The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.
JOHN ROVANE.
John Rovane, who has been a resident of Keokuk for a period of fifty-six years, covering practically his entire life, has been success- fully engaged in business as a merchant of the city for a third of a century and now conducts a well appointed retail grocery establish- ment at No. 500 Palean street.
His birth occurred in New Orleans, Louisiana, on the 26th of March, 1857, his parents being Thomas and Mary (Havey) Rovane. The family of Rovane was of French origin but moved to Ireland for political reasons. It was in 1850 that Thomas Rovane, the father of our subject, left the Emerald isle to take up his abode in the United States. He located first at Marietta, Ohio, and subsequently removed to New Orleans, where he met and married Mary Havey. In 1857 he came to Keokuk, Iowa, and maintained his residence in that city throughout the remainder of his life, although he devoted his attention principally to farming. He worked on the old govern- ment lock here and was directly employed on the concrete work, superintending that particular branch of construction. Thomas Ro- vane gave his political allegiance to the democracy and was a Roman Catholic in religious faith. Unto him and his wife were born three children, of whom our subject is the only survivor.
John Rovane was reared to manhood in Keokuk and attended the public and parochial schools in the acquirement of an education. When a youth of sixteen he began providing for his own support.
securing a position as driver on a delivery wagon. He carefully saved his earnings and at the age of twenty-four years had accumu- lated sufficient capital to embark in the retail grocery business at West Keokuk. He has successfully conducted an enterprise of that character continuously since, removing to his present location at No. 500 Palean street about 1907. Mr. Rovane enjoys an extensive and profitable trade, winning and holding customers by his reliable busi- ness dealings, fair prices and courteous treatment.
On the 4th of October, 1880, Mr. Rovane was joined in wedlock to Miss Margaret Ann Murphy, a daughter of Patrick and Maria (Brady) Murphy. They are the parents of nine living children, namely: John, Jr., Louis A., Nellie F., Rose A., Lucy A., Inez J., Gertrude A., Margaret A. and Ruth J. Two others died in infancy.
Mr. Rovane has ably served as a member of the citv council for si.x years and during a period of four years acted as mayor pro tern, giving his city a businesslike, progressive and beneficial administra- tion. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church, of which he is a devout communicant. In the city where nearly his entire life has been spent, the circle of his friends is almost coex- tensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
Source: public-domain records. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.
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