This Week on My Family History Calendar

Murphy-Keough Calendar  June 15 - June 21
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June 16
Joseph Cornelius Murphy [466] (1887-1974), my great-granduncle, was born on this date in 1887 in Tecumseh, Johnson, Nebraska. Joseph's parents were Michael Daniel O'Murphy [354] and Honora Agnes Butler [355]. Joseph was Michael and Honora's youngest child. In 1916 Joseph married Clara Marie Geis [482] (1898-1976) in O'Neill, Holt, Nebraska. Clara's parents were Francis William Geis [515] and Katherine Agnes Healey [516]. Although Joseph and Clara started out farming, Joseph soon turned to banking and later established the J.C. Murphy Real Estate and Insurance Company in Kansas City where they made their home. Joseph and Clara had five children, the youngest of whom died in infancy. However it was the death of their only son (a pilot) who died in Navy test flight accident, that caused a tremendous heartache and loss that Joseph found it difficult to deal with - his son's death also ended the Michael Murphy family surname.

June 17
Francis J. Gilg [2940] (1913-2009) and Lenore Claire Sullivan [500] (1913-1960), my first cousin twice removed, were married on this date in 1941 in O'Neill, Holt, Nebraska. Francis' parents were Edward J. Gilg [3134] and Mary Tushla [3135]. Lenore's parents were Michael Paul Sullivan [499] and Ellen Jane Murphy [475]. Francis and Lenore made their home in O'Neill, Nebraska and they had four children.

Raymond Peter Tracey [358[ (1924-2003), my first cousin once removed, and Thelma Florence Woods [1045] (1929-2007) were married on this date in 1950 in Seattle, King, Washington. Ray's parents were Richard Tracey [215] and Kathleen Theresa Murphy [209]. Thelma's parents were Roy William Woods [1234] and Florence C. Joeger [1235]. Ray and Thelma made their home in the Seattle area and they had six children.

June 20 
Clarence V. Donohoe [2210] (1912-1956) and Dorothy Lois Sullivan [501] (1914-1998), my first cousin twice removed, were married on this date in 1938 in Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska. Clarence's parents were Thomas Francis Donohoe [2211] and Elizabeth McNichols [2212]. Dorothy's parents were Michael Paul Sullivan [499] and Ellen Jane Murphy [475]. Clarence and Dorothy made their home in Holt County, Nebraska and they had ten children.

Do any of these names or places sound familiar? Perhaps we share some extended family. If so I would love to hear from you, share information, and together we can grow our family tree. 

This Week on My Family History Calendar

Murphy-Keough Family
Image made with wordle.net - thanks

May 18
Anna Claire Shaughnessy [1008] (1920-2009) my second cousin once removed, was born on this date in 1920 in The Dalles, Wasco, Oregon. Her parents were Simon Shaughnessy [495] and Edna Melvina Shaw [838]. Anna was married first to Calvin L. Crill [5664] (1918-1967) and they had two children. She later married Anthony Zemaitis [1105] (1919-1973).

May 19
Gerald Keough [268] (1916- 2003) my second cousin once removed, was born on this date in 1916 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. His parents were James Keough [236] and Elizabeth Heaney [238]. Gerald married Ethel Bernadette O'Neil [269] (1925-1997) and they had five children.

May 21
Patrick Keough [239] (1880-unknown) my first cousin once removed, was born on this date in 1880 in Plate Cove East, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland. His parents were Andrew Keough [172] and Mary Furlong [184]. Patrick served in the military and left Newfoundland, settling in the United States. Patrick is one of those Keoughs I need to find out more about - where in the United States did he live, did he marry and have a family, and where did he end up, are just some of my questions. I need to add Patrick to my to-do list (which keeps getting longer!).

Colleen June Wilcox [7] (1928-1982) my aunt by marriage, was born on this date in 1928 in Saint Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. Her parents were Seley Alvin Wilcox [37] and Neva Delores Rood [38]. Connie together with her two sisters were always referred to as "the Wilcox girls." She married my uncle Andrew Gordon Keough [6] (1926-1972) in 1946 in Seattle, King, Washington. Connie and Gordon had eight children, one of whom died within hours of his birth. Our Aunt Connie was beautiful, funny, clever and quite talented. She was an excellent seamstress/tailoress with an eye for high fashion and the ability to recreate those clothes on a budget. She was a terrific dancer, and had an energetic personality. It was always a treat to visit and play with our cousins and when we all went to my grandfather's home for birthdays or holidays - it was a very full and noisy house.

May 23
Mary Loretto Kelley [1640] (1882-1966) my great-great aunt by marriage, was born on this date in 1882 in Tecumseh, Johnson, Nebraska. Her parents were William Arthur Kelley [1630] and Julia Agnes Kelly [1631]. She and my great-great uncle David Francis Murphy [476] (1880-1952) were married in 1906 in Tecumseh, Johnson, Nebraska. Mary and David had two daughters. They farmed first in O'Neill and later in Tecumseh.  I have one of their daughters to thank for an assist with my family history as she worked on a collection of pedigrees, memories and photos of the various branches of the Murphy family that was given to family members including my father in the 1980s.

May 24 
Bridget Tracey [1387] (1895-1968) my second cousin twice removed, was born on this date in 1895 in Plate Cove East, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland. Her parents were James Tracey [1222] and Agnes Walsh [1223]. She married Bernard Keough [246] (1888-1957) (my first cousin twice removed - it's a small world) in 1916 in Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland. Bernard and Bridget has eleven children.

This Week on My Family History Calendar

April 28
My second great grandparents, James Joseph Murphy [352] (1819-1882) and Ellen Kiley [353] (1834-1913), were married on this day in 1860 in Nebraska City, Otoe, Nebraska. James' parents were Patrick Murphy [891] and Mary McCabe [892]. Ellen's parents were John Kiely [5717] and Catherine Driscoll [5804]. Both James and Ellen were originally from Ireland and each arrived in the USA in the 1850s. James and Ellen made their home in Vesta, Johnson, Nebraska and their homestead farm, acquired in 1867, remains in the family today. James and Ellen had seven children.

April 29
Charles Oliver Tucker [211] (1880-1963), my great great uncle by marriage, was born on this day in Johnson, Nemaha, Nebraska. His parents were James Riley Tucker [1142] and Mary Elizabeth Phelan [1143]. Charles was married to my great great aunt Johannah M. Murphy [478] (1884-1926), the daughter of Michael Daniel Murphy [354] and Honora Agnes Butler [355]. Charles and Hannah had three children. 

April 30
Bridget Keough [2001] (1894-1967), my second cousin twice removed, was born in on this day in Boyds Cove, Newfoundland. Her parents were Andrew Keough [945] and Charlotte Mary Keats [1501]. Bridget was married to Peter Donahue [2027] (1891-1961).

Richard Michael Tracey [357] (1922-2002), my first cousin once removed, and Dorothy May Brown [1044] (1922-2004) were married on this day in 1945 in Houston, Harris, Texas. His parents were Richard Tracey [215] and Kathleen Theresa Murphy [209]. Her parents were Edwin Brown [1227] and Mary Ivison [1228]. Dick and Dorothy had two children.

May 3
My great great uncle Daniel Paul Murphy [471] (1871-1899) was born on this day in Rock Port, Atchison, Missouri. His parents were Michael Daniel Murphy [354] and Honora Agnes Butler [355]. Daniel contracted tuberculosis as a teenager. He married Minnie C. Sanford [479] (1878-unknown) in 1897 but sadly, Daniel died about eighteen months after the marriage.

Clarence V. Donohoe [2210] (1912-1956) was born on this day in O'Neill, Holt, Nebraska. His parents were Thomas Francis Donohoe [2211] and Elizabeth McNichols [2212]. In 1938 he married my first cousin twice removed Dorothy Lois Sullivan [501] (1914-1998). Her parents were Michael Paul Sullivan [499] and Ellen Jane Murphy [475]. Clarence and Lois had ten children.

Do we share any family members? If so, I would enjoy hearing from you and sharing information. Until next week ...