Published: May 16, 2008 07:29 pm         

McKee: Mayor, soldier, farmer

Can you imagine a family of 14 boys and one girl? George McKee was the seventh son of the family. He was born in Washington, Pa., to Robert and Adaline McKee on Feb. 2, 1846. Robert McKee operated a large stock farm for a living.

In 1861, Robert and Adaline decided to move to Cass County.

They settled in Bethlehem Township on a really good farm. George decided to join the army when he was just 15 years old. He was sent to Fort Hamilton that was actually in the harbor of New York City. George was assigned to Company C 12th U.S. Infantry under the supervision of Capt. H.R. Rathbone. He remained in New York for the first year of service. George was then sent to the front on the Potomac River to become part of the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division 5th Army Corps in the Army of the Potomac. The 5th Army’s main job was to protect Washington, D.C. Company C was ordered to engage the Army of Virginia whenever possible.

In September 1865, at the close of the war, George was ordered to leave Washington, D.C., and report to authorities in Richmond to do police work, as Richmond was in a terribly demoralized condition after the evacuation of the Confederates.

Then in 1866, his regiment was ordered to Fort Monroe in Hampton, Va.’s harbor to guard Jefferson Davis, who was being held prisoner there. Finally, in 1867, George was mustered out in Washington, D.C.

George returned to Logansport in 1872 and married Clara Johnson.

They had six children.

He farmed for several years and became quite involved in buying and selling stock as his father had done. In 1884, George moved into Logansport and worked in the post office. He was also president of the civil service board of the Logansport Post Office.

In 1894, George McKee became one of the first Republicans in many years to be elected mayor of Logansport, and he was then re-elected in 1898.  

George was a charter member of the Grand Army of the Republic and elected commander. He and his wife were faithful members of the Methodist Church.

George P. McKee died Jan. 23, 1918.

George’s brother, Thomas Hudson McKee, lived in Washington, D.C., for many years. He was the clerk of the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. Thomas edited and collated many political books such as, “History of Inauguration of Presidents” and “National Conventions and Platforms and Compilation of Reports and Committees of both houses.” He also published a large number of public addresses in pamphlet form.

Richard B. Copeland is president of the Cass County Historical Society and can be reached at ptnews@pharostribune.com. The material for this article came from the Biographical and Genealogical History of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties and the CCHS archives.