Posted By:	Cathy Farrell
	Email:
	Subject:	JOHN, son of JAMES McKEE married (1) RACHEL VERNER
	Post Date:	September 30, 2009 at 13:26:52
	Message URL:	http://genforum.genealogy.com/mckee/messages/4634.html
	Forum:	Mckee Family Genealogy Forum
	Forum URL:	http://genforum.genealogy.com/mckee/

GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL HISTORY OF BEAVER CO., PA. Under the supervision of JOHN W. JORDAN, LL. D. Volume II New York, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1914. McKEE - With the arrival of JAMES McKEE from Ireland, the country of his birth and the home of generations of his ancestors, the history of this branch of the family in the U. S. began. In 1778 he obtained possession of a tract of government land, 260 acres in extent, the present towns of Woodlawn and Aliquippa occupying sites on part of his original grant. Both he and his wife died at McKEE’S Rocks, Allegheny Co., Pa., are buried in the Allegheny cemetery. They were parents of several children, among whom was a son, JOHN. (II) JOHN, son of JAMES McKEE, was born in Allegheny Co., Pa., and died in that state. He was a farmer, owned considerable land, and was twice married, (first) to RACHEL VERNER, born in Pittsburgh, died at Mckees Rocks, Allegheny Co., Pa. By his first marriage he had two children - MARIA and JOHN; by his second, one son, JOHN. (III) JOHN (2), son of JOHN (1) and RACHEL (VERNER) McKEE, was born at McKees Rocks, Allegheny Co., Pa., Feb. 23, 1817, died in Beaver Co., Pa., April 5, 1883. He was educated in the public schools, and in young manhood inherited about 125 acres of land where Aliquippa has since been built, and located there in 1843...He was an ardent Democrat, and although he had been reared in the Episcopal faith and his wife in the Methodist, both joined the Lutheran church, of which they were lifelong members. MR. McKEE married, at Brunots Island, Pa., about 1840, ABIGAIL, born in Hillsboro, New Hampshire, in October, 1817, daughter of SILAS and CATHERINE (ROLF) JONES. CATHERINE ROLF, born in Maine, was an orphan at the time of her marriage, one of her sisters marrying JOHN JACOB ASTOR. SILAS and CATHERINE (ROLF) JONES settled on Brunot’s Island, Pa., and there died, the parents of: 1. JEROME, died on Brunot’s Island, age 92 years. 2. CATHERINE, married RISWELL FRISBEE, owner of a line of steamboats, one of which was the first craft of its kind to make the voyage around South America; he sailed the remainder of his ships to California and there disposed of them; his death occurred in Pittsburgh, that of his wife in Glenfield, Pa. They were the parents of: KATE, married E. C. FRALEY, and resides in Florida; WILLIAM, a resident of Florida; LAURA, married PHILIP L. PASSVANT, lives in Lincoln Place, near Pittsburgh, Pa.; OPHELIA, deceased; JOHN J.; IDA, married L. F. NEAL, of Aliquippa, Pa. 3. ABIGAIL, of previous mention, married JOHN (2) McKEE. JOHN (2) and ABIGAIL (JONES) McKEE had four children, the two eldest, JAMES and RALPH, both deceased; JOHN J.; and KATE S., born May 23, 1847, married WILLIAM E. WINKLE, deceased. (IV) JOHN J., only surviving son of JOHN (2) and ABIGAIL (JONES) McKEE, was born in Aliquippa, Beaver Co., Pa., Dec. 20, 1857. He obtained an elementary education in the public schools, then attending Teal College until his sophomore year, later graduating from Duff’s Business College, of Pittsburgh. He then became a riverman, and for the past 30 years has been a pilot and captain on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, being now in active service...Rivermen from New Orleans to Pittsburgh know him in person and by reputation, and the cordial (pg. 1106) hearty captain holds a secure place in the regard of the members of the river fraternity...CAPTAIN McKEE the honor that is his for the masterly manner in which he has ever performed his long term of service. He is a Democrat enthusiast in all matters political, a member of the Lutheran church, and belongs to Rochester Lodge, No. 283, Benevolent Protective Order Elks. He married, in 1890, MARY, born in Allegheny Co., Pa., daughter of JOHN and SUSAN (McAILAINS) MURPHY, of Allegheny Co., Pa., both deceased. MR. and MRS. McKEE have: 1. ROLF, born in September, 1891; educated in the public schools and Reno’s Commercial College; now engaged in the fire insurance business. 2. VERA, born in 1893; a graduate of the high school of Aliquippa. 3. JOHN E., born in 1895; a graduate of the Aliquippa high school, for two years a student in the Carnegie Technical Institute, now an electrical engineer in the employ of the Westinghouse Electrical and Manufacturing Company. 4. FRANK, born in 1897, attending school. 5. BERT, born in 1889, attending school.