Mike Jr

MICHAEL McKEE, Jr. (1804-ca.1890)

MICHAEL McKEE, Jr. was born 11 May 1804 in Abbeville County, SC and came to Missouri with his parents prior to his "teen-age years". Young MIKE stayed at home and helped on the family farm until he was nearly thirty.

On 5 Mar 1834 MICHAEL married his step-sister Elizabeth Louisa GAMBLE. Between 1837-1858 they had ten children:

MICHAEL McKEE (Jr)

1804-1890

----m/Eliz. Louisa GAMBLE-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| | | | | | | | | |

John Archibald Joseph James Margaret WILLIAM J. Wesley Malinda Mary Wealthy

G. Michael N. A. "Mack"

1837- 1839- c1842- c1844- c1847- c1848- c1851- 1853- c1855- c1858-

Civ.War Civ.War Civ.War 1900

One of the best early sources we have of information about this branch is from a narrative prepared by a nephew of MIKE & LOUISA, who "got the genie bug" long before the current generation of researchers were even thought of. Ernest Reid GAMBLE's fond recollections of "Uncle MIKE" and his insights into what pioneer life in Missouri add a flavor which cannot be duplicated through the customary avenues of research. ERNEST "often wondered why common people in so called civilized countries, make so little effort to keep a record of their ancestry back at least a few generations." Linda obtained a copy from another "researching cousin", Fran Neitzke. [In the following extract from his narrative, "square-bracketed" comments are additions for "clarification" of relationships, etc.]

Excerpts from Family Tree by Ernest Reid GAMBLE

(Describing Jefferson County, MO ca.1850)

ELIZA [Ernest's aunt], the only girl, married "MIKE" McKEE. I believe there were 3 girls and 4 or 5 boys. I knew the three girls. The oldest one, MELINDA, married GEORGE BUSH, at Jefferson, Iowa....Second daughter, "WEALTHY" McKEE married a man named FITCH and lived in Calhoun Co., Iowa. MARY McKEE, the youngest girl, never married but lived mostly with "LINN" [Melinda] the older sister. Of the boys, the oldest one, JOSEPH McKEE, was a Illinois volunteer and was killed by a cannon ball in some battle of Civil war, but I cannot remember where. I believe perhaps "The Wilderness". Another Bro, ARCHIE was killed while serving in the same regiment. And a third, JOHNNIE was wounded while in same regiment. My Father also enlisted in same Co, but only served 3 mo. getting as far South as Tennessee....

They were all inclined to be horse fanciers and each raised considerable stock, sheep - cattle - and horses. In Mo. hogs were almost common property and were rounded up out of the woods each fall and every one was privileged to "shoot their meat" out of the round up, that being one of the big events of the year. It was a rather wild rough country and quite rolling and timbered. Lead was mined in shallow shafts and being melted down into "pigs" was hauled to St. Louis, being quite a source of cash revenue. Grandfather made all the shoes for the family and the flock of sheep furnished clothing after wool was carded, spun and woven by Grandmother......

When the Calif. gold rush opened in '49, all three of the remaining [Gamble] Brothers (JULIAN I think had already passed away) were caught in the wave of hysteria and made arrangements for their families while they would be gone. They expected to make the round trip in 2 years, fully expecting a fortune could almost be picked up over night. Each outfitted himself with heavy wagons & ox teams for the long trip. With them also went "Uncle PETER GAMBLE", their father's cousin [actually brother per other research], a man of 55 or 60 years. Its not hard to imagine the restless, almost reckless and adventuress dispositions of these men...My father drove oxen from the time he was old enough to handle a whip and knew oxen and the way they were handled. For one thing a "team of oxen" as they called them in the book, were to the ox driver always called "a yoke of steers". The larger ox in a team was always worked on the "off side", which of course is the right. For the driver when he walked always walked on the left or "near side" and it was easier to hit over the smaller ox if either were smaller. I never tired of hearing Father tell of the oxen he and his brothers drove and of some of the scrapes and adventures they got into with them....

JOSEPH [GAMBLE -- who MIKE McKEE, Jr. later followed to Illinois] finally sold his farm for the princely sum of $800, all in corn. And saddling a horse set out in dead of winter for Ill. Carroll Co. I never knew why there but must have been some reason. Anyhow he purchased land there very cheaply. Wild prairie land, no improvements of course. And returning to MO prepared to move the following Spring. As early as possible they were on their way. He had a number of ox wagons and quite a few work oxen to pull them and besides that he took with him 9 head of horses, 40 head of cattle and about the same of sheep. Uncle PETER GAMBLE went with him and several neighbors who also wanted to see the new country took this opportunity of going by helping him either with a team or driving cattle and sheep. My Father I believe was 8 or 9 years old and remembered the trip distinctly and in detail....

[Other "side-lights" including an amusing "Lassie-Come-Home" episode of the cattle's 140 mile trek on their own initiative back to their beloved Missouri pastures are not included here but the entire ERNEST REID GAMBLE narrative is delightful reading.]

ELIZABETH LOUISA GAMBLE was born during 1816 in Bradford County, PA. Relying largely upon ERNEST's narrative, the GAMBLE family can be traced back to two of five GAMBLE brothers "who came across from Ulster, Ireland".."it must have been early in the 1800's", settling in Pennsylvania. Details concerning the other three brothers were not available but "at least two...finally settled in the south; some say Virginia". The two GAMBLE brothers known to have settled in PA were JAMES and JOHN. A researcher note on the handwritten copy (by Fran Neitzke?) suggests that Ernest may have added an extra generation in identifying JAMES, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOSEPH & MINOR GAMBLE as children of immigrant JAMES. In any event, JOHN GAMBLE [brother or son of JAMES] married MARY REID. According to Ernest Reid's account they "immigrated to Missouri and settled...near town of DeSota" Researching cousins point out that "Mary Reid was not the woman who was left behind when John Gamble Jr went back to Bradford Co, PA for a trip and then died there leaving a widow back in Missouri -- it was Lucinda Whitney Gamble who later married Mike McKee Sr." :

John GAMBLE

--m/Mary REID--------------------------------------------------------------

| | | | |

Julian Joseph ELIZA John Myhner

Reid

(7 dau. & (Ernest's (mar. MIKE (had 2 (had 2

1 son) grandfather) McKEE Jr) children) children)

JOSEPH and MINOR GAMBLE headed households next to MICHAEL McKEE Jr on the 1850 Census for Jefferson County and it is noted that both said they were born in Ohio, so the GAMBLEs obviously spent at least a few years in Ohio ca.1818-1820 enroute to Missouri. JULIAN's widow (MATILDA) was listed near MICHAEL McKAY with the son & seven daughters mentioned by ERNEST REID GAMBLE.

Resuming the MICHAEL McKEE Jr/ELIZA nee GAMBLE line charted earlier, the marriage records of Jefferson County, MO show that MICHAEL McKEE and LUISA GAMBLE were married on 19 Mar 1835. The marriage ceremony was conducted by "David STITES, Preacher".

-----------------MICHAEL (Jr) and ELIZA LUISA (GAMBLE) McKEE--------------------------------------------------------

| | | | | | | | | |

John Archibald Joseph James Margaret WILLIAM J. Wesley Malinda Mary Wealthy

G. Michael N. A. "Mack"

1837- 1839- c1842- c1844- c1847- c1848- c1851- 1853- c1855- c1858-

Civ.War Civ.War Civ.War 1900

Information from Linda Goodell: John G's middle initial was believed to have stood for "Gamble" and James A's middle initial for "Adam"

On the 1840 Federal Census for Jefferson County, MO, we find MICHAEL Jr's household on Page 196, Line 25 (just above his father's mousehold with David WILEY, Samuel McCAY, Harvay McKEE and Joseph GAMBLE on the other side). MICHAEL was shown to be in his 40's and his wife (LUISA) in her 30's. The two boys under age 5 were JOHN and ARCHIBALD (who later also went by Michael). During the 1840's, three sons and a daughter were added to the family.

On the 1850 census enumeration for Jefferson County we find the family of MICHAEL listed as Household #41:

Michael McKEE 44 SC

Elizabeth 34 SC

John G. 13 MO

Michael 11 MO

Joseph N 8 MO

James A. 6 MO

Margaret L 3 MO

William J. 1 MO

LUISA's Uncle JOSEPH GAMBLE undoubtedly described the rich Illinois topsoil he found on the expedition described by ERNEST REID GAMBLE and some time during the early 1850s, the family moved to Carroll County, Illinois. Carroll County lies in the north-western part of Illinois, across the Mississippi River from the State of Iowa and separated by only one county from the State of Wisconsin. During the 1850's four more children were born, bringing MIKE & LUISA's family to an even dozen, including the ten children -- six boys & four girls. I do not have specific birthdays for any of the children.

Then came the Civil War! The war was particularly hard on this patriotic family as at least three of the boys marched off to battle, never to return home again. Linda's research into the McKEE brothers killed/wounded during the Civil War.

JOHN G. McKEE was the only one of the four brothers who fought in the Civil War who was known to have survived the war. He probably served in the 34th IL Infantry along with brothers JOSEPH & JAMES. JOHN was the oldest of the ten children born to MICHAEL Jr. & ELIZABETH nee GAMBLE. He was born ca.1837 in Jefferson County, MO and would have been one of the two young boys enumerated in MICHAEL Jr's household on the 1840 census. He was age 13 on the 1850 census. I don't have any other information on him.

JAMES McKEE served as a Private in Company I, 34th IL Infantry (along with JOSEPH) and a Casualty Report shows that he was wounded on 9 May 1864 during the Georgia Campaign (place of casualty "not stated") The nature of his injury was not shown, nor the ultimate disposition, but his casualty date is identical to that of his brother, JOSEPH. Most likely JOSEPH & JAMES were fighting side by side at Buzzards Roost, GA when they were felled by enemy fire. Presumably he also died as a result of wounds received.

JOSEPH McKEE was residing in "Mt. Carroll" of Carroll County, IL when he went to Chattanooga, TN and enlisted for three years of service (Company I, 34th Reg't, IL Infantry; 23 Dec 1863). He was mustered in on 3 January and was described as aged 21, a farmer, 5'5 1/2" tall, with light complexion, light hair and grey eyes. A $60 bounty was paid with an additional $340 due later. The Muster Rolls show that in or before March 1865 he was "wounded and in the hospital". He was carried in this status through at least July. A subsequent War Department notation adds the detail: "Received a penetrating wound of abdomen at Buzzards Roost, GA May 9, 1864. Disposition not given and died at Ringold, GA, date and cause of death not known". The Roll of Honor, Vol 11, pg 39 shows that Joseph was originally buried at Ringgold, GA but was re-interred in the National Cemetery at Chattanooga, TN.

ARCHIBALD M. (Michael] McKEE enlisted in the 15th Iowa Infantry on 10 Oct 1861 while residing in Mills County. His nativity was shown as Missouri and he was mustered in on 18 Nov. Records showed that he was severely wounded in the neck on 6 Apr 1862 in Shiloh, TN but re-enlisted and re-mustered 29 Jan 1864. Linda had a typed transcript of some letters he wrote to his cousins while in service and he indeed went by "Archibald" or "A.M." even though an earlier census had listed him as Michael. On 31 Apr 1864, they had orders for marching, and by May 3 (when he finished the letter) had just been taken to Paducah, KY in anticipation of an attack "which did not come off" so he was assigned to a detail of 50 men to go to Cairo (IL) after "comastores". By September, writing from just outside Atlanta, GA he was reporting that he had "been unwell for some time" but that Atlanta had indeed been taken. He mentioned that he had "never seen troops worn out so much" and that while he felt "some better this morning" but "I expect again soon I will be as bad as ever again. It is believed that he died in service or soon afterward but no documentation was found.

Transcripts of two letters he wrote to his cousin Green while in service follow

Bird Point Mo

(Note):

April 31 1864 (May 1 was Sunday)

Dear Cousin it is with pleature that I have my pen in han this sabath afternoon to pen you a few lines I am well as usel hoping those few lines wil1 reacli and find You and all the family enjoying the same good blessing. Well I have nothirig of importance to write at present we arived here yesterday and expect to lave before long we have orders for marching now and we will move just as soon as there can be a boat preciired for us to go an we have sined the payroles to day and I expect that we will be paid to morrow I hope we will be 'so that I can send my money home before we leave here. I have my clothes boxed up all redy and am going to start them home tomorrow if I can get over to Cairo

Well green I started from home one week ago last thursday and joined my Ky at Keakn where we staid one week and you can bet I had a fine time. I was at five dances and to Church on Sunday night the girls there was gay and festif untill our KY went to start and then they began to look kinda sober. I did not think the old 15th was thought so much of untill we started away and then I tell you there was tears shed we got the prase of being the swelest ky that ever Kindervased in that town and:we got the prais all the way down the River.

May 3 1864

Well green I will endever to finish this letter as I was called out while I was writing on sunday and and had to stop writing they was expecting an altacte at paduka KY and we was takin up there on sunday but the fight did not come off so the KY still remains there and I was sent back with a detail of fifty men to Cairo after the comastores and the boat has not got redy to start back yet so we are laying here we will go up this evening perhaps and as soon as the armey Corps can get redy I think we will move east prehaps to the armey of the Cumberland at least that is generly the supision among the men well green I have writen about all the nuse that I can think of

at present I want you to be shure and write soon and often and tell me all the nuse you know you must be sliure and send the girls pictures and yours and Johnes and Franks if you can you must send the girls anyway Well I will close

give my love to all

I remain your afectiokate

Cousin til death

Archibald

To Green

Direct Co. F 15 Iowa vet volenters via Carc) III

The fifth child and oldest daughter born to MICHAEL & ELIZABETH was MARGARET L.M.A. who was born ca.1847. She went with the family to IL and later married Joseph Walton EDDY.

Linda's ancester, WILLIAM J. (MACK) McKEE was the sixth child and fifth son of Michael Jr and Elizabeth. "Mack" was born during 1849 in Jefferson County, MO. He moved with the family to Carroll County, IL and later to Cerro Gordo County, IA where he married HANNAH LEONA WELLS on 8 Jan 1872. Hannah was a daughter of Claudus and Anna WELLS. She was a nursemaid as well as a homemaker.

William J. "Mack" McKee

1849-1900

---m/Hannah Leona WELLS (1854-1904) on 8 Jan 1872----------------------------------------------------

Anna Dora Maude William George Arthur James

Angie Caroline Alva J. C. Louis

1872- 1874- 1875- 1878- 1881- 1886- 1890-

1954 1962 1941 1952 1943 1973 1955

"Mack" & Hanna's first child, ANNA was born 19 Nov 1872 in Wheatland (Clinton Co) Iowa. More about Anna and the other children's lines will follow this segment on "Mack" and Hanna's family. The family moved to Redfield, Nebraska and the second daughter, DORA ANGIE was born there 8 Mar 1874. Again the family moved. This time to Deer Creek (Ottertail Co) Minnesota where MAUDE CAROLINE was born 30 Apr 1875. Then it was back to Iowa, settling in Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo County) where Linda's grandfather, WILLIAM ALVA was born 9 May 1878. By 1880 they went back to Ottertail Co, Minnesota and were enumerated there on the federal census but bounced back to Iowa the next year. GEORGE J. was born in August 1881 and ARTHUR C. in October 1886, both in Iowa (counties not established). The youngest child, JAMES LOUIS, was born in December 1890 in Nebraska. From marriage jurisdictions of the three oldest children it appears they were in Wayne County, Nebraska in 1890, Knox County in 1893 and Holt County in 1894. The family was listed on the 1900 census in Keyapaha County, Nebraska. Mack was a contractor and his work undoubtedly accounted for the frequent moves.

"MACK" was believed to have gone to Lincoln or Omaha, NE ca.1900 for some stomach surgery but died in a hotel room in Sioux City, IA while enroute home to Crofton, NE. Finding the death record had proved elusive. He is buried in the Methodist Cemetery near Crofton. Some time after Mack died, Hannah went to Brocksburg (Keyapaha County) NE where she died 7 March 1904. She is buried beside Mack in the Methodist Cemetery near Crofton.

The four youngest children of MICHAEL Jr. & ELIZABETH were WESLEY, born during 1851 in Illinois; MOLINDA (born 1853) & MARY (born 1855) both in Missouri according to later census records; and the youngest WEALTHY born ca.1858 in Illinois. MOLINDA married GEORGE BUSH and WEALTHY married a FITCH.

Need to expand on this from Linda's group sheets and add WILLIAM ALVA line, etc.

MICHAEL Jr was in Cerro Gordo Co, IA on the 1870 census (Linda noted that oldest son GEORGE was in his parent's household, indicating that he had survived the Civil War). During the 1870s they moved to Green County, Iowa where we find them enumerated (10/10/80) on the 1880 census (Distr.#4, ED90, Pg.1, Family #234):

Michael McKEE, Jr 75 (1805) SC Ire PA father

Elizabeth 64 (1816) PA Ire Cn wife

Malinda 27 (1853) MO SC PA daughter (married; surname should be BUSH?)

Mary 25 (1855) MO SC PA daughter (single)

Wealthy 23 (1857) IL SC PA daughter (married; surname should be FITCH?)

Edna 4 (1876) IA IN IL gr-daughter (surname should be FITCH?)

William 45 (1835) IL SC MO nephew (single; "idiot")

From the 1880 census we see that if JOHN G. was still alive, he had moved away. "Mack, the other son surviving the Civil War, had married during 1872 and was in Otterdale County, MN in 1880. We don't know where the husbands of the two married daughters were in 1880 but the most intriguing question is the identity of the nephew. He was born during 1835 in Illinois and does not fit in with what we know of any of Michael Sr's sons. Betty Harmon located a very promising potential matchup on the 1850 census for Randolph Co, IL (004/55/55 5S R5) This was across the Mississippi River from Jefferson County, MO and was a household headed by "Archibald McKEE", that name so frequently given among the heirs of our SC McKEE heritage. This Archibald was born during 1810 in SC. Michael Sr had five sons born 1800-1811. If they hadn't already named a son Archibald (and that son died in 1837), the fit would be almost perfect. This Archibald's wife (Jane, born ca.1814 in SC) fits in nicely with the migration pattern for our McKEEs. Archibald & Jane had six children:

WILLIAM 15? (1835) IL (hard to read; age could be 13 or 18)

Sarah 10 (1840)

Mary J. 8 (1842)

James 6 (1844)

Margaret 5 (1845)

Archibald 3 (1848) (age could be 5)

Childrens names are also a rather good "fit" with family naming traditions (particularly if a couple were named after the mother's family). Yet, unless Benjamin started using his deceased brother's name (or some similar explanation), how could this Archibald be "ours"? If we were playing horseshoes, we would call this one a "leaner" but not quite a "ringer". One other outside possibility would be that William was a nephew from Elizabeth's side and, as with the two married daughters in the household, the 1880 enumerator neglected to document the proper surname. Since William was handicapped, court records might help to resolve the mystery if we hit the right jurisdiction (although many children were taken in by relatives without court involvement). In any event we can say that taking in this handicapped nephew was a very decent thing for Michael Jr. & Elizabeth to do.

Return to Michael McKee Page