Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Keough, William 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 2, 2008, 2:43 am

Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907

WILLIAM KEOUGH. Lockport has every reason to feel a debt of gratitude to 
William Keough, who as mayor wrought along lines of practical reform and 
progress most beneficial to the city. He is a native son of Lockport and his 
life record stands in contradistinction to the old adage that "A prophet is 
never without honor save in his own country,'' for here he has so directed his 
labors as to win in large measure the public regard and confidence, enjoying 
the respect of all who care for law, order and commendable development. Mr. 
Keough was born April 25, 1851, a son of Moses and Margaret Keough, and in the 
public schools he acquired his education. He afterward entered the employ of 
the Illinois and Michigan Canal Company as a laborer and has since been 
connected with the canal service in various capacities. From 1868 until 1871 
he was foreman of the canal from Chicago to Morris and foreman of repair work 
from 1871 until 1881. In the latter year he became assistant superintendent 
from Chicago to Coppus creek and has since acted in that capacity. In 
municipal service he has also made a most creditable record. He served as 
mayor of Lockport for two terms, being elected in 1892, and during his 
administration he secured the passage of an ordinance providing that concrete 
sidewalks should be used throughout the city, the municipal government to meet 
half the expense and the property owners the other half. The passing and 
enforcing of this ordinance has given to Lockport the best sidewalks of any 
town of its size in this country. He also cleaned up the city not only 
physically but morally, transporting a number of characters who were 
objectionable to any city outside the city limits, with instructions never to 
appear here again—and they have not done so. He was also instrumental in 
furnishing a supply of excellent water to Lockport and in fact his 
administration was characterized by many needed improvements. He worked in a 
practical way on these, being a man of action rather than of theory and 
securing results, the benefit of which all good citizens acknowledge. Mr. 
Keough was married, December 22, 1872, to Miss Mary Dougherty, of Lockport, a 
daughter of Daniel Dougherty. They have seven living children and have lost 
two. Those who still survive are: John P., a machinist of Lockport; Joseph, an 
electrician; May E., a stenographer at the courthouse; Michael, who is with 
the Illinois Steel Compaq; Edward, Margaret and Kate, all at home. In politics 
Mr. Keough is a stalwart republican and has many times served as a delegate to 
county and state conventions, his opinions carrying weight in the councils of 
the party. He has served as alderman three terms, during which time he was one 
of the leading spirits in establishing the electric light system. He belongs 
to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, the Elks lodge at Joliet, and to St. 
Dennis Catholic church. He is a man strong in his honest convictions and 
unfaltering in their support, and stands as a splendid representative of that 
type of manhood who labor for public progress and for righteousness in 
government, being opposed to misrule in municipal affairs and standing 
stanchly in support of all those interests which are a matter of civic virtue 
and of civic pride.

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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