HUGH McKEE

MCKEE, CORROUGH, MARTIN

Posted By: Norma Nielson (email)
Date: 12/31/2004 at 12:43:59

Hugh McKee devotes his time and energies to general farming on section 16, Lincoln township. He has spent the greater part of his life in this state and is now a well known and highly respected resident of Adair county. His birth occurred in County Down, Ireland, on the 24th of March, 1845, his parents being Alexander and Jane (Corrough) McKee, the former a native of the Isle of Man and the latter of County Down, Ireland. In his boyhood days Alexander McKee accompanies his parents to County Down, where he was reared and married. He and his wife began their domestic life there and continued residents of that county until about 1866 or 1867, when they came to the United States, making their way to Muscatine county, Iowa. In 1872 they removed to Adair county, Iowa and the father purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in Lincoln township, to which he added from time to time until his holdings aggregated nine hundred and fifty acres. He thus won a place among the large landowners and prosperous citizens of the community. He reached the venerable age of ninety-three years but his wife passed away in 1874, when in her sixty-first year.

Hugh McKee spent his youthful days with his parents and the district schools of Ireland afforded him his educational opportunities, supplemented by a year’s study in the United States. After he had attained his majority he remained at home, working for his father until he reached his thirty-third year with the exception of about three years spent in Wisconsin, during which time he was employed in the pineries and at farm work. This was during the latter ‘60s. He then returned to Iowa and remained at home until 1878, when he began farming on his own account, cultivating a tract of rented land for three years. He was ambitious to own property, however, and during that period carefully saved his earnings until he felt able to purchase a farm. He borrowed one thousand dollars with which to make the first payment upon a tract of eighty acres and then he bent his energies toward discharging his indebtedness. After five years he was able to purchase another eighty-acre tract adjoining his original place and he continued to cultivate the farm for a time but eventually sold that property and purchased his present home place of one hundred and forty acres, which constitutes one of the fine farms of Lincoln township. He carefully and systematically tills the soil and good crops annually reward his efforts. He is diligent and determined in all that he undertakes and whatever success he has achieved in the merited reward of his earnest labor.

In 1880 Mr. McKee was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E. Martin, of Stuart, Iowa, who was born in the state of Ohio. To them have been born twelve children, seven of who survive, namely: James A., Frank, Myrtie, Alice, David, Mary and Harold.

Politically Mr. McKee is a republican, thoroughly informed concerning the questions and issues of the day and giving earnest support to the party principles. For several years he has acceptably filled the office of township trustee and for more than thirty years served as road supervisor. He is a member of Token Lodge, No. 304, F. & A. M., and he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, in the teachings of which is found the motive spirit that has guided him in all of his relations in life. His fellow citizens recognize in him a man of sterling worth who has held to high principles throughout his entire career.

Source: "History of Adair County Iowa and its People," Volume II (Chicago, The Pioneer Publishing Company), 1915.