Daniel Kane, 2nd Great-Grandfather, Innishcrone to Philadelphia's Frankford and Kensington Bars

Daniel Kane - Lifestory

Daniel Keane (Kane) was born the 24th of June 1875 to Michael Keane and Anne Rogers of Inishcrone (now referred to as Enniscrone). He was baptized the next day as Dionisius Kane in the Kilglass Parish of County Sligo. His ancestors were also natives of Inishcrone in County Sligo (Irish: Inis Crabhann), a seaside small town with vast views of lush green grass and the blue expanse of the sea.

Daniel Kane and 14 of his family members ranging from 1 years old to 76 years old (William Kane) made the journey to the United States in 1883 by way of New York City, settling in Philadelphia's Frankford and Kensington neighborhoods. The family is buried at New Cathedral Cemetery in the Juniata Park section of Philadelphia, and Holy Seplechre, Glenside, PA.

Throughout his 96 years of life, Dan Kane mainly worked in bars and taverns, earning the title of the "Oldest Bartender in Philadelphia" in 1969 at 94 years of age while tending bar at Hill's Cafe.

Upon arriving in the United States and taking up residence in Philadelphia, Dan Kane worked at the mills in Fishtown. In 1907 he entered the business of bars and taverns, starting with a bar at 20th and Westmoreland that he inherited when his brother died. Starting with that bar in 1907 Dan Kane would own and operate several taprooms in the city throughout his life.

Click for Articles

Dan Kane Oldest Bartender in Phila Sun, Apr 6, 1969 – Page 143 · The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.com

Sun, Apr 6, 1969 – Page 139 · The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.com

Bars, Taverns, Brewing and Bootlegging

Thomas Benedict Kane, Daniel's brother, was proprietor of Kane Bottling Co. in Philadelphia, PA, which made a change during the prohibition from producing liquors and wines to soft drinks and wholesale soda. Charged with bootlegging in 1921, there are many mentions of Thomas continuing business with liquor.
In a large scale scheme involving 5000 barrels of liquor had investigators in a frenzy. Out of the 100 barrels sent to Philadelphia, investigators only ever found 75. 25 barrels of whiskey are sent to Thomas' bottling works on Richmond and Indiana streets. Kane's barrels, however, had the whiskey removed and replaced with water. Kane is acquitted and others in the plot were found guilty of bootlegging.
The suspicion was that the liquor was being sold under the disguise of ginger ale bottles. At another bottling company involved in the scheme, the signal sent to Philadelphians near a warehouse at Amber St. and Eerie Ave. was the flying of the American flag. When the flag rose, it was a signal to "come and get it".

Kane Family Origins

Inishcrone / Enniscrone

The ancient town was recorded as early as the 11th century when this region of Sligo was ruled by the powerful sea-faring clan the O'Dowds, or O'Dubhda in Gaelic. The name shifted from Inishcrone to Enniscrone sometime in the 1840's, and people still debate today about which is the correct name.

Ancient villages with a history of maritime power and sea-faring leaders do not come without legend and myth. One example is the story of "Our Mermaid of Enniscrone" preserved here by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Archeological remains consist of megalithic tombs, ancient ring forts, stone formations dating from 5400 BC to 500 AD.

The ruins of a 17th century fortified house, The Inishcrone / Enniscrone Castle (sometimes called Nolan's Castle) remain along with its basic church known as Valentine's Church for the vicar, Thomas Valentine, who is said to have rebuilt the church after a rebellion in 1798. While further damage to the castle structure has occurred in the last century, the west tower remains, and the castle is still a beautiful sight. The castle is strategically located on route to west Ulster through Connaught and was built for luxury rather than defense. Still, it saw some wartime action, commandeered during the rebellion of 1641 by confederates, and captured by parliament's troops in 1645. Under the the Mac Donnells, the castle was sold to John Crofton and then to Thomas Nolan of Ballinrobe in the 1600's, and after that, to Frances Gore.

Credit / Reference: www.askaboutireland.ie

Kane Family History

Michael Keane / Kane (1842-1892) was born in January of 1842 two miles south of Enniscrone in Doneen, County Sligo, another coastal town situated on the Killala Bay, to William Keane and Mary Diamond. Baptized on the 16th of January 1842 in the Castleconnor district. In Ireland, Michael Kane was a fisherman, and became married to Anne Rogers / Rodgers in the Kilglass Parish in 1864. Over their marriage, they had 14 children across 21 years, one of whom was Daniel Kane.
His Father, William Keane / Kane (1813-1887) is listed in Ireland's Griffith's Valuation (1847-1864) living in the village of Inishcrone (Townland: Carrowhubbuck, Union: Dromore, West, Barony: Tireragh, Co: Sligo) living in a house and additional watch-house, under which half the rent was produced, under the lessor Matthew Neary. There are two Matthew Neary's on the Inishcrone Griffith's Valuation for the Valuation of Tenements so one could assume they may have been father-son. Matthew Neary resided on land which included a house and schoolhouse which was under the lessor Robert Orne, and the other Matthew Neary a property which included a house, offices and a garden. Several others on the Valuation are lessees of either Matthew Neary or Robert Orne. For more about Griffith's Evaluation and the records see here.
It is truly amazing that between William Keane and Daniel Kane, 3 whole generations of Kane's immigrated on the S.S. Devonia ranging in age from 0 years and 9 months to 76 years old, all headed to Philadelphia. The trip took place in 1883 from Glassglow, Scotland to Moville, Ireland, and arriving at New York City's port on the 6th of June. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer article about Daniel Kane, "There was a whole bunch of us Kanes on that boat.".
The family truly stayed together as a family unit, as evidenced by not only the ship manifest and journey to the United States, but also Daniel Kane's business philosophy. He would open up a bar and get it so that it was running well and once he was satisfied, he would then gift the business to someone in his family because he wanted to see the whole family do well. Together in life, and together in death, most of the family is buried at New Cathedral Cemetery in Philadelphia's Juniata Park section. You can read about my trip to New Cathedral Cemetery at my cemetery blog phillyhistorylover.blogspot.com.

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