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O'Keefe, John David

Submitted by Mike Miller

O'Keefe, John David, vice-president of the Whitney-Central National bank, and sustaining other prominent business relations, is a son of John and Catherine (Simpson) O'Keefe. His father was born in Kentucky, but when 5 or 6 years of age, his parents removed to New York City, where he was reared, and in 1864 married Catherine Simpson. Shortly after their marriage, the young couple removed from New York to New Orleans, but after a brief stay in the latter city, they went to Mobile, Ala., and in that city, their son, John David O'Keefe, was born on the 14th of April, 1865, and there the father died in September of the same year. In the following month Mrs. O'Keefe, with her infant son, returned to New Orleans, and in this city John David O'Keefe grew to manhood, was educated and has resided. In the course of his early education, Mr. O'Keefe attended a private school, and after three years there entered St. Aloysius academy. At the expiration of his term in this academy, his mother having moved to the upper portion of the city, he attended Jackson school, which was then in charge of Prof. A. S. Lesche. From this school he graduated, and it was his intention to attend the high school, but instead, be accepted employment with L. C. Keever, a sugar and rice merchant and planter and a member of the firm of James H. Laws & Co., of Cincinnati, O. After remaining with this firm one year, Mr. O'Keefe entered the office of the United States engineers, serving under Maj. W. H. Heuer, corps of engineers, United States army; for 8 years he did clerical work and acted as assistant in various surveys in the vicinity of New Orleans. Nov. 1, 1887, he resigned from this position to accept a position with Woodward, Wight & Co., Ltd., wholesale grocers, etc. In 1896 Mr. O'Keefe became a director of this company, and in 1900 the secretary, and in 1908 the vice-president. Mr. O'Keefe disposed of his interest in the company at the same time Mr. Pearl Wight and his son, Ira E. Wight, withdrew from the corporation, the control thus passing into other hands. In the business world Mr. O'Keefe, by reason of exceptional ability, has forged his way to the front among the leaders in industrial, commercial and financial affairs. In addition to being vice-president of the Whitney-Central National bank, he is also secretary and general manager of the New Orleans Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co., receiver for the Frisco R. R. in Louisiana, president of the Industrial Homestead association, a resident vice-president of the American Surety Co. of New York, member of the board of directors of the New Orleans Railway and Light Co., member of the board of directors of the Louisiana State fair, and also of the Pan-American exposition. He is a member of the New Orleans Board of Trade, also a member of the New Orleans Association of Commerce, the Boston club and several carnival organizations, as well as many other societies. In 1913 Mr. O'Keefe was appointed, by Gov. Hall, a member of the board of port commissioners, the dock board, and was later elected vice-president of the body, but resigned this position when he was appointed receiver for the Frisco R. R. In 1903 Mr. O'Keefe was married to Miss Rita L. McDonald, of Summit, Miss. Mrs. O'Keefe 's father was a lumberman, who, years ago, removed from the state of Maine to Mississippi, and located at Summit, and at one time was associated with Mr. J. J. White, of McComb, Miss, They are numbered among the well and favorably known residents of New Orleans.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 332-333. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

 


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