Person:James McKee (8)

The McKees, according to Edna Hoover Kunz in the 1990s, were from Ireland-- "Orange People" (Protestants). His death certificate gives his middle initial as M but the informant was the undertaker so I can't be sure about that.

In the 1860 census ofPike Co, OH, Pebble Twp., there is a James McKee, 25 b. OH, day laborer, wife Nancy, 24, b. OH, and daughter Nancy, 2 b. OH. It is not known whether this is "our" James McKee, but I believe it is.

James' first wife, Nancy Lockard, whom he married 21 August 1859 in Pike Co, OH, died in Bloomdale, Wood County, Ohio on 20 December 1873 or possibly Dec 1874; however, no proofhas been found. James then remarried and had several more children bya second wife, Mrs. Mary or Catherine (nee Walker) Myers, near Forrest or Patterson in Hardin County, Ohio.

There is a Pike Co, OH death record of a child named Mary C. McKee, died 20 Oct 1870 in Benton Twp., Pike Co, child of James and Nancy McKee. This was printed in a Pike Co newsletter. The original record needs to be looked at; James and Nancy did have a daughter Mary Catherine, but she was born 17 Aug 1870 according to her death certificate, and she lived to adulthood.

The name of James' first wife has always been thought by descendants to have been Nancy. However, there are discrepancies. Nancy is the name of the mother on some of her children' birth records in Hardin Co, OH, and there is a Pike Co marriage record between James McKee and Nancy Lockard. But on Louisa's second marriage license her mother's name was listed as Eliza Crocker. On Louisa's death certificate her mother was Nancy (Unknown) born in Ohio, but on Mary Catherine's death certificate the mother's name was Sarah Lockard who was born in Pike Co, OH. These discrepancies might be explained by the facts that their mother died when the children were very young (supposedly in 1873 although no record has been found), and that the informants on the death certificates had never met their mother-in-law.

The second wife of James McKee was Mrs. Mary Myers, whom he married in 1875. James McKee was living next to Stanton and Eliza (McKee) Derr in 1880 Lynn Twp., Hardin Co, OH. Living with this James and his wife Mary were Mary C. McKee, age 10, a daughter, and Ortensie McKee, 16, a servant (believed to he his daughter also). In addition were the children by his new marriage, Martha, 5, Josephine, 3, and James, 4/12 (born in Feb 1880), and John Myers, 8, presumably Mary's son by her first marriage. However James lists his age in 1880 as 33, which is too young for him to be the father of Eliza, 20. In 1910 he is 67 (probably closer to the truth) and retired. Mary in 1910 states that 12 ofher 12 children are living and they have been married (both for the second time) for 34 years.

A handwritten note in possession of Edna Kunz said "father dide" 20 Feb 1920. A record of the death of James McKee located by an Ohio researcher said that he died 26 Feb 1920 in Patterson, Jackson Twp., Hardin County, Ohio, aged 81 years 7 months and 27 days. He had refused to eat and his parents were unknown, the record said. This must be "our" James McKee. This record gave his birth date as 29 June 1838, in Ohio.

At the Ohio Historical Society I was checking the Ohio Graves Index for reference to any McKees, when I found a record showing this James McKee had been a Civil War soldier . A copy ofhis pension file was obtained from the National Archives in Nove,ber 1998.

According to the National Archives file, pension certificate number 548374 was issued to James McKee, a Private who served in Company D, 73rd Ohio Infantry. His last pension payment was made on 4 Dec 1919, and he died on 26 Feb 1920. In 1898 the Bureau of Pensions obtained a completed questionnaire from James McKee, which was dated 4 June 1898. McKee said he is married to Mary McKee nee Mary Walker. They were married June 1875 in Hardin County, OH by John Rice, JP . The proof of marriage is in the Probate Court. He was previously married to Nancy McGee (McGee is clearly the spelling used), who died in Hardin County, OH in 1873. Living children and dates of birth were listed as follows:

Mat tie, April 23, 1876 Josephine, March 20, 1878 James L., Feb 4, 1880 Clara, April1 st, 1881 Robert, May 20, 1883 Jessie, June 10, 1884 Matt(?), Aug 12, 1887 Leander, February 9, 1889 Ried, June 9, 1893

Signed by James McKee, His Mark (X).

On 15 Dec 1919, James McKee testified before a notary public in Hardin County that he was 78 years old, born on 26 June 1841 ( other sources say 1838) at Coshocton Co, OH, and was now a resident ofPatterson in Hardin Co, OH. He enlisted 15 Dec 1861 at Chillicotte, OH as a Private in Co. D, 73rd OH Vols. He was discharged 6 Feb 1863 at Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA. He has blue eyes and brown hair, and his occupation was farmer. He stated he was "discharged for typhoid fever - taken in lieu ofrnarch"(?). Since leaving the service he has lived at Pike Co, Logan Co and Hardin Co, OH.

A report from the Adjutant General's Office dated 18 May 1882 says that James McKee was a private in Co. D, 73rd Regt. of OH Volunteers, and was emolled on 15 Oct 1861 at Chillicothe, Ohio, for three years. April 1862 soldier was "absent, sick at home." May and June, 1862 he was absent without leave. Sept and Oct 1862 he was absent sick since Oct 4, 1862. Absent without leave from April 18 to August 1, 1862. Nov and Dec 1862, absent sick since Oct 4, 1862 at Philadelphia, Pa. Roll January and February 1863 reports him discharged. Certificate ofDischarge shows him discharged at Phila., Pa. on Feby 6, 1863. "The Regtal Hospital register shows him admitted Nov 12, '62, cause Feb. com. con. returned to duty Nov. 26, '62. Nature of sickness during 1862 prior to Nov. not stated. No medical certificate on file."

In the pension file was a Certificate ofDisability for Discharge of James McKee, dated 6 Feb 1863 at Philadelphia. James McKee was enlisted in Lt. Downing's Company D of the 73rd Ohio Regiment of U.S. Volunteers. He was enlisted by John D. Madeira at Chillicothe, OH on 15 Oct 1862 to serve three years. He was born in Cassekton(?), OH and is 20 years old (in 1863). [Yet another discrepancy in his age.] He is 5 feet 9-1/2 inches tall, of dark complextion, and grey eyes and dark hair . He is by occupation a farmer. During the last two months, soldier has been unfit for duty for 60 days. "He says he has been absent from duty 12 months excepting 45 days taken sick at Sharpsburg, MD, with palpitations of the heart. Admitted January 2, 1863." Signed (illegibly) bya surgeon. "He has disease of the heart and is very feeble, totally unfit for the duties of a soldier, and is disabled from 1/2 from obtaining subsistence by menial labor. Discharge recommended." The soldier desires to be addressed at Waverly, Pike Co, OH. He was discharged on 6 F ebruary 1863 at Philadelphia.

According to a declaration filed by his son Reed McKee, James died "of complications" at the home of Reed and his wife Josephine on 26 Feb 1920. James left no property. Witnesses J. W. Smith and A.L. Jackson, both of Patterson, confirmed the statement and said they had known the family for many years.

According to the 1910 census, James' father was born in P A and his mother in MD .

1. ↑ Ohio death certificate.