JEFFERSON COUNTY NEW YORK

CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS' BIOGRAPHIES

Lieut. JESSE McKEE

Union Soldier - Distinguished Service

Born Feb 27 1828 in Adams, NY (Jefferson County), Married 10/10 1850 to Lucy M. Johnson, Died May 18 1904

Died McKEE.—At his home in Morrison, Ill., Wednesday, May 18, 1904, of paralysis, Jesse McKee, aged 76 years, 2 months and 21 days.

The deceased was born in Adams, Jefferson County, N.Y., Feb, 27, 1828. He was married to Lucy M. Johnson, Oct. 10, 1850, at Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence county, N.Y., and moved to Detroit, Mich., the same year. After a residence of 9 years there they returned to New York. In August, 1862, Mr. McKee enlisted in the Union army, serving about a year as Second Lieutenant in Company K, 142nd Infantry, New York Volunteers, from which he was honorably discharged on account of poor health.

After the war, Mr. McKee came to Morrison, Ill., and engaged in the furniture business, which he conducted until about 7 years ago. He was an honorable and upright citizen and numbered his friends by the score. He was an old and faithful member of the Odd Fellows order, having been initiated in Wayne lodge, No. 2, Detroit, Mich. Aug 20, 1852. When he removed to this city, he deposited his card in Grove lodge No. 257, of which he was still a member and Past Grand. He received the Patriarchal degrees in Michigan Encampment No 1, Dec. 10, 1856, at Detroit, but transferred to Bethel Encampment of Morrison, of which he was the faithful Scribe for over twenty-five years. Mr. McKee filled the various offices in both the lodge and Encampment and ranked as a Past Grand and Past Chief Patriarch.

He was stricken with paralysis about a year and a half ago, but was not confined to his bed until last Saturday. He was tenderly cared for by his wife and children and everything was done to make his declining days as comfortable as possible. He is survived by his wife and six children, as follows: Charles F. of Morrison, Ill., Mrs. D.W. (Laura) Mathews of Walsenburg, Colo., Jesse J. of Sterling, Ill., Judson D. of Philadephia, Penn., and Mrs. R.D. (Mary) McMullen and Lafayette S. of Morrsion, Ill. The many friends of the deceased unite in extending sympathy to the bereaved family.

Funeral services will be held at the Universalist church at 2:30 o’clock Friday afternoon, Rev. George Patterson officiating. The ceremony at Grove Hill cemetery will be under the auspices of the Odd Fellows, and members of the G. A. R. will also attend in a body.

His gravestone reads: LIEUT. CO. K. 142 N.Y. VOL.

From the website given below, One Hundred and Forty-Second New York Volunteers.

"A list of the change of officers in this regiment since their entering the field, October, 1862: ...
First Sergeant Jesse McKee Second Lieutenant, vice Wm. Dodge promoted."

Sources:

http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/142ndInf/142ndInfCWN.htm

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http://jefferson.nygenweb.net/cwbmckee.htm updated March 7, 2009