Keough Family

The Keough family that we have researched, lived outside of the small village of Limestone in the southwestern part of New York State. Like most immigrants to this country in the 19th Century, the family sought out others of the same ethnic background. This led them to a small settlement in the Allegany Mountains called New Ireland.

We first picked up on the family circa.1860, when like so many of their Irish brethren they came to America looking for a better life. The year would lead us to believe that they were leaving Ireland due to the continuing effects of the Great Potato Famine. A grandson of Jim Keough has revealed to us that they were from Co. Clare, along with many other families in the New Ireland settlement, and Co. Clare was one of the hardest hit by the famine.

Patrick Keough was the patriarch of this family and came to America after his first wife and child died. When Patrick came to the United States, he met a woman named Bridget Kearns(Carans-this is the spelling on her death certificate)in the port of entry and married her the same day. Bridget also was from Co. Clare. This may have been a case of love at first sight or maybe a feeling of "two are better than one" in facing the challenges this new country would put forth. Patrick was 40 years old according to the 1865 census and his wife Bridget was 32. At this point in time Patrick and Bridget had two sons named James and John. James was 1 year of age and John was a new born child. The Keough's first lived in Irvine's Mills (just outside of Limestone)where Patrick worked in the mills. It is here that he saved the money to purchase the first of the family property in New Ireland. This was a tract of 50 acres that bordered the Spellacy family property. By 1870 the family had grown to 7 with the additions of Ellen age 4, Dennis age 3 and Mary age 2. We also note that Patrick had become a naturalized citizen of the United States. In 1875 the Keoughs purchased more land (another 50 acres), this time from J. Carmody for a price of $400. The western tract supported the home, barns and fields. The eastern section was woodland. The Keough's subsequently donated land to be used for the school to be erected in New Ireland. By the year 1892 the family had grown to 8 with the birth of daughter Bridget in 1875. The sons and daughter's ages then ranged from 17 to 26. A fourth son, Eugene died in 1875, at age 2, of scarlet fever. The children's occupations ranged from laborer to house wife. Bridget died in 1898, and Patrick in 1910. Daughter Ellen eventually married Con Hogan, son of Michael and Bridget(McCarty) Hogan while son Jim married Mary Fall, daughter of Robert and Catherine(Downs) Fall.

The son James can be seen on the Family Album page in several pictures. Mr. James Keough, grandson of Patrick and Bridget Keough, is alive and living outside of Seattle, Washington today. He has been very helpful in compiling the story of the New Ireland settlement. He has also sent us a map of the New Ireland settlement as he remembers it. You may view this on our Map Page. Finally, he has recounted several wonderful memories of the people and times which we have placed on the page entitled Remembrances. See the first page of our website to access any of these pages.

This Indenture shows that Patrick and Bridgett Keough donated the land for the school in New Ireland. The document also shows the first Trustees of the school were John Spellacy, Micheal O'Laughlin and Patrick Keough.

	This photo is of Jim Keough in the year 1904.
Jim is standing to the right of the picture. At this time he is 12 years old. The photo was taken on the steps at the front of their uncle Jack's house.

This was an oil crew working on site in West Virginia.

The above three documents are the report cards of James Keough. The top two are the back and front of his Grade 3 report card while the third is for Grade 8. They are from the school that existed in New Ireland. You will also notice that James had Mary Hogan as his 3rd Grade teacher and her sister Anna as his 8th Grade instructor. The Hogans also grew up in New Ireland(see Hogan family).

If you have any further knowledge about the New Ireland Keoughs please contact me at plewis@clevehill.wnyric.org

This obituary was discovered in the November 11,1918 Olean Herald newspaper. We are trying to determine what, if any; relationship Michael Keough had to the New Ireland family of Keoughs. The date he was born in Ireland coincides with the date of most of the early settlers to New Ireland. The location of his funeral and interment (presumably St.Patricks Catholic church in Limestone) also tends to make us feel he is related in some way.

---

The above document is the death certificate of Bridget Keough. Cause of death is listed as rheumatism of the heart. She died on November 14, 1899.