Meeker County MN Archives Biographies.....O'Keeffe, Menus  1830 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 28, 2019, 6:23 pm

Source: Alden, Ogle & Co.
Author: See Below

          MENUS O’KEEFFE, a well known, successful and highly-respected farmer and
stock-raiser, residing on section 6, Manannah township, is one of the most prominent
citizens of the northern part of the county, and is one whose enterprise and thrift
are evidenced by the fact that the building improvements, which have been erected on
his farm, are a credit to the neighborhood in which he lives.

          Mr. O’Keeffe was born in County Cork, Ireland, on the 1st of November,
1830, and is a son of Menus and Charlotte (Fillpot) O’Keeffe. He remained in the
land of his birth until January, 1853, when he sailed for the New World, landing in
New York city April 12, 1853. They had a hard voyage, and for a time he lost hope of
ever seeing the United States, from hunger and starvation, as the vessel sprung a
leak; but finally landed in safety. Our subject worked at gardening for six months,
at 100th street, Bloomingdale road, N. Y., and from there went to Manhattanville,
and drove an express wagon between that point and Fulton street, from September
until the following March, 1851, being without mitts or overcoat. Speaking of it he
says: “I felt comfortable, as my Irish blood was "warm and young at that time.” In
April, 1854, he went to work as hostler and groom in a hotel on the Bloomingdale
road, N. Y., and remained for five years. In 1859 he began work in the Central Park,
N. Y., which he continued for five years, and then started for the “Great West,” and
the headwaters of the “mighty Mississippi.” He landed at Minneapolis, and for two
years was employed on the Manitoba railroad at Cedar Lake, and also at brick-making.
In the fall of 1866 he came to Meeker county, driving through by team, and located
on section 6, Manannah township, where he still lives. He is comfortably fixed, as
the saying goes, in this world’s goods, and has a very pleasant home, a good wife
and an intelligent family, lie owns 240 acres of land, a goodly portion of which is
under cultivation, and also does considerable in the stock-raising line. In
political matters he is a democrat.

   Mr. O’Keeffe was married in July, 1S56, to Julia MoLoney, and they have been the
parents of nine children, as follows— William, Menus, Mary, Sharlotte, John,
Elizabeth, Julia, Margaret and James. All the children are living, except William,
Mary and Sharlotte, who died and were buried in New York city. Both Mr. and Mrs.
O’Keelfe are zealous and prominent members of the Catholic Church.

   Mr. O'Keeffe's parents died in Meeker county. Mrs. O’Keeffe’s parents were
natives of Ireland, and are still residents of County Cork, in their native land.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from
Illustrated Album of Biography
Meeker and McLeod Counties, Minnesota
1888


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