John Francis ``Frank'' Kealy Family

John Francis ``Frank'' Kealy

Frank and Addie (Mitchell) Kealy, married 15 Sep 1903

born: 4 Nov 1879, West Side, Crawford Co.,Iowa
died: 19 Jun 1966, Hastings, Nebraska
bur.: 21 Jun 1966, Hastings, Nebraska at Parkview Cemetery
occu: founder of Kealy Construction Company, and previously a farmer and railroad worker
spouse: Adeline Emily ``Addie'' MITCHELL: marr: 15 Sep 1903, Hastings,Nebraska, at St. Cecilia's Church; born: 14 Jun 1881, Clay Co., Nebraska; died: 24 Nov 1955, Hastings,Nebraska; bur.: 26 Nov 1955, Hastings, Nebraska at Parkview Cemetery
Children:: Margaret Mary Kealy (1904-1989); Msgr. Thomas Mitchell Kealy; Florence Adeline Kealy; Richard John ``Dick'' Kealy; Marie Alicia Kealy; Josephine Helen Kealy; Loretta Jane Kealy; Alice Eileen Kealy; Father Daniel Francis ``Dan'' Kealy; Patricia Jeanette ``Pat'' Kealy; Mary Helen Kealy

Pedigree Chart

                      |--------
                      |
           |---------John KEALY (Ireland - 1871)
           |          |
           |          |--------
           |
  |------John Frederick KEALY (1855, New York - 1906)
  |        |
  |        |          |--------
  |        |          |
  |        |---------Julia SAMMONS ( - )
  |                   |
  |                   |--------
  |
John Francis ``Frank'' KEALY (1879, Iowa - 1966, Nebraska)
  |
  |                   |--------Phenton LAWLOR (Ireland - Ireland)
  |                   |
  |        |---------John LAWLOR (1803, Ireland - 1883, Iowa)
  |        |          |
  |        |          |--------
  |        |
  |------Alicia Ellen LAWLER (1858, Iowa - 1944)
           |
           |          |--------
           |          |
           |---------Mary LALOR (1816, Ireland - 1860)
                      |
                      |--------

Frank (as he is almost always known) enlisted in the US Army during the Spanish American war in 1898. He was a corporal in the 3rd Nebraska Regiment, Company K. The battles were all over by the time the regiment was completely assembled. But they were sent to Havana, Cuba and arrived there in January of 1899 where they served on patrol duty and ceremonial occasions. Frank is quoted in an article about this history and the experience in camp in Florida before being sent to Cuba, as follows:

John (``Frank'') Kealy (Dr. Donovan B. Foote's father-in law) later reflected on conditions he experienced while stationed in Florida: ``Our camps were laid out with the row of company cook tents (no fly screens) next to the open latrines and we sat around there in the sand to eat whatever was dished up to us with one hand while using the other to brush flies. Even after a lot of deaths from typhoid, dysentery, etc. there was nothing done about it. One morning nine men in our company was all that could stand up in line to answer roll call.'' Company K was fortunate to have no fatalities in Florida since 5,000 of the 5,400 American deaths in the war were caused by disease.

Frank's Kealy construction company built St. Mark's Cathedral in Hastings. He founded the company in 1910.

For more details, see http://www.rootsweb.com/~neadams/spanish.htm and http://www.stmarkcathedral.org/hst-cath.htm.

Some of Frank's children put together a booklet listing most of his descendents and relatives in 1980. As of 1980, they counted 30 grandchildren (18 boys, 12 girls) and 36 great-grandchildren (13 boys, 23 girls) of Frank and Addie Kealy. I have very little information on the family after that 1980 date.

In May of 1955, Frank and Adeline were awarded the medal Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice from Pope Pius XII, presented by the Bishop, in recognition of their services ``for the Pope and Church.''

More Information: OBITUARIES (of both Frank and Addie)

Sources for this individual: @S1177@ @S1361@ @S565@

Homepage | Genealogy Home | Index | Explanations