Featured McKee History

from Perth, Ontario
William McKee and Elizabeth Hammond (Ontario)

The book, History of the County of Perth states: “Near the stream northward came, in 1847, James Reed, Robert Miller, Robert, John and William McKee; John Nicklin, John Gillespie, John Armstrong, with the families of Crawford, Henderson, Teskey, McMullen and Strachen. Nearly all of these were North Ireland Scotch immigrants and unacquainted with pioneer life. This intensified their difficulties in a marked degree. No survey having been made, they necessarily became squatters, and for any improvements were entirely at the mercy of the government. When a survey was affected, great hardship arose. Where a patch of clearing had been done and a shanty erected, it not infrequently happened that a concession line would pass through the little plot of stumps and even compel the removal of the shanty to another location.” They settled in the township of Mornington.

In Elma, the pioneer Methodist minister was Rev John Armstrong, who preached in the shanties of old settlers from the earliest period of settlement. Rev Mr. Dyer followed Mr. Armstrong and he was the first minister appointed by confederation to Elma, as a separate mission. During Mr. Dyers pastorate, services were held in may homes including Mr. McKees (now Molesworth) and radiated the principles of Methodism throughout Elma.

The history of the County of Perth also tells of several settlers who settled in Wallace. In the southwest were North of Ireland and Scotch, and the McKees, Everals, Coughlins, Smiths and Thompsons were first settlers. Wallace lies at the extreme northern limit of Perth County. On the southern side, it is partly bounded by Elma, yet is nearly separated from Perth by Grey, in the County of Huron.

Other points of interest from this book are: Deputy Reeve in Mornington was Robert McKee, from 1863 to 1868 and George McKee from 1876-1878. Municipal officers in Wallace – George McKee was a collector in 1869 and an auditor in 1869 and 1870. Councillors – R McKee and P McKee. Hammond Families mentioned are James, John R., Thomas E and William. This is noted for interest sake as someone may want to research the Hammond family tree.

Williams McKee’s obituary mentions him crossing the pond with two brothers and a sister. As mentioned in the History of Perth, his two brothers were likely Robert and John. In Molesworth Cemetery, there is an R.J. McKee grave and buried there are Mr. and Mrs. McKee and a daughter. There were no McKee Family histories in the History of the County of Perth. I was unable to locate the name of the third daughter of William and also the name of his sister who crossed the pond with him. The large monument of William and Elizabeth is in Molesworth Cemetery and it says: WM. McKee died Nov 20, 1885 age 81 & 8 months a native of Donegal, Ireland. Elizabeth Hammond, wife of Wm. McKee died Dec 28, 1880 age 74 years 11 months 21 days a native of County Donegal, Ireland.