Samuel McKee

Member of U. S.

   Congress 1809-17; Circuit and U. S. District Judge; and member of the Ky. 

   Legislature. 

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1. George Wilson McKee, McKees of Virginia and Kentucky, the, Pittsburgh, J. B. Richards, 1891, pg. 60-79. " 80-3

Hon. Samuel McKee, of Kentucky

Hon. Samuel McKee, son of Col. William McKee, of Virginia, was born in Rockbridge County, Va., October 1 3, 1 774. He came to Kentucky with his father about 1790, and settled in that part of Lincoln County now known as Garrard. It mav be possible, however, that he did not join his father in Kentucky until after he had graduated at " Liberty Hall," now the "Washington and Lee University, of Lexington, Virginia. This event took place between 1789 and 1800” probably about 1794 as he would then have been twenty years of age. The Catalogue of Alumni for 1888 does not give the date of graduation, but his Alum- nus number is put down as 130, Detween 1789 and 1800. This mention is made of him on page 54:

"Col. Samuel McKee, Rockbridge County: (Son of 37:) Garrard County, Ky.; Lawyer; Member United States Congress, 1809-17: Cir- cuit Judge; U.S. District Judge; Member Kentucky Legislature; Member Commission appointed by President Monroe to clear the Ohio and Missippi rivers of obstructions : Died October 16. 1826'

He was a very able lawyer, and much admired by the Kentuckians for his integrity, ability and patriotism. Mention of the latter may be seen further on in the eulogy delivered by the Hon. John C. Breckinridge at the burial of the Kentucky volunteers who fell in Mexico.

Miss Jeanie D. McKee gives the following information rsceived from her father, Hon. George R. McKee :

"Hon. Samuel McKee studied law with Judge John Boyle. Upon the organization of Pulaski County he was appointed County Surveyor. He was elected to the Legislature from the counties of Wayne and Pulaski. He returned to Garrard, and was elected to the Legislature from that county. He was married the 25th of June, 1807, to Martha Robertson, daughter of Alexander and Margaret Robertson, of Mercer County, Kentucky. In 1808 he was elected to Congress, and was re-elected for three successive terms, serving from 1808 to 1816. While in Congress, in 1811, he made the motion for the declaration of war against England. Whilst a member of Congress he volunteered as a private soldier, and went to the Northwest with the army, and constituted one of the military family of General William Henrv Harrison ; returning to Washington upon the convening of Congress. In 1816 he settled down to the practice of law. He was twice appointed Circuit Judge, first in the Shelby, afterwards in the Montgomery District. He resigned the last appointment in 1820, and was again elected to the Legislature from Garrard County. He was very violently opposed to the charter of the Commonwealth Bank. After his return from the Legislature, in 1821, he made a speech to his constituents, perhaps as large an audience as ever assembled in the Court House of Garrard County, in which he foretold, with the prescience of a prophet, what afterwards came to pass as the result of the establishment of the Bank of the Commonwealth. In all the positions which he filled, he was noted for his fidelity to the trusts reposed in him."

In a beautiful spot in the woodland of the old McKee homestead, near Lancaster. Ky. there is a little monument with the following inscription :

SAMUEL M KEE.

A distinguished Member of Congress from the Garrard District from 1808 to 1816, and the father of Col. William Robertson McKee, who fell in the battle of Buena Vista, was the son of William McKee, who commanded as a Captain in the Battle of the Point 1774. Was born October, 1774, in Rockbridge County, Virginia, and died October 16, 1826.

MARTHA ROBERTSON, The pious, prudent and affectionate wife of Samuel McKee, was born in Mercer County. Kentucky, July 9, 1788, while her father, Alexander Robertson, was on the Virginia Convention, and died in Garrard. April 14, 1848.

FAMILY OF SAMUEL m'kee AND HIS WIFE, MARTHA ROBERTSON.

William Robertson McKee was born, September 29th, 1808.

George Robertson McKee was born, May 27th, 1810.

Alexander Robertson McKee was born, February 4th. 1816.

Jane Logan McKee was born, August 23d, 1818.

US Congressman. Elected to represent Kentucky's 2nd, 7th, and as At-Large in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1809 to 1817. Also served as a Member of the Kentucky State House of Representatives in 1802. (bio by: [fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=46537737" target="_blank K)] Maintained by: Find A Grave Record added: Jul 03, 2003

Find A Grave Memorial# 7650613

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: May 20 2017, 3:39:55 UTC