January 4 – Thomas Patrick Keating, 78, died Monday at his home on St. Mary’s Terrace, after an illness of several months. Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Keating, he was born in Scotland, coming to Lonaconing at an early age. He was a retired miner; member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the Holy Name society. Mrs. Keating, the former Margaret O’Toole, died four years ago. Surviving children are Charles, Detroit; James, McMullen Highway; Mrs. Alex Woods, St. Mary’s Terrace; and Mrs. Walter Miller, Cumberland. One sister, Miss Catherine Keating, also survives.

Source: Thomas P. Keating,The Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, January 4, 1944, p. 5.

(Thomas Patrick Keating was a member of the Keating family that I call the Lonaconing Keatings, from Allegany County, Maryland. Although not known to be related, they lived close by my own Frostburg Keatings and shared many of the same names.)

Published in the Edmonton Journal on 12/20/2006.