My Genealogy Hound

Maj. David McKee, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Sangamon County, Ill., December 14, 1823, the youngest of eleven children of Thomas and Hanna (Frakes) McKee, of Scotch-Irish descent, and natives of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, respectively, and born somewhere near 1780. They were married in Kentucky, where the father was engaged in farming, although until about 1815 he worked at blacksmithing, somewhat. They then spent five years in Harrison County, Ind., and then moved to the county of our subject’s birth. In 1825 they settled in Schuyler County permanently. They died in 1834 and 1864, respectively. Our subject was educated in the log schools in Schuyler County, Ill., and in Hendersonville, and remained with his mother until about the age of eighteen. He then spent the first years of his married life as a farmer in that county until 1844, when he spent a year in Farmington, Iowa, and then moved to Clark County. He farmed near Athens for some time, and in June, 1861, he became second lieutenant in the Home Guards. After the Clark County forces were united under Col. Moore he became major, and a short time later, while at St. Louis as a delegate to procure arms and rations, was appointed recruiting officer by Gen. Fremont. He then returned, and formed a cavalry battalion of about 700 men, and was elected major. After some service in Macon City, in 1861 and 1862, they were merged in the Seventh Missouri Cavalry Volunteers. Our subject had one of the four battalions, and after some skirmishing, they were at the following places: Marshall, Lexington, Sedalia and Springfield. In July, 1863, he resigned on account of disability contracted in service, and moved to Athens after renting his farm. In 1866 he became manager of a woolen factory and grist-mill at that place, but two years later returned to the farm where he remained until he came to his present home in 1873. His wife, Martha J. Kesucker, is a native of Kentucky, where she was born August 14, 1823. She came to Illinois when about seventeen years of age, and was married August 12, 1842, at her home in Schuyler County Ill. She died November 25, 1855, after having borne seven children. The following year he married Mrs. Elvira, the widow of M. Breeden, and daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Randolph. She was born October 18, 1837, in Indiana, and in 1851 came to Iowa, and three years later was married to her first husband, who died in October, 1855. Three of our subject’s thirteen children are deceased. He now has a fine farm of 200 acres which is well cultivated, and on which he deals largely in stock, holding at present twenty horses, twenty-six thoroughbred cattle, and droves of hogs. Politically he is a strong Prohibitionist, opposing tobacco as well as whisky, and holding the principles of the Republican party. Before the war he was a Democrat, and voted for Pierce first, and for Douglas in 1860. He served twelve years as justice, and some time as assessor. He joined the first Masonic lodge of the county, about forty years ago, and passed all the chairs. He was an organizer, and Grand Worthy President for about ten years, of the A. H. T. A., and captured a large number (probably the largest of any member) of thieves. He, his wife and four children, are members of the Congregational Church.