George Keenan (1818-1891?) and Matilda Fox Keenan, both originally from Ireland, settled in Fitchburg Township, Dane County, Wisconsin in 1843. George Keenan farmed and operated a boot and shoe store in Madison before buying an 800-acre farm in Dunn Township. He was a prominent and influential pioneer of that community, and he held several township offices. Among his six surviving children were George (1859-1915) and William (1852-1935). George earned his medical degree in 1883 and practiced in Stoughton briefly before moving to Madison in 1890. In 1893 he was appointed United States consul to Germany. He returned to Madison in 1899, remaining there until his death.
William Keenan became a friend and active political supporter of Robert M. La Follette, Sr. He married Alice Colladay, whose family also were prominent early Dunn Township residents. Their son, Harry A. Keenan (1877-1948) received his medical degree in 1903. He interned in Milwaukee and practiced briefly at Solon Springs, Wisconsin. Keenan married Pearl Netherwood (1879-1910), a certified nurse, in 1905. Her parents were C.W. Netherwood (1843-1938), and Lucy Gilbert Netherwood.
Harry A. Keenan and Pearl Keenan moved to Tacoma, Washington, where he worked as a ship's doctor on runs between Seattle and Nome, Alaska. They had two children, Elizabeth (1906-1985) and Walter (1910-1966). Pearl died from blood poisoning following the birth of her second child in 1910. Harry Keenan then returned to Edgerton, Wisconsin, where he practiced a year before moving to Stoughton. His second wife was Martha Willson (1888-1954), a graduate of Stout College and a kindergarten teacher, whom he married in 1913. Her parents were Dexter Willson and Martha (Myrtle?) Hall Eillson of Edgerton. The second Mrs. Keenan was active in Stoughton civic affairs.
Harry Keenan was a medical officer in the army during World War I. He was commissioned as a major in 1920 and a lieutenant colonel in the reserves in 1930. In addition to his medical practice, he served as alderman of Stoughton for two terms, president of the board of trustees for Lakeview Sanitarium, and president of the Dane County Medical Society. In 1943, at age 66, he was featured in a Look magazine article as an outstanding example of a doctor doing work on the home front during World War II. He died on July 7, 1948.
Walter E. Keenan served in the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1934 to 1937. During World War II he served in the army in Europe. Captured by the Germans, he spent some time in OFLAG 64, an officers' prison camp in Poland. From 1950 to 1952 he served in the occupation of Japan, retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He married Bernice Emerson of Milwaukee. They had three children - Mardi, Judy, and William. Walter Keenan died at Whitefish Bay on June 19, 1966.
Elizabeth Keenan became a registered nurse before marrying Walter Coombs of Madison. She died in Edgerton on July 11, 1985, survived by two daughters, Lucy Coombs and Nancy Coombs Graham.
