Drimoleague - West Cork, Ireland

1.Michael Joseph O’Keefe, age 29 and single, emigrated from Drimoleague, County Cork, Ireland to New York in approximately 1879. He was the son of Thomas and Mary Morrissey O’Keefe of Drimoleague. It is believed they died in Drimoleague before 1886, but this may be incorrect.

In 1886-7, Michael Joseph returned to Drimoleague and took most of his siblings to America. He is said to have had at least two brothers, Thomas O’Keefe Jr. and Daniel O’Keefe, who stayed in Drimoleague.

On the boat back to America, Michael Joseph O’Keefe met Ellen Reagan, daughter of James and Mary Ward Reagan of County Clare. Five years later, on 08 Apr 1891, Michael Joseph and Ellen married in Hornell, Steuben Co., New York. Michael Joseph worked for the Erie Railroad. In 1893, the Erie transferred Michael Joseph O’Keefe to Huntington, Huntington Co., Indiana. He managed the Western Union office in the Erie Railroad depot until his death on 12 Oct 1929. Ellen died in Huntington on 02 Oct. 1953. They had eight children: Mary Edna (1892-1919), Thomas (1893-1966; m. Lura Wilcox and lived in Olean, Cattaraugus Co., New York); Francis (1895-1959), m. Helen Teusch and lived in Huntington, Ind.; George (1897-1946), m. Martha Karst and lived in Huntington, Ind.; James (1900-1993) m. Lillian Hardin and lived in Huntington Co., Ind.; Marguerite (1901-1976), m. Phillip Wassman and lived in Fort Wayne, Allen Co., Ind.; Katherine (1903-1986) m. John Stoffel and lived in Huntington, Ind.; and John (1907-1971) m. Mabel Brown and lived in Huntington, Ind. These children dropped the “O” and went by Keefe.

Michael Joseph O’Keefe also had the following known siblings, all of whom came to America with him in 1886-7:

2. Honora (Nora) O’Keefe (1847-@1930), m. John James Holleran and lived in Elmira, Chemung Co., New York. They had nine children: Francis, Catherine, Margaret, Thomas, John James, Lawrence, Ellen (Nellie), Joseph O’Keefe and another child who died young.

3. Anna O’Keefe, (1870-aft. 1930) who married Michael Reagan, brother to Ellen Reagan, the wife of Anna’s brother Michael Joseph O’Keefe. They lived in Patterson, Passaic Co., New Jersey. They had two daughters, Mary and Ellen Reagan.

4. Catherine or Katherine O’Keefe (1874-aft.1930), m. John Haran and lived in Horseheads, Chemung Co., New York. They had one daughter, Mary Haran.

5. Margaret or Marjorie O’Keefe (1876-bef. 1929), m. (Unknown) Boyle. No other information.

6. Another brother, but his name is unknown.

I would love to correspond with any descendants of Thomas and Mary Morrissey O’Keefe (O’Keeffe), or the descendants of any of their siblings. I am also interested in corresponding with anyone who knows anything about the ancestry of Thomas and Mary Morrissey O’Keefe/O’Keeffe.