W. D. McKeon is the vice president of the Newcastle National Bank and the secretary and manager of the Newcastle Land & Live Stock Company, operating extensively in the sheep and cattle industry, their interests being surpassed by those of few individuals or corporations in the state of Wyoming, Mr, McKeon in these connections displays marked discernment, executive ability and unfaltering enterprise and his activities are of a nature that contribute to the material progress and upbuilding of the section in which he resides.
    He has always remained west of the Mississippi river, his birth having occurred in Springfield, Missouri, on the 14^th of June, 1869, his parents being Dennis and Mary (Livingstone) McKeon, the former a native of Ireland, while the latter was born in Pennsylvania. The mother came of Revolutionary war stock, being a direct descendant of the Livingstone who administered the oath of office to George Washington when he was inaugurated president of the United States. Dennis McKeon was a young man when he crossed the Atlantic to the new world and shortly after he responded to the country's call for troops to aid in the preservation of the Union, enlisting in a New York regiment for active service in the Civil war. He went to the front under General Lyons. He had landed in the United States in 1863 in company with his brother-in-law, Patrick Carroll, who also enlisted and was shot through the breast at the battle of Shiloh, He was left for dead on the field, but crawled to the river where the wounded were being transported across, was picked up among the other injured men and finally recovered from his wounds. Dennis McKeon, after about two years' active service, was honorably discharged in 1865, the war having been brought to a successful termination. He located in the vicinity of Springfield, Missouri, where he was married, and there continued to make his home until his death, which occurred about 1912. His widow still survives and is yet living in Springfield.
    W. D. McKeon, of this review, was educated in the public schools and in his youthful days he learned the blacksmith's trade in the railroad shops at Springfield, Missouri. In 1889, when a young man of twenty years, he left home to enter upon his business career, going to Texas, where he rode the range for two years, and in the fall of 1891 he came to Wyoming and through the succeeding five years was employed at blacksmithing in the shops of the Union Pacific Railroad, working along the entire line of the road through Wyoming. During this period, however, or in 1896, in company with John F. Hittle, he established business on his own account in a small way, placing a herd of cattle at the head of Green river, in Fremont county. He then resigned his position with the railroad company, in order to give his entire attention to his live stock business. About this time he sold his cattle holdings to his partner, Mr. Hittle, and organized the Green River Land & Live Stock Company, which was incorporated with Mr. McKeon as secretary and manager. He concentrated his entire attention upon the interests of the company, which engaged in sheep raising only until 1906, when they formed the Newcastle Land & Live Stock Company, which absorbed the former company. The newly formed corporation handles sheep, cattle and horses and has developed into one of the important live stock companies of the state. They control in the neighborhood of four hundred thousand acres of land, on which they range some twenty-five thousand head of sheep and from ten to fifteen thousand head of cattle. Care and attention to their interests, wisdom in the care of their flocks and herds and enterprising methods in the conduct of their business have brought to them a very substantial measure of success.
    In 1896 Mr.McKeon was united in marraige to Miss Emily Bransfield, of Evanston, Wyoming, and to them have been born five children, of whom four are living, Mary Irene, Maurice J., Emily C. and William D.
    In his political views Mr. McKeon is an earnest republican and in 1896 he was elected to the office of treasurer of Green River. Under the administration of Governor Brooks he was appointed to the position of state sheep commissioner of the northern district of Wyoming, but political honors and offices have had little attraction for him, as he had always preferred to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his individual interests. However, he is never neglectful of the duties of citizenship nor unmindful of the obligations that devolve upon him in that way, and he stands for all that is progressive and worth while in the public life of the community. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and both he and his wife are members of the Catholic church. His life is indicative of what may be accomplished through industry and perseverance and may well illustrate to others what may be gained through earnest individual effort.