BIOGRAPHIES: Melvin H. McKEE, Barron, Barron County, WI

====================================================================
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, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact 
the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent.   The submitter 
has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently 
for free access.

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:  
Transcribed by Peg Lamkin <brinwood@chibardun.net> Edited and submitted
by Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  8 April 2002	
====================================================================

Melvin H. McKee, one of the leading citizens of Barron city, proprietor
of a well patronized grocery store, was born in Fulton County, Indiana, son
of Martin A. and Martha (Ellison) McKee, who were farmers in that county.
The parents were of Scotch and Irish ancestry but American born. Both are
now deceased. Melvin H. in his boyhood attended the common school. When he
was ten years old his father's death made it necessary for him to go to
live with an uncle, and on the latter's farm he remained until he was
fourteen. From that age he not only had to support himself but also to help
his mother, and he has ever since been what is popularly known as a
"hustler." At the age of 22, with a brother, William A., he came to Barron
County, Wisconsin, and here found work in a sawmill, his first employer
being W. B. Judd. In that kind of work he continued for four years, at the
end of which time he became clerk in the general store of Ed C. Coleman. In
1891 he began business for himself, opening his present grocery store on
the corner of Second and La Salle streets, and by enterprise, industry and
honest dealing he has since built up a good and profitable trade, though
for a time he was handicapped by sickness in the form of a nervous
breakdown which occurred in 1908. In politics Mr. McKee is a Republican
with independent tendencies, reserving his right to vote for the best
candidate without respect to party affiliations. He has served Barron city
as clerk for the past 20 years, and is a citizen of high standing and
widely esteemed. He is the owner of a good residence on Second street,
which he occupies with his family. Mr. McKee was married June 17, 1894, to
Gertrude Jessie Taft, a native of Minnesota, born March 24, 1872, daughter
of Henry P. and Ruby (Marshall) Taft. To Mr. and Mrs. McKee one child has
been born, a daughter, G. Meryle, on Oct.5, 1896, who is now Mrs. Lester L.
Kunz, of Manitowoc, Wis. Mrs. Kunz has a son, Charles, who was born Sept.
5, 1920. Henry P. Taft, father of Mrs. McKee, was born in New York State,
coming from a branch of the same family of which ex-President Taft is a
notable representative. From his native state he went to Ohio and later to
Iowa, where he followed a mechanical trade. He died in Barron March 17,
1917. In Clayton County, Iowa, he married Ruby Marshall, who was a native
of Pennsylvania, in which state her family had been long established. She
died in Barron, Wis., Oct. 20, 1909. Their children were: Gertrude, who
became the wife of Melvin H. McKee; G. Albert, now of Menomonie, Wis.;
Amos, of Rice Lake, Wis.; Elmina M., now Mrs. John R. Terris, of Hopkins,
Minn.; Robert P., of Stillwater, Minn.; Warren E., of Barron, and one who
died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. McKee are members of Barron M. E. Church, and
in former years were very active in both church and Sunday school work.

--Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co.,
1922, pp. 105-106.