Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....McKee, John F. 1843 - 
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Author: Emma E. Forter (1917)

JOHN F. McKEE.

    John F. McKee, one of the prominent and well-known and successful farmers of
Elm Creek township, Marshall county, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres
of splendid land, and is successfully engaged in general farming and
stock-raising, was born in the Dominion of Canada, on February 24, 1843, and is
the son of William and Mary McKee.

    William and Mary McKee were also natives of Canada and there they received
their education in the public schools and were later married. They were of
Scotch-Irish descent, their forefathers having come from the north of Ireland to
Canada in an early day. The family were members of the Baptist church and were
always most active in the religious life of the community. William and Mary
McKee, after their marriage, established their home in the land of their
nativity, where they continued to reside until 1869, when they decided to come
to the United States. On their arrival in this country they located in Kansas,
where they homesteaded a farm in Center township, Marshall county, which they
developed and improved and there they continued to live, until the time of their
deaths. They were held in the highest regard in the community in which they
lived, and where they had much to do with the moral and the social life of the
township. They were the parents of the following children: Robert, Anna,
Margaret, John F., Samuel J., William George, Frank and Harry. Robert, Anna, and
Frank are now deceased. Margaret Fitzgerald is a resident of Beatrice, Nebraska,
where her husband is one of the well-known men of the district: Samuel J. and
Harry are successful farmers of Center township, Marshall county, and William
George is one of the prominent men of Marysville.

    John F. McKee received his education in the schools of Canada, there grew to
manhood and engaged in general farming. In 1867 he was united in marriage to
Sarah Jannes Chalmers, who was born and reared in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. McKee,
after their marriage, established their home in the land where they were born
and there they continued to live, until 1871, when they came to Kansas, where
they homesteaded eighty acres of land and purchased three hundred and twenty
acres in Center township. Here Mr. McKee made many valuable improvements and
engaged in general farming and stock raising until 1881, when he returned to the
old home in Canada, on account of the health of his wife. Much of his land in
Marshall county he purchased at six dollars and fifty cents per acre and sold
for eight-fifty per acre. He traded one of his farms for a farm in Canada, on
which he and his wife lived after their return to the land of their nativity.
The health of Mrs. McKee did not improve to any great extent, after her removal
to her native land, and her death occurred in 1886. She and Mr. McKee were the
parents of two children, Laura and Hattie. Laura is the wife of Morley P.
Robinson and Hattie is the wife of Frank Newson, well-known and successful
farmers and stockmen of Blue Rapids township. Mrs. McKee was a woman universally
beloved by the entire community in which she lived, and where she was held in
the highest regard.

    After the death of his wife, Mr. McKee continued to live on his farm in
Canada, until 1892, when he returned to Kansas and again established his home in
Marshall county. He purchased the farm in Elm Creek township, which he now owns,
which is one of the most excellent farms of the county, on which is located the
"Big Spring," which is the head of Elm Creek. This farm he has developed and
improved and here he is known as one of the successful and substantial farmers
of the township.

    In 1888, before his return to Kansas, Mr. McKee was united in marriage to
Rose Stanton, who was born in Canada in i860, and is the daughter of James and
Mary Stanton, who are natives of England. Her parents were educated in their
native country and there they grew to manhood and womanhood and were married.
They later came to Canada, where they became prosperous and well-known residents
of the district in which they located.

    To John F. and Rose (Stanton) McKee has been born one child, Frank, who died
at the age of two years. Mr. and Mrs. McKee are active members of the Baptist
church and have long been active in all church work. They are prominent in the
social and the religious life of the community in which they live and where they
are held in such high regard and esteem. They have ever taken an active interest
in all the affairs of the district, that would tend to the betterment of the
educational and social conditions. They are people of high ideals and their
influence is greatly felt in the development of the home district. Their,
personal qualities have won for them many friends throughout the county.

    Politically, Mr. McKee is identified with the Republican party and has for
many years been interested in the civic life of the township and the county. He
has served for many years as a justice of the peace and has rendered valuable
service to the community. He has in no sense been a seeker after office, but has
rendered valuable service as an adviser in public matters. He and his wife are
prominent members of the Knights and Ladies of Security.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions
by
Emma E. Forter

Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917)


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