My Genealogy Hound

Bernard O’Keeffe, merchant of Fort Smith, Ark., was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, in May, 1863, and is the son of Hugh and Mary (Murphy) O’Keeffe, who were among the sturdy yeomanry of County Wicklow. The family have lived on the same farm in the “Emerald Isle” for several generations, and the old homestead is now occupied by Mary (Murphy) O’Keeffe and four of her children. She was formerly a teacher in the national schools of Ireland. Her husband died March 17, 1876, at the age of eighty-three years, both families being devoted members of the Roman Catholic Church. They were the parents of six children: John, Anastasia, Jennie, Pat, Bernard and Joseph. September 10, 1883, Bernard O’Keeffe embarked on the steamer Republic for America, and landed at New York City on the 21st of September, remaining only one day in that city. He came almost immediately to Fort Smith, and here commenced life as a clerk, which occupation received his attention for about three and a half years, and then he engaged in the mercantile business for himself, his brother, Pat O’Keeffe, who came to the United States in 1887, being in his employ. Mr. O’Keeffe took out his naturalization papers in the fall of 1883. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.