BIOGRAPHY: J. Strode McKEE, Mifflin County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by P. S. Barr Copyright. All rights reserved. http://files.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/mifflin/ _______________________________________________ The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 483-484. J. STRODE McKEE, Strodes Mills, Mifflin county, Pa., was born on the McKee homestead in Ferguson valley, December 21, 1822. He is a son of Robert and Orpah (Strode) McKee, who had also these children: Andrew, married Maria Applebaugh; Catherine (Mrs. Robert Rothrock); Robert A., married Annie Comfort; Mary (Mrs. Ashley Pierce); Hannah (Mrs. Johnson Sigler); Hervey, married Mary McKee. The father died at the age of sixty-nine years; the mother lived to the advanced age of eighty-nine years. In his earlier years, J. Strode McKee attended the subscription schools, and later became a scholar in the public schools of his district. He was reared to manhood on his father's farm in Fergusons valley, and on the death of his father in 1845, assumed the management of the homestead. In 1866, having bought out the other heirs, he became the owner of the place, and under his able direction it has been greatly improved. Mr. McKee resided on the homestead until 1884. He has always taken an interest in local affairs, and any salutary enterprise has ever met with his earnest and hearty approval and co-operation. Although he has never sought political preferment, he has served in the various township offices. He is a member of the Democratic party. Mr. McKee was married August 14, 1861, to Lucy A., daughter of Samuel and Jane (McKinney) McKee. Though their surnames were the same, they were not relatives. They had three children; Samuel Bruce, born July 3, 1863, died in December, 1865; Strode McKinney, married Ella May Davis, of Juniata county, has two children, Robert Lee and Charles Davis; and Hattie Blanche, at home. The parents and their children are members of the Presbyterian church at Lewistown.