The McKee family were originally from the North of Ireland, of Scotch descent. John and Margaret 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.
John and Margaret 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 shoe making 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. There John and Margaret 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 and 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.
John and Margaret 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 shoe making 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. There John and Margaret 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 and 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.
The McKee family were originally from the North of Ireland, of Scotch descent. John and Margaret 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.
John and Margaret 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 shoe making 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. There John and Margaret 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 and 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.
John and Margaret 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 shoe making 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. There John and Margaret 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 and 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.
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