John Keenan
Born: 1785, Antrim, Northern Ireland
Died: December 23, 1871, Hogansburg, New York
Relation to author: 3rd Great Grandfather
Bernard Keenan
Born: November 14, 1897, North Lawrence, New York
Died: October 24, 1971, Brasher Falls, New York
Relation to Author: Grand Uncle
When my mom talked about the farm she grew up on, she would sometimes say that her dad didn't get the good farm. Instead, her dad's brother got the good farm. Did you ever hear this? I had so many questions. Recently I talked to and emailed with my uncle and got more of the details.
The farm that my mom grew up on (on Peru Street) was run by her mom and dad, Hubert and Helen Keenan until Hubert's heart attack. Hubert got the farm from his dad - James (J.J.) Keenan - who got the farm from his in-laws (Patrick Leary and Homora McCarthy) after he and Mary Leary married.
The farm that Hubert's brother, Bernard Keenan, ran was the good farm - the original one that was started by our first Keenan ancestor in America, John Keenan, when he moved to the U.S. from Northern Ireland. It is located in Helena, you can find it by searching 228 Keenan Rd, Brasher Falls, NY 13613, in Google maps.
This original 197 acre farm was settled by John Keenan (B:1785. D:1871, 3rd Great Grandfather) in 1821. His son Bernard Keenan (B:1829. D:1891, my 2nd Great Grandfather) took over the farm and ran it until his two sons, Patrick and James (J.J.) Keenan took over. After James married Mary Leary, they took over the Peru Street farm from Mary's parents. Patrick Keenan still was running the home farm until he died in 1919. James's son Bernard (Hubert's brother) and some of the other family members ran the farm until James bought out the estate of 197 acres in 1927 and gave it to his son Bernard, who took over.
