Keating, John

KEATING, KENNEDY

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 7/28/2021 at 11:39:31

John Keating, one of the early settlers of Washington County, is a farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 14, Washington Township. He is a native of County Down, Ireland, born Sept. 7, 1835. When sixteen years old he came to this country and located in Herkimer County, N. Y., where he engaged in farming. He subsequently removed to Kalamazoo, Mich., and in 1858 came to Washington County, Iowa, where he was employed on a farm.

In September, 1861, Mr. Keating enlisted in Co. F, 11th Iowa Vol. Inf. The regiment received its first baptism of fire at the battle of Shiloh, where with the 15th and 16th Iowa, it formed a third brigade of the 6th Division of the 17th Army Corps. In this battle Mr. Keating was wounded in the hand, but remained with his company. The second battle in which the regiment participated was at Corinth. The winter of 1862-63 was spent in operating in front of Vicksburg, Millikin’s Bend, Providence, Bayou Tensas and Macon, till the close of the Vicksburg campaign in July, 1863. In August, 1863, it was sent with the expedition to Monroe, La., and in October, to Jackson, Miss., where they had and engagement with Joe Johnston, driving him from the field. Returning to Vicksburg, they went into camp, where they remained until the following winter, when they were sent on the Meridian raid under Gen. Sherman. In March, 1864, most of the regiment veteranized, receiving a furlough and coming home. Returning to the front he joined Gen. Sherman’s army in Georgia, and marched with him to the sea, and thence to Bentonville, N. C. which was the last engagement in which the regiment participated. It was present at the surrender of Johnston and while lying in camp near Durham Station, it first heard of the assassination of President Lincoln. After the surrender of Johnston the regiment continued on its way to Washington, D. C., where it formed part of the grand review, and was subsequently mustered out at Louisville, Ky., and discharged at Davenport, Iowa.

Returning to Washington County, Mr. Keating purchased forty acres of land on section 14, Washington County, to which he has since made additions, and has now 146 acers of fine land, all of which is under a high stated of cultivation, and valued at $45 per acre. Mr. Keating was married, in 1863, to Miss Isabella Kennedy, who was also a native of Ireland. By this union there are four sons and four daughters – Margaret J., Mary A., Alice, Walter F., John E., Jenny, Charles H. and Howard. In politics, Mr. Keating is a Republican. In educational matters he has always taken a deep interest. The family attend the Baptist Church. For his services in the war of the Rebellion, and for the injuries received therein, Mr. Keating receives the munificent sum of $2 per month. Coming to this county a poor man, like thousands of others, by hard work and good management he has secured enough of this world’s goods to render him comfortable for life.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of John Keating, page 344.