Biography - Joel McKee
JOEL R. McKEE, was born in Massac County in June, 1846. He is a son of John W. and Fannie (Enloe) McKee. The former was a native of Missouri, and the latter of Illinois. John W. McKee was the son of James and Nancy McKee, and came to Illinois at a very early day, taking up Government land one mile from Metropolis. He cleared a farm, which was covered with timber, built a log house upon it and there reared his family of six children. He at length sold this farm, and bought land in Johnson County, where he resided until his death, March 5, 1866. Joel R. McKee remained at home until he was eighteen years of age, when he enlisted in Company G, Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry. He was at the battle of Atlanta, as he had been in that of Kenesaw Mountain. He was captured in the Stoneman raid, in Georgia, and was held prisoner at Andersonville nine months. He was taken to Goldsborough, N. C., was paroled, afterward serving to the end of the war, and was honorably discharged at Springfield, Ill. After coming home he engaged in farming on shares for some time, and then bought land in Williamson County, which he afterward exchanged for land in Johnson County near where he now lives. He soon sold this land and bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Simpson Township. He was married January 11, 1872, to Jane Harper, who was born on the farm upon which she now lives. She is a daughter of Joseph H. and Mary H. Harper. Mr. and Mrs. McKee have seven children, viz: Fannie, John E., Emma M., William F., Mary Ann, Joel R., Jr., and Nellie. Mr. McKee is a member of Simpson Lodge No. 773, I. O. O. F., and Simpson Post, G. A. R. In politics, Mr. McKee is a loyal Republican.
Extracted 16 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from 1893 Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, pages 476-477.
