Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

He married Mary McNamara on August 1, 1906. at St.
Patrick's Catholic Church. Anamosa. They became the
parents of four children: James J . Conmey. Lawrence
J . Conmey. Margaret and Anna. James died in 1986. in
Boca Raton. Florida; Margaret Conmey and Anna
Conmey Cavanaugh both reside in Albuquerque. New
Mexico.
Lawrence remained in Anamosa where he operated
Conmey Real Estate as broker and appraiser from 1943
until his death in 1975. His office was the Conmey
Building on Main and Ford streets. Lawrence's two
sons are Larry Jordon Conmey and William Grey
Conmey. Larry is presently serving as judge from the
Iowa Sixth Judicial District. He married Mary Kathleen
McNamara (unrelated to the Mary McNamara before
mentioned) July 29. 1977. and they are the parents of
two children. Kelly Jeanette and Michael Jordon.
Lawrence's other son. William "Bill"Conmey
married Julie Frasher on June 25. 1977.They are the
parents of two children: James William and Jessica
Erin. Bill. following in his father's career. is in the real
estate business on the corner where his father and
grandfather were located. This building has been
owned and occupied by the Conmey family since 1895.
The McKean family originally came from Scotland.
and were what is known as Scotch-Irish. settling in
Ireland about the close of the 16th century. They came
to the colonies of North America about 1700. Thomas
McKean was an early governor of Pennsylvania and a
signer of the Declaration of Independence.
The first McKean to settle in Jones county was Rev.
James McKean. He was bom in Washington County.
Pennsylvania. Sept. 24. 1795. A veteran of the War of
1812. he was married to Nancy Smith in 1822. He was
licensed to preach by the Presbytery in 1825. In 1834
he was sent as a missionary to Ohio. where he settled as
pastor of Waynesburg. Still Fork. and Bethlehem
churches. at a salary of $400 per year.
In 1854 he moved to Jones county where he preached
at both the Scotch Grove and Wayne Presbyterian
churches. He died at Scotch Grove Sept. 1. 1876. He is
remembered as a man of strong convictions. pungent
logic and strict morals. but also as a man who had a
great store of Irish wit.
Rev. James and Nancy McKean had one daughter.
who died in her childhood. and seven sons. The seven
sons became prominent citizens. in and around Jones
county and Anamosa. They were: James. Hugh.
Fergus. Francis. Alexander. Charles and John.
James W. was ordained as minister in the
Presbyterian church and served as President of Lenox
College in Hopkinton. He met his death during the Civil
Warin 1864.
Dr.Hugh McKean. the beloved physician of Scotch
Grove. died in 1865.
Fergus S. McKean. an attomey. lived in Anamosa. He
served as Jones County Treasurer. He died in 1865.
Francis C. McKean was also an attorney in Anamosa
prior to moving to Colorado. He died in 1874.
Dr. Alexander McKean was the physician at Center
Junction for many years before his death in 1910.
Charles Beatty McKean farmed near Scotch Grove
where died in 1902.
Judge John McKean lived in Anamosa where he
practiced law. He was elected to serve in both houses of
the state legislature and served as circuit court judge
until his death in 1891.
Judge McKean was born in Pennsylvania July 19.
1835. and came to Jones county with his parents when
he was 19. He returned East for his legal education and
then came back to Anamosa in 1861 where he read law
with S.T. Pierce.
He represented Jones county in the Iowa House from
1866 to 1870 and in the Iowa Senate from 1870 to
1872. As a representative. he was chainnan of the
McKean family
submitted by Rep. Andy McKean
I60
Committee on Constitutional Amendments. an
important position in that juncture of national history.
He introduced the bill. which became a law. allowing
townships. towns and cities to levy a five percent tax to
aid in the construction of railroads. As senator he
served on the Committee of Ways and Means. and the
Judiciary.
As a legislator. he showed himself an ardent friend of
the State University and of educational matters
generally.
He served for six years as a Regent of the State
University and. while in the Senate. he originated the
measure and secured the passage of a bill for a second
penitentiary to be located at Anamosa.
Judge McKean took his seat on the bench in 1873
where he served until his death in 1891. At the time of
his death. he was a candidate for the Iowa Supreme
Court.
He was a Democrat until the Civil War broke out. and
shortly afterward becarne a Republican. He was a
Freemason. a member of the Commandery. and an Odd
Fellow. He was an elder of the Presbyterian Church and
a Trustee of Lenox College.
Judge McKean married Nancy Ann Ellis Carr. a Civil
War widow. in 1865. They lived on North Garnaviilo
Street and became the parents of six children: Fergus.
Delia. John. Nancy Jane. A. Beatrice. and Samuel
Hugh.
After the death of the Judge. the family scattered.
Fergus. who had been practicing law at Anamosa.
moved to Alberta. Canada. where he had a large cattle
ranch. Delia married and moved to Nebraska. Nancy
Jane married and moved to Dubuque. John was
newpaper editor in Spokane. Washington. A. Beatrice
married Elmer Prather. a magician in a sideshow. They
became quite successful as the originators of the ‘how
to do it’ books and eventually settled near Paris.
France. Samuel worked in his sister's business. He
lived in Brussells. Belgium, for a number of years before
settling in New York State.
It is interesting to note how families come and go. A
century ago. there were seven McKean families in
Jones county; three of which were in Anamosa. One
would think that 100 years later there would be many
McKeans in the area. However. that is not the case.
In 1987 the only McKean family in Anamosa and
Jones county is the Andy McKean family at 509 South
Oak. Andy. great-great-grandson of Rev. James
McKean and great-grandson of Judge John McKean,
was born and raised in New York State. In 1965. as a
teenager. he came to Jones County. thanks to the