Oconto County WIGenWeb Project
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OCONTO COUNTY
Wisconsin
FAMILIES and BIOGRAPHIES

 

 

 .McKEEVER.

Please click on the photograph for a full size view
James F. McKeever
Son of James McKeever, born 1866 and raised in Stiles , became an early teacher at Stiles School, and went on to be an educator for many more years in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, public school system.

Photograph Contributed by:
Ann Ellen Barr

James and Michael William McKeever immigrated from Ireland in 1833 as young children, more than a decade before the great famine in the late 1840's.

By 1860 the single brothers were living and working together in the lumber mills of Stiles, Oconto County, and thad taken in a few boarders at their home. The American Civil War started in 1861 and lasted until 1865, the bloodiest war in our history. Both brothers served in the 1st Illinois Light Artillery; Michael from December 17, 1861 until July 10, 1865.

In the early 1860's, James had married Mary Burns (Byrns), who was born in Ireland in 1829 and had been working in Stiles. Her family had immigrated about the same time as the McKeevers.  The couple had a child, Maggie, in 1863. James served in the 1st Illinois Light Artillery with his brother Michael, starting  October 11, 1864 and being mustered out the same date as Michael.

After the war, James and Mary added more children to the family and went into farming. Michael married war widow Francis Brabson Roach, raising her two daughters along with their own.

 1. James McKeever (also McEver, McRever, McGever, Gever) - brother of Michael William McKeever
    b: 1828 in Ireland
    immigration: 1833 from Ireland
    military: Civil War Veteran - Northern Armies
    occupation: 1860 laborer in Stiles with brother Michael and took in boarders; farmer in Stiles 1870
    d: Aug. 5, 1898
    burial: Abrams - Stiles Cemetery, Oconto County, Wisconsin
(notes of James McKeever: Civil War Veteran; 1st  Illinois. Light Artillery "James Gever")
+ Mary Burns
    b: 1829 in Ireland
    m: 
    d:  1911
    burial: Abrams - Stiles Cemetery, Oconto County, Wisconsin
(notes of Mary Burns: in 1860 single siblings Mary, Betsy and Joseph were living in Stiles, Oconto County, in the boarding house for the mills. The women, both born in Ireland, were servants and Joseph, born in Wisconsin in 1842, was a laborer.)
    children of James and Mary McKeever:
        1. Maggie McKeever
            b:1863 in Stiles, Oconto County, Wisconsin
            d: 
        2. James F. McKeever

Donald and Robert McKeever, children of James McKeever and Edith Birmingham
            b: Dec 1866 in Stiles, Oconto County, Wisconsin
            occupation: 1900 Teacher in city of Oconto, Wisconsin, 1910 Public School teacher in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
            d: March 9, 1954 in Amber, PA; age 87; widowed
            burial: March 13, 1954 at Holy Cross Cemetery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
(notes on James McKeever: living in Oconto, north ward in 1900, 1 son Donald Francis McKeever born  May 14, 1904  in Oconto, Wisconsin, 1910 lived in Milwaukee, public school teacher, 1953 lived at 3019 North Bartlett Ave., Milwaukee, Wisconsin. )
         + Elizabeth (Edith) Rose Birmingham - wife of James McKeever
            b:  June 1870 in Wisconsin
            father: Jessie Birmingham, born Mar 1835 in New York, father born in England, mother born in New York- farmer; 1880 & 1900 living in Pensaukee; Civil War Veteran.
            mother: Elizabeth/Bessie (nee ?), born May 1839 in England, both parents born in England; gave birth to 7 with 6 surviving in 1900
            m:  1899
            d: January 24, 1953 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
            burial: January 28, 1953 at  at Holy Cross Cemetery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
          3. John D. McKeever
            b: June 1870 (1869 cemetery records) in Stiles, Oconto County, Wisconsin
            d: 1945
            burial: Abrams - Stiles Cemetery, Oconto County, Wisconsin
(notes on John D. McKeever: some children
 Estella Elizabeth McKeever     17 Jul 1902     Stiles, Oconto, Wisconsin   
Mildred Margaret McKeever     9 Jun 1903     Stiles, Oconto, Wisconsin 
John Leslie McKeever     26 Mar 1905     Stiles, Oconto, Wisconsin     
         +  Emma Depouw
            b: Jan 10, 1882
            d: June 19, 1923
            burial: Abrams - Stiles Cemetery, Oconto County, Wisconsin
            4. Michael B. McKeever
            b:  1874 in Stiles, Oconto County, Wisconsin
            d:  September 3, 1889  in Oconto County, Wisconsin
            burial: Abrams - Stiles Cemetery, Oconto County, Wisconsin

2. Michael William McKeever (also McEver, McRever, McGever) - brother of  James McKeever
    b: 1832 in Ireland  
    immigration: 1833
    occupation:  1860 laborer in Stiles lived with brother James and took in boarders;
    military: Civil War Veteran - Northern Armies
    d: Feb. 01, 1897 in Oconto County, Wisconsinb, USA
    burial:Oconto Catholic Cemetery, city of Oconto, Wisconsin - no stone
(Notes on Michael William: Pvt Civil War Co S 1st Regt Light Arty Illinois
            
+  Francis (Fannie) Brabson - wife of Michael William McKeever
     b: Aug 1836 County Cork , Ireland (Parents: Father - William Brabson; Mother - Marie Donlevy ) 
     m:  #1 to John Roach
     m:  #2 to Michael McKeever 15 May 1864 Oconto, Wisconsin
     d: 29 Jun 1911 Oconto Falls, Oconto, Wisconsin, United States
     burial: Oconto Catholic Cemetery, city of Oconto, Wisconsin - no stone
    Children of  and John Roach and Fanny Brabson:
        1. Sarah E. Roach      
        2. Marie (Mary) Roach
            b: January 18, 1857 in Oconto, Wisconsin
            d:  May 18, 1829 in Marinette, Wisconsin
(Notes on Marie McKeever: Her father, John Roach, died during the Civil War (he served with the Oconto River Drivers Unit - her mother then married #2 Michael McKeever)

Marinette Eagle-Star, 
Friday, May 18, 1928

"MOTHER OF LOCAL MAN DIES TODAY" 

To go to the Doran - Roach Family Page, please click HERE

Mrs. Mary Doran, wife of James Doran of 611 Williams Ave., Menominee, died this morning at 5 o'clock at her home. Mrs. Doran had been in failing health since she fell and broke her hip about four years ago, but death resulted from heart trouble. Her final illness was of four months duration. Mary McKeever Doran was born in Oconto, Wis., on January 18, 1857. On December 1, 1875, she was married in Oconto to James Doran and together they came to Menominee in 1883. They have resided there continually during the past forty-five years. The survivors are the husband, the following children, John H. Doran of Marinette, Herbert J., Edward C., and Miss Frances J. Doran of Menominee, and Roy F. Doran of Chicago, two sisters, Mrs. Patrick Curley of Stiles, Wis., Mrs. Robert Telford of Milwaukee, a brother, George McKeever of Milwaukee, and eighteen grandchildren. Another brother, William McKeever of Oconto Falls, died on April 17, at a sanitarium in Milwaukee where he was receiving treatment.The body was removed to the Lemieux Funeral Home and will be taken back to the family home Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Funeral services will be held Monday morning from St. John's church and the Very Rev. Father Dennis Cleary will officiate. Interment will be at Riverside. Mrs. Doran was a member of the Altar Society of St. John's church and was also a member of St. Mary's Court of Foresters. Relatives from away who came to attend the final rites included Mr. and Mrs. Roy F. Doran of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. Leo T. Doran of Hermansville, Howard and Octave Gravel, Miss Sue Rock and George McKeever of Milwaukee, Mr. and Mrs. D. A. McIsaak of Waukegan, Ill., Miss Marjorie Ounsworth of Kansas City, Mo., Mrs. Peter Graf, Mrs. William McKeever and daughter Stella, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Peck, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer McKeever of Oconto Falls, Mrs. Patrick Curley, John Curley, Mr. and Mrs. John O'Neil of Stiles, Wis., Mr. and Mrs. John Merline, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Merline, Leo Merline, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Donlevy, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Frank Donlevy, Jr., Homer and Peter Donlevy, Mrs. Lee Deterville and Mrs. William Curran of Oconto, Mrs. Elizabeth Waggoner and Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Waggoner of Green Bay and Fred Murphy, Iron River, Mich." 

        + James Doren - husband of Mary McKeever
            b: 1847-
            d: 1934.
    Children of Michael and Francis:
        1.  Elizabeth McKeever 
            b:  Sep 25, 1866 Wisconsin
            d:  May 22, 1951 in Oconto County, Wisconsin
            burial: Oconto Catholic Cemetery, city of Oconto, Wisconsin
        + Patrick Curley - husband of Elizabeth Mc Keever, his #2 wife
            b:  Mar 1849 in Belleville Ontario, Canada
            m: Nov 1, 1906 in Stiles, Oconto County, WI; age 57 years
            d: after 1920
(Notes on Elizabeth: In 1880 she was living with brother-in-law James Doran and wife Marie [b: 1857] in Oconto; in 1900 living on Stiles family farm with her widowed father, brother George A. and father's grand daughter Nellie b: March 1890 in Wisconsin, all using McKeever surname)
        2. William J. McKeever
            b: 1869 Wisconsin
            d: Apr 17, 1928 Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
            burial - : St Anthony Catholic Cemetery, city of Oconto, Wisconsin
(Notes on William J. McKeever: son Raymond William McKeever,  born Dec 25, 1899 Oconto, Wisconsin     William J Mc Keever, Ernil Olive Stuart
        + Ermie Olive Siewart (Stewart) - wife of William  

Left to Right
 Ermie Siewart McKeever, Mert Whiting, Stella McKeever Hickey 
            b: Jan 3, 1876
            m: June 15, 1898
            d: Dec. 7, 1947
            burial : St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery, city of Oconto, Wisconsin
        3. Julie McKeever  
            b: 1873 Oconto County, Wisconsin, USA
            d: Mar 6, 1963;  Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, USA ; age 90 years
         + Robert Leonard Telford - husband of Julia F. McKeever
            b: 1872
            m: 1895 - Oconto County Reporter June 20, 1895 Miss Julia McKeever and Mr. Tulford were married at St. Joseph’s church on Wednesday.
            d: 1962
       4.  Maggie Stella McKeever
            b:  July 17, 1873
            d:  July 25, 1893
            burial: Oconto Catholic Cemetery, city of Oconto; no stone 
        5. George Andrew McKeever
            b: May 13, 1877 Stiles, Oconto County,  Wisconsin, United States
            d:  Nov. 16, 1947 Milwaukee, Wisconsin
            burial: St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery, city of Oconto, Wisconsin
(Notes on George McKeever -
Word was received here Sunday of the death of George McKeever of Milwaukee, who died there in a hospital on Sunday after suffering with a heart ailment for the past two years. His demise was caused by pneumonia. The remains were brought to the O'Neill funeral home Tuesday afternoon, where they were viewed by friends in the evening and the rosary was recited. Funeral services were held at St. Anthony's catholic church on Wednesday morning at nine, the Rev. Francis Francart officiating, with burial in the catholic cemetery. Mr. McKeever was a member of the Holy Name Society. Mr. McKeever was born May 13, 1876 at Stiles, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Michael McKeever. He was married June 12, 1912 to Anna Maike, who passed away two years ago. He was employed in the paper mill here before moving to Milwaukee about thirty years ago. Survivors are one daughter, Mrs. Jerry Liermann, two grand daughters, Diana and Jean Ann, two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Curley of Lena and Mrs. Robert Telford of Milwaukee. Mrs. Ermie McKeever of Oconto Falls is a sister-in-law.)
         + Anna A. Maike - wife of George A.
            b: 1888
            m: June 12, 1912
            d: 1945 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
            burial: St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery, city of Oconto, Wisconsin

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