McKEE BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri ==================================================================== McKEE, James T. - b: 1845 Darke Co, OH source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 528 residence: Clinton Twp James T. McKee, proprietor of the Post Office Bookstore, was born in Darke County, Ohio, April 1, 1845. He was brought up in the occupation of farming, and received his education from the schools of his native county. When twenty-one years of age he became engaged in school teaching, which profession he successfully followed till 1867. Coming to Henry County, Missouri, he continued that profession for one year. In July, 1868, he was made deputy postmaster, and held this position till September, 1872. In July, 1871, while yet in the office, he established his present business, conducting it in connection with his official duties, till 1872. Since that time, however, he has given it his entire attention. He carries a complete stock of goods here, and is doing a large share of the business in his line in Clinton. In March, 1877, he established a branch store in McLeansboro, Illinois, the firm there being J. T. McKee & Co., and in March, 1882, he established another branch store at Murphysboro, Illinois, under the firm name of McKee Brothers. Mr. McKee was married April 10, 1873, to Miss Mary Ricketts, a native of Ohio. They have three children: Ralph H., Inez L., and Romney. He is a member of the K. of P., and both Mr. and Mrs. McK. hold membership in the First Presbyterian Church. ==================================================================== McKEE, James T. - b: 1845 Darke Co, OH source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 617 residence: Clinton, Clinton Twp James T. McKee, now deceased, the founder of McKee's Book Store was a pioneer merchant of Clinton, and prominently identified with the interests of Henry County for many years. He established the McKee's Book Store in 1870, and conducted this business for forty years, until the time of his death. The store is still owned and conducted by his estate under the management of his daughter, Miss Inez L. McKee, who took charge of the business at the death of her father in 1909. This business which is now in the forty-eighth year of its existence, is one of the oldest mercantile establishments in Henry County, and during all this time, McKee's Book Store has never permitted its methods to grow old. The stock and store is kept up to date, and everything usually found in a first-class, well- conducted book store in any city is within reach of the customers of this store. James T. McKee was a native of Darke County, Ohio, born in 1845. He grew to manhood in his native State and received a good education. In 1867 or 1868 he came to Missouri, driving most of the way with a team and wagon, and settled at Clinton. He taught school here for a time, teaching at the old Union school district. Later he served as assistant postmaster, under Postmaster Fike. In 1870, he established McKee's Book Store, and was engaged in that business until his death as above stated. In 1873 James T. McKee and Frances Ricketts were united in marriage. She was a native of Findlay, Ohio, born in 1845. She died in 1895. To James T. and Frances (Ricketts) McKee were born the following children: Dr. Ralph H., a graduate of Clinton Academy, and Wooster College, Wooster, Ohio, University of Chicago, and is now professor of chemistry in Columbia University, New York City; Inez, L., a graduate of Wooster College, Wooster, Ohio, and was engaged in teaching until her father's death, when she took charge of the business in Clinton, and has conducted it since; Charles Romney, chemist with the United States Glue Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; he is a graduate of Lake Forest College, Chicago, Illinois. ==================================================================== McKEE, William - b: 1822 Scotland source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 761 residence: Fairview Twp William McKee, farmer and stock raiser, section 10, a native of Scotland, was born May 13, 1822, being the son of John and Jane (Steele) McKee, also of that country. William emigrated to the United States with an uncle in 1834, and settled in Hampden County, Massachusetts, where he passed his youthful days on a farm, receiving a common school education. When sixteen years of age he commenced learning the horse farrier business at which he worked for about ten years. Going to Michigan in 1855, he was married in New Buffalo during Christmas week of that year to Miss Martha Blair, of Hampden County, Massachusetts, and a daughter of Samuel Blair, one of the prominent men of that locality. Mrs. McKee was a lady of rare culture and attainments and was a teacher for a number of years previous to her marriage. The following spring Mr. McK. moved to Wisconsin and after living one year in Milwaukee County, in the spring of 1857 he went to Illinois and located near Joliet, where he planted a crop. He soon sold out, and upon coming to Missouri the same year, settled in Henry County, bought land and began the cultivation of the farm where he now resides. This contains 365 acres, of which 320 acres are fenced; twenty acres are devoted to tame meadow and there are about fifty-five acres of good timber, and plenty of living water for stock. His house is a large, two-story structure, and his orchard consists of 100 bearing apple trees of select varieties. Mrs. McKee died February 29, 1880, and Mr. McK. was subsequently married in this county to Miss Charlotte Fisher, a daughter of James Fisher. They have one son, Lewis B., born December 28, 1881. Mrs. McKee is a member of the Presbyterian Church. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by the Henry County MOGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~mohenry/henryco.html Contact the Henry County Coordinator for comments or corrections. ====================================================================