John, his Parents, and his Brothers, were all immigrants. So was his wife, but they married here. He had 2 sisters that stayed in Ireland.

Below is a piece from Portraits and Biographies: It was written in 1887.

JOHN McKEE, farmer, section 32, Crawford Township, Washington County. The McKee family were originally from the North of Ireland, of Scotch descent. His maternal grandparents were both born in Ireland, and after the marriage of John McKee to Margaret Reed, they reared a family of six children. The four sons, James, William, John and Samuel, came to America, James coming in 1839, and the others 1840, settling in this county, within one mile of each other. the sisters, Eliza, who married George McAdam, and Margaret, who died when eight years of age, remained in Ireland, where Eliza also died later.

The parents were past the prime of life when they bade adieu to their native land, and as the shores of "green Erin" faded from their sight they formed plans for the future, and eagerly longed for a safe voyage and speedy location in some favored spot where the free air of heaven and the wealth of nature could be turned into profit and a home secured for their declining years. The party located at Greencastle, Ind., in August, 1840. The fame of Iowa reached them form sketches of the country written by Newhall, and in 1841 the family decided to seek a permanent home on the broad and fertile soil of Southeastern Iowa. The father made a purchase of land, and three sons resided with and aided him in its improvement until his death, which occurred in 1850. William remained in Mt. Pleasant, working at his trade of boot and shoemaking until 1846, when he purchased eighty acres of land and became a resident. He has made other additions to this, and after selling a nice farm, yet owns 120 acres.

The first house erected by the McKee family was built of logs, one mile east of the residence of our subject. There the parents lived and died. The old log structure has been pulled down, and in its stead a frame house stands. Every log and chink of the old house had a history. In it the family made their first home in the new country. Under its hallowed roof the son of praise nd the prayer of faith was heard, and from its portals were borne the remains of loving parents. William McKee wedded Nancy J. Kingen, eleven days before they started for America. She reared five children: John A. married Mary Calhoun; William is unmarried; Samuel is the husband of Eva Caldwell; Mary wedded Elder Andrew J. Mitchell; Eliza died unmarried, Nov. 4, 1866, aged twenty-one; the wife of William died in January, 1871. James McKee married Jane Reed, returning for that purpose to Indiana, in 1852. He went to Pittsburgh, Pa., and died about 1863. Samuel wedded Eliza Stafford, who died, leaving two children, Ralph and Sarah, the latter deceased; he subsequently married Elizabeth Buffington, and now resides in Taylor County, this State.

Our subject, John McKee, married in the autumn of 1850, Miss Margaret Holmes, who has borne him eleven children, ten living: Thomas, the husband of Annie Gormley, the parent of six children, five living—Minnie, Frank, Harry, Bert and William; John wedded Sarah J. Skinner, now deceased, who was the mother of Maude M. and Annie L.; Nancy wedded David Cummins; she is the mother of four children—Edward, Frederick, Charles and Eva. Margaret A. wedded Harry Smith, and is the mother of one daughter, Ethel A.; Robert R., Mary B., Eliza E., Eva, Rebecca H. and Rhoda are single, and remain with their parents. The children who are married are well settled in life, and the parents although past middle age are hale and enjoy a vigorous old age. Successful in life, and firm in the religious faith of their ancestors, John and Margaret (Holmes) McKee have reason to be proud of their offspring, who are numerous, and in the business and social world are highly esteemed. Secure against want, and with a delightful home where the prattle of children and grandchildren is often heard, their last days should be their happiest ones.