“Keoghs Had a Big Role in County Development” from the March 22, 1962 Door County Advocate
Keoghs Had a Big Role in County Development
By FLORA JACOBS
James Keogh, Jr., was born in Dublin, Ireland, Apr. 26, 1850. In 1852 his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Keogh Sr. settled on a farm near Dunville in Ontario, Canada.
After three years the family, Mr. and Mrs. James Keogh Sr. and sons John, Edward, Luke, and James Jr., set out for Galena, Ill. Aboard the “Lady Elgin” on this eventful trip were three brothers, John, Richard and Matt Perry.
An unusual set of circumstances occurred on the trip which brought the Keoghs and Perrys to Forestville. In May, 1855, the steamboat, bearing the passengers bound for Chicago and Galena, Ill., docked at Manitowoc to unload freight.
The steamboat was the later illfated “Lady Elgin” plying between Buffalo and Chicago. Among the passengers were four young Irishmen bound for Chicago and Galena, Ill. While the boat was unloading its freight these men took a stroll along the shore, to see the “sights” at Manitowoc. These young men were James Keogh Sr. and John, Richard and Matt Perry.
Wandering a little too far, the men were suddenly alarmed to see the Str. Lady Elgin backing away from the pier. They rushed down to get aboard but too late. The steamer had gotten underway with Mrs. Keogh and her babies frantically besieging the captain to put back and get her husband. However the fare was paid and the lordly captain merely shrugged his shoulders.
Fate played strange tricks on the four young Irishmen that day. While they were deciding just what to do they were approached by an elderly man of imposing appearance. The man identified himself as “Major” McCormick and told the stranded men of a new town up in Door county. A sawmill, a hotel and a townsite were amongst his possessions in this land of opportunity according to McCormick’s story. A choice deposit of marble was supposed to exist near this town. A fine waterfall which furnished cheap power was another of the supposed features in this town.
Sad to state, when the Irishmen reached Forestville the lovely hotel proved to be a shack, the marble deposit just limestone and the waterfall a slow moving river.
The men decided to stay on, however, as the big forest appealed to them. James Keogh Sr. went to Chicago and brought his family back with him. Thus James Keogh Jr. came to Door county.
Young James got his elementary school education at Forestville. Following his completion of his studies there he taught school for three years.
The ambitious young man enrolled in Normal School and after his graduation taught school three years at Nasewaupee, Clay Banks and Forestville.
JAMES KEOGH [Jr.], who [as a boy came with his father, who] was tricked into going to Door county, was register of deeds, mayor of Sturgeon Bay and assemblyman.
In 1874, James Keogh Jr. was elected Register of Deeds for Door county on the Independent ticket. He served 14 years.
In 1888 he accepted a position as cashier of the Bank of Sturgeon Bay. The first bank was situated where the city hall now stands. Later it was moved to the site of the Merchants Exchange Bank and later in the M. E. Lawrence building. On stationery in possession of relatives, the officers of the bank in 1895 were Edw. Decker, president; David Decker, vice president; James Keogh Jr., cashier; and Henry Fetzer, assistant cashier.
Mr. Keogh was one of the gentlemen whose efforts brought the Ahnapee and Western railroad into Sturgeon Bay. The celebration of this historic event was held Aug. 9, 1894.
Besides his work in the bank James Keogh Jr. officiated as mayor of Sturgeon Bay for three terms, from 1890 through 1893. At the age of 43 years, in 1893, James Keogh, Jr., Republican, was elected in the assembly, serving in the 41st session.
Mr. Keogh, a highly respected citizen, served his county in 1878 as County Superintendent of Schools for two years. He served as an alderman many times. He was president of the Board of Education at different times. School Commissioner and Justice of Peace were other elective positions he held.
James Keogh Jr. was a studious man, studying for the bar in his leisure time. March 3, 1883 he was admitted to the bar. In 1895 he was elected District Attorney of Door county. He was secretary of the Sturgeon Bay Dock Co., 1891-1893; president of Brown Mfg. Co.; director of the A & W R.R.; and an organizer of the Sturgeon Bay branch of the railroad.
Dec. 29, 1873, James Keogh Jr., was united in marriage to Miss Rose Simon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Simon. Seven children were born to their union. They were Ida, Ella, Nora, Isabella, Lillian, Walter and Eulalia.
He was a member of the Roman Catholic church; president of Branch 59 of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin and state delegate of the Catholic Order of Foresters.
The site of the first cherry orchard in Door county was owned by James Keogh Jr. Arthur L. Hatch and Emmet Goff, interested in horticulture conferred with Mr. Keogh and purchased a tract of his land for their experiments in fruit culture.
The death of this highly esteemed man occurred Jan. 23, 1896. Mr. Keogh was 46 years of age when his career ended tragically.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
Articles about history
https://doorcounty.substack.com/t/history
Articles by Flora Jacobs
http://doorcounty.substack.com/t/flora-jacobs