2005's FEATURED FAMILY
WARDS, KEATINGS GO BACK TO 1855

John and Frances Mae Ward came to White Lake Corners area around 1855 and made it their permanent home. Their descendants are still residing in this area today, including grandson John Keating, Woodgate.  John's father, Timothy "T.J." Keating came north in the early 1900s to work for the New York Central Railroad. He was the third trick operator (12 midnight to 7AM shift) at the Big moose station during the time of the infamous Chester Gillette murder case.  T.J.'s wife was the former Hermine Ward, who served as New York Central station agent in Woodgate from 1937 until the station closed in the sixties. Timothy served as station agent in both White Lake Corners and Forestport.  Timothy and wife Hermine moved to the current Keating residence and raised six children. John Keating raised five sons, John, New Hartford, Larry, Dallas TX, Kevin, Old Forge who is carrying on the Ward/Keating family name in the North country, Terry of Albany, New York and Brian, London, England.

SHINNEY, JIM, JOE, MICHAEL & SIM KEATING in 1910

BILL O'SHAUGHNESSY, ED SEARS, JOHN & TOM KEATING in the thirties in front of the house where John Keating lives today.