Edward M. Keating is the father of Michael and John Keating. Edward brought his children to the United States from Tipperary, Ireland, with his wife Honora in 1850. They settled in St. Louis, and then Honora passed away in 1862. Edward took his children to Cincinnati after his wife passed away. Their oldest daughter Mary stayed behind in St. Louis, and married into the McGahan family. This family is still in St. Louis today and some also follow this page.
Edward got remarried to Julia Green. Julia was a widow who had four of her own children, Cornelius, William, Jeremiah, and Maggie. Edward’s Last Will and Testament leaves to his second wife, whatever he is legally obligated to be left to a second wife with whom no issue (children) were had. He leaves the rest jointly to John and Michael. Edward wrote this will in 1884, and passed away in 1885. By that time, his oldest son Nicholas, also a stone carver like his father and brothers, had already passed away. The witnesses for the will are Krato F. Topp and Thomas F. Shay. A Cincinnati Directory from 1880 shows Krato to be a “law student” and Thomas to be a lawyer – so by the time this will was drafted, Edward likely hired a firm at which Krato and Thomas worked to draft the will.
Excerpts from 1880 Cincinnati Directory, witnesses to Keating will:
TRANSCRIPTION OF WILL:
Pleas at the courthouse in Cincinnati in the County of Hamilton and State of Ohio, of the Hamilton County Probate Court at a session thereof held at the place aforesaid on the Sixteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty five before the Honorable Herman P. Goebel sole Judge of said Court.
Hamilton Probate Court. Be it remembered that on the sixteenth day of March in the year of our Lord on thousand eighteen hundred and eighty five the last will and testament of Edward M Keating late of this County deceased was this day presented to the Court for Probate and Record clothed in the words and figures, to wit:
In the name of the benevolent Father of all; I Edward M. Keating of the City of Cincinnati County of Hamilton and State of Ohio do make and publish this my last will and testament. Item First Realizing as I do the respective relations of my wife and children and wishing to do that which in my judgment is just and thereby give only to those that are worthy and deserving among them I have therefore after due deliberation concluded to devise my property herein after stipulated.
Item second, to my wife I give only that which the law provides a second wife where no issue has been born shall have. Item second to my beloved sons John and Michael Keating I give and bequeath all and singular my estate both real and personal and mixed absolutely and in fee simple. Item 3rd I do having revoked all former wills by me made. Item 4th I do hereby nominate my son John and Michael Keating as my Executors and it is my request that they be required to give no bond. I do further request that no inventory or appraisement of my estate shall be made or required. In testimony whereof I have hereinto set my hand this 31st day of January 1884. Edward M. Keating. Signed and acknowledged by said Edward M. Keating as his last will and testament in our presence and signed by us in his presence. Krato F. Topp, Thomas F. Shay, thereupon on the same day, Thomas F. Shay and Krato F. Topp the subscribing witnesses of the last will and testament of Edward M. Keating late of this County deceased appeared in our court and were duly sworn and examined according to law and their testimony therein was reduced to writing and filed in manner and form following to wit.
Keating Dollhouse 