McKee, William L.

MCKEE, BAIN, BEES, BERRY, WEST

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/2/2019 at 13:09:12

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa, (Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp. 484-85:

"WILLIAM L. McKEE, farmer and stock-raiser resides on section 35, Richland Township, where he owns 140 acres of excellent farming land in a good state of cultivation. He was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, March 20, 1852, son of John and Mary A. (Bain) McKee, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Scotland, and of Scotch-Irish descent. They removed to Jefferson County in 1854, and a year later to Decatur County, where the father died, in 1864, aged sixty-three years; the latter lives in this county and is seventy-six years old. Mr. McKee was reared on a farm, and has followed farming all his life with the exception of a few years spent on the river. When he first came to this county he entered and bought 500 acres of land from the Government. He was married January 10, 1857, to Mary J. Bees, born in Wayne County, Indiana, daughter of Peter and Mary (Berry) Bees, natives of Wales and England. Their living children are -- John; Florence, wife of Isaac West of this county, has one child - William R.; William C., Virginia E., Frances O., Elma, Ella and Elmer (triplets) and Fanny. The deceased are -- Mary W., Ulysses G., Ulysses R., and Elmer. When Mr. McKee commenced life he had only $50. He worked eighteen hours a day most of the time for two years, running a mill. His two grandfathers served in the war of 1812. A sister of Mrs. McKee's grandfather was stolen by the Indians and was never recovered; her parents thought they saw her some twelve years afterward, but she could not be induced to leave the tribe. Her paternal grandfather served in the war of 1812. Politically Mr. McKee is a Republican and was formerly an Abolitionist. Postoffice, Grand River. He was postmaster at Woodland for four years."

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com)