Arthur Bernard O'Keefe, a self-educated and self-made man, has come to rank with the capable lawyers of New Haven and has also been numbered among those who have aided in framing the laws of the state. He was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, May 18, 1883, a son of Michael and Margaret (Caldwell) O'Keefe. The father was a native of Ireland and came to the United States many years ago. He was married on this side of the Atlantic to Miss Margaret Caldwell, who was a representative of an old New Hampshire family. The parents of Arthur B. O'Keefe removed to Branford in his infancy, and he was educated in its public schools, while later he spent one year in the high school. He then had to put aside his textbooks in order to provide for his own support and made his preliminary step in the business world upon learning the locksmith's trade, which he followed for six years. Realizing the value of an education and desirous of adding to his mental equipment, he then attended a preparatory school, being graduated from Booth's Preparatory School in 1905. He won his diploma and afterward entered the Yale Law School, from which he was graduated in 1908, receiving the LL. B. degree. In June of the same year he located for practice in New Haven, where he has since followed his profession. He is very careful in the preparation of his cases, is clear and logical in his reasoning and sound in his deductions and he has been connected with much important litigation heard in the courts of the district. He also served as prosecuting attorney in the town court of New Haven in 1914.
     In St. Paul's Roman Catholic church at Worcester, Massachusetts, Mr. O'Keefe was mar-ried on the 3d of September, 1911. to Miss Marie Kerrigan and they have become the parents of three children, Arthur B., Jr., Hugh C. and Nancy.
     The parents attend the St. Lawrence Roman Catholic church and Mr. O'Keefe is identified with the Knights of Columbus and the Knights of Columbus Club, also with the Knights of St. Patrick, the Elks, the Woodmen of the World and the Phoenix Club of West Haven. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party, of which he is a stalwart supporter, and he is a member of the democratic state central committee of the fourteenth senatorial district. In the year 1913 he was a member of the Connecticut state legislature and thus he has been connected with the work of framing as well as of interpreting the laws before the courts. He concentrates his efforts and attention upon his chosen profession, actuated by high ideals and by laudable ambition to attain success. Step by step he has advanced and his progression has brought him to a creditable and enviable place among the able and growing young lawyers of New Haven. His record should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what may be accomplished when one has the will to dare and to do, for handicapped by lack of education, he overcame that difficulty as he has all others, and has now advanced far on the highroad to professional prominence.