San Francisco County
Biographies
THOMAS KEANE
THOMAS KEANE,
deceased, for many years one of San
Francisco’s most prominent business men, was a resident of California since
1863, and up to the time of his death, in April, 1890, was actively interested
in business interests in this city. He
was born in Kilrush, county
Clare, Ireland,
in 1841, of a good Irish family. His
father was a well-to-do farmer of that county, and the family have been well
known and highly respected for many generations. Thomas received his early education in the
school of the Christian Brothers, of Kilrush, where
he graduated in 1856. He commenced his
business education in his native land, serving an apprenticeship to the dry
goods business, which he learned very thoroughly. In that country the young men apprentices to
that trade learn not only how to sell goods, but of what material they are made
and how they are woven, so that almost by the touch they can tell the quality
of a fabric. He came to America
in 1862, and was employed a short time at his business in New
York city. In 1863 he came to San
Francisco, where he soon afterward made his first
venture into business, opening a dry-goods house on Third
street, meeting with
immediate success. In 1867 Thomas Keane
and his brother James formed a copartnership with
Messrs. O’Connor and Moffet, opening a store in Kearny
street, under the firm
name of Keane, O’Connor & Co. This
business continued until the term of partnership expired in 1879, when the firm
name of Keane Bros. Was again resumed. Since
his brother’s death in 1880, Mr. Keane has been the sole manager of the
business, although the firm name of Keane Bros. has been retained. In 1887 the business
was moved to its present location on Market street,
where it has since continued.
In 1873 Mr. Keane
was married to Miss Mary Josephine Difley, a native
of St. Louis, Missouri,
but who has been a resident of California
since her early childhood. Her father,
Peter Difley, also a native of Ireland,
has been a successful business man of San Francisco,
first as a contractor and builder, but for many years retired from
business. Mrs. Keane is a highly
cultivated women, who received the fullest educational
training in her mother’s home and at the Convent of the Sacred Heart of San
Francisco, where she graduated in 1869.
She has brought up her family with the same care she received in her own
home. Her mother was a remarkable
person, a women of education and good judgment, and of
a family highly connected in St. Louis. Her maiden name was Carlin, and town of Carlinville
in Southern Illinois having been named for one of the
family, Governor Thomas Carlin. Mr.
Keane left a widow and eight children:
the eldest, James,
born in 1874, and the youngest, Marguerite, was less than a year
old at her father’s death. He
fortunately left his family in good circumstances, and during all the years of
his active connection with the business interests of San
Francisco he held an enviable reputation, and has left
a name of which his children may be proud.
Mr. Keane was a Roman Catholic, and a member and regular attendant of
the Church of the Sacred Heart. He was a
gentleman reverenced among his business associates for his honesty and
uprightness of purpose, respected by his employes
(sic) as a friend, known throughout the entire community as a model Christian
and generous benefactor, whose kindly smile and genial ways won all hearts,
whose business life was a synonym for honor and integrity, and whose home life
was lovable and beautiful in the highest degree.
Transcribed 8-17-05 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2, Page 265-6, Lewis
Publishing Co, 1892.
©
2005 Marilyn R. Pankey.
California Biography Project
San Francisco County
California Statewide
Golden Nugget Library