David (was a farmer, and died when about twenty-eight years of age, leaving a wife, who was formerly Miss Emeline Finch, and four children), William (is married and resides in Washington, where he follows the carpenter and joiner's trade), Fannie (married a farmer, Thomas Love, and died when about seventeen years of age). The parents of these children were natives of the " Empire State," and both are now deceased. The father was an agriculturist. Thomas James McKee's education was received in the common schools of Polk County, and he is strong in the support of all educational institutions. He started out in life for himself when fourteen years of age, without a dollar, but with the determination to succeed in whatever he undertook, and although he experienced many hardships and had very little encouragement and cheer, he came boldly to the front, and is to-day one of the substantial and representative citizens of Cambridge. He has always been a stanch Democrat, and has sustained the principles of true Jacksonianism. He has never taken an active part in politics, but has ever upheld men of honor and principle rather than men who were small in his estimation. Mr. McKee is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Chapter at Nevada. He emigrated direct to Allamakee County, Iowa, when about a year old, and remained there until nearly six years of age, when he came to Polk County, Iowa. There he continued until fourteen years of age, and then commenced working on the farm at $14 per month. He continued working on the farm for one man for five years, and in 1874 emigrated to Story County, where he remained until 1876. After this he went to Colorado, and engaged as a ranchman, having full care of a rancho of both cattle and horses. He remained in Colorado one year, and returned to Story County, where he made his home with Mr. John Groseclose, one of the substantial and first-class farmers of Story County. He continued with this gentleman until 1882, after which he and Howard Groseclose entered into partnership in the implement business in Cambridge. After this he became salesman with the large and well-known firm of Baldwin & Maxwell, of Cambridge, Iowa, and still later occupied himself as general salesman of farming implements for Jones & Co., of Des Moines, a well-known firm. After two years' work with this company he engaged with the large implement firm of William Deering & Co., with which he has remained for six years. He is' their trusted salesman, and is well known by every well-to-do farmer in the southern part of Iowa. He is a pronounced expert in the machinery business, at an excellent yearly salary, and he has been true as steel to his employers, as well as to his many customers. Mr. McKee has a fund of good common sense and business tact, which are sure to prove successful, no matter in what he engages. All he has accumulated is the result of honest toil, energy and indomitable courage. He has many warm friends, and expects to make Cambridge his home for the future.
Frank A. McLain, farmer and stock-raiser, Nevada, Iowa. Mr. McLain, one of the most extensive farmers and stock-raisers of Story County, and one of the pioneers of the same, was born in Bedford County, Penn., on the 7th of January, 1837, being the youngest of three children born to his father's first marriage. In early boyhood he moved with his father to Ohio, received a rather limited education in the schools of that State, and when but ten years of age was obliged to start out in life for himself. He worked for one year and received in pay seventy-five bushels of corn and a pair of shoes. He came to Story County, Iowa, in May, 1854, and the following