George Riley McKee

George Riley McKEE may have been one of the two males 5-10 years old enumerated in the McKEE household in Shelby Co., IN in 1840; however, there simply are not enough individuals counted in each age group to account for all of the McKEE children listed in Ms TAUNTON's family group sheets! "Riley" is listed as 16 years old in 1850 in Fulton Co.

Compiler received a copy of page 178 of the printed census compilation for 1860 from Fulton Co. Library in Rochester, IN. While George R. does not appear on this page, there are THURSTONs enumerated immediately before James and Mary KEELY, George R.'s sister and brother-in-law. His older brother Albert "Russell" is also enumerated on the same page.

Ms. TAUNTON reports the date, but not the place of George Riley's death. Mrs. Wilma (MOW) FOLTZ has provided this data in sending a copy from "The Rochester Sentinel Newspaper - 1885." The items concerning George R. McKEE's death are quoted below:

"Riley McKEE is lying at the point of death at the residence of James KEELY. At the time of going to press it was thought impossible for him to live until morning."

(There is no date on the photocopy for the statement above.)

WEDNESDAY, July 22, 1885

  "George R. McKEE of whose sickness brief mention was made last week, died at the residence of Mr. James KEELY, in this city, last Wednesday morning. The deceased was nearly 52 years of age and for 36 years, less two years recently spent in KANSAS, he had been a citizen of this county. Those who knew him, speak of him as an honest industrious and very worthy gentleman. By honesty, industry and economy he accumulated a little wealth which he took to KANSAS about three years ago and in a very short time lost all. He returned to this place, leaving his wife in KANSAS where she is at this time. Since his return he has made his home with his sister, Mrs. KEELY. He was taken sick with inflammation of the stomach and after a week of suffering a good man passed away."

George R. McKEE, Mary A. THURSTON's husband, died at the home of his sister Mary (McKEE) KEELY in Rochester, IN, 22 JULY 1885. Per the obituary written about him, Mary, his wife, had remained in KANSAS when George R. returned to Fulton Co., IN after he had lost their life savings. The obituary implied that Mary A. did not come to IN for her husband's funeral.
On the extraction of the 1860 census, there appears a "Josiah THURSTON, age 35, b. PA" and his family just 5 households from the McKEEs. This may be a brother to Mary A. THURSON McKEE

Found by another researcher is: FULTON COUNTY INDIANA OBITS/ BIOGS The Rochester Sentinel 1880 - 1885 Wendell C. Tombaugh is found:

Saturday January 31, 1880 - George R. McKEE will sell his personal property at public sale on the 10th of next month and with his family depart for Missouri about the first of March. George is an old settler in this county and many will be sorry to see him leave.

Saturday February 9, 1884 - Mr. George R. McKEE who went to Missouri a couple of years ago recently returned a sadder but wiser man. After disposing of his effects in this county preparatory to his removal West, he met with a misfortune while on the way of being robbed of $300. The balance of his money he unfortunately invested in Missouri lands, the title to which he placed in his son-in-law's name. As soon as his son-in-law got things "fixed" to his liking, it was very convenient to get up a family disturbance which has been growing from bad to worse until Mr. McKee could stand it no longer. Having given all his property over into the hands of his son-in-law, and without any means left his life was made so unpleasant that he was forced to sue for peace and separation on any terms. A compromise was effected by which Mr. McKee received a very small portion of the money he had invested, and with it he has returned to his old home and among his former friends who know him to be an honorable and strictly honest man. One of the worst features about the case is, that his wife has taken sides with her daughter and son-in-law, and has done her full share to make his life miserable and perhaps paved the way for a final separation of husband and wife. Mr. McKee is here now and will not return to Missouri until his unnatural friends in whom he placed so much confidence are willing to make restitution of a portion of the property which his labor and money acquired.

Wedensday July 8, 1885 - Riley McKEE is lying at the point of death at the residence of James KEELY. At the time of going to press it was thought impossible for him to live until morning.

Wednesday July 22, 1885 George R. McKEE, of whose sickness brief mention was made last week, died at the residence of Mr. James KEELY, in this city, last Wednesday morning. The deceased was nearly 52 years of age and for 36 years, less two years recently spent in Kansas, he had been a citizen of this county. Those who knew him, speak of him as an honest, industrious and very worthy gentleman. By honesty, industry and economy he accumulated a little wealth which he took to Kansas about three years ago and in a very short time lost all. He returned to this place, leaving his wife in Kansas where she is at this time. Since his return he has made his home with his sister, Mrs. KEELY. He was taken sick with inflammation of the stomach and after a week of suffering a good man passed away.

RECORD:

1. 1850 US Census. "Name: Riley Mckee Age: 16 Estimated birth year: abt 1834 Birth Place: Iowa [Indiana] Gender: Male Home in 1850 (City,County,State): Rochester, Fulton, Indiana Family Number: 91 Household Members: Name Age Anthony Mckee 54 Nancy Mckee 49 Isaac Mckee 20 Riley Mckee 16 Phebe Mckee 15 Wm Mckee 13 James Mckee 11 Martin Mckee 7

1850; Census Place: Rochester, Fulton, Indiana; Roll  M432_146; Page: 418B;."