My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE Y. McKEE, county commissioner and farmer, is a son of George McKee, a farmer, who came from the north of Ireland to America about 1799, and located for a few months in Cumberland county, Pa.; then immigrated to Allegheny county, and on the north branch of Robinson’s run, now North Fayette township, by purchase and entry acquired a tract of land, where he remained until his death, in 1839. He married, in Ireland, Jane Ball, who bore him eight children, all of whom save one grew to maturity. His second wife was Deborah McKee, whom he married in 1828, a daughter of James McKee, who resided at Logstown, Beaver county, Pa. To this marriage two sons were born: George Y. and James Y. The latter, a graduate of Jefferson College, is now a professor in Pennsylvania State College. George Y. was born and reared on the farm where he now resides, and owns 165 of the original four hundred acres. He was educated at the public schools. Farming was in early life his principal occupation, and during the last twenty years he has been engaged in farming and business pursuits. He has taken an active part in the politics of the country, and was three times elected to the legislature, serving in the sessions of 1865, 1866 and 1867. In 1881 he was appointed to the office of commissioner of the county to fill a vacancy; was elected to that office in 1884, and reelected in 1887. During his term as commissioner a new courthouse and county prison has been erected, which, for its kind, is not excelled in the state, and, in justice to the men who shared the responsibility, it can be said that the people’s money has always been carefully guarded in awarding contracts. Mr. McKee married, in 1852, Elizabeth A., daughter of Andrew Johnston, of Jeffreystown, Allegheny county, Pa., and two children blessed their union: Charles H., attorney at law, Pittsburgh, and Louisa C. (Mrs. Dr. R. Morrison). Mr. McKee and family are members of the Presbyterian Church; politically he is a republican.