The Youngest, But Also the First

Bernard Keenan
Born: November 7, 1829, Hogansburg, New York
Died: April 8, 1891, Hogansburg, New York
Relation to Author: 2nd Great Grandfather

Bernard Keenan was the first of my direct Keenan ancestors to be born in the United States. He was the youngest of John Keenan and Elizabeth Hammill's 9 children. John and Elizabeth were both born in County Antrim, Ireland and of their children, 5 were born in Ireland and the other 4 were born after the family emigrated from Ireland in 1821.

As the first in my direct Keenan line born in New York, I think it is worth considering the world he was born into. In 1829, Andrew Jackson was sworn in as president and the next year would sign the Indian Removal Act, sending Native American tribes east of the Mississippi to west of the river. Four years before Bernard's birth the Erie Canal opened, connecting the interior of the country (great lakes region) to the port cities of the east coast.

So Bernard is born during a period of transition. The American Revolution and War of 1812 are long behind and the Civil War is more than 30 years away. And while there was seemingly enough land for John Keenan's family in upstate New York, clearly there were enough land troubles in other parts of the country to make the Indian Removal Act popular.