Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of William McNee

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Descendants of William McNee

Generation No. 1

1. William¹ McNee^1,^2,³ was born September 24, 1830 in Glasgow, Scotland, and died February 10, 1899 in St. Clair, Benton County, Iowa. He married Elizabeth McKinnon⁴ September 23, 1859 in Linn County, Iowa⁴. She was born February 27, 1827 in Buchlgvie, Scotland, and died September 19, 1918.

Notes for William McNee:
The following is of unknown origin:

William McNee was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on Sept. 24, 1830. At the age of 24, William and his brother, Alexander, seeking new adventures and opportunities, left Scotland and sailed for America, arriving here in 1854. They made a short stop at Chicago, but traveled on to Cedar Rapids where they arrived in 1856.

They proceeded to a Scotch settlement located on the Linn and Benton County lines. Alexander, not satisfied here, started toward the setting sun decked out with a fancy team of horses, a new harness and a light wagon. No more was ever heard of him. As the Wild West was at its peak and horse thieves very numerous, it is presumed that his horses were stolen and he was killed.

It was at this Scotch settlement where William McNee met Elizabeth McKinnon Rogers. She was born in Bulchlvine, Scotland in 1828. Elizabeth came to America with her parents, brothers and sisters in 1850.

Elizabeth and William were married in Linn County, Iowa, in 1859. They started farming in St. Clair township in 1861, and here they followed this occupation through life.

William McNee bought his first land, an 80-acre plot, in 1859, for $3.00 per acre. The seller, Francis Rooza, obtained it from the United States in 1854. The first tax was $1.97 for forty acres. This original eighty laid north of the eighty acres that the farm buildings now stand on. The latter eighty and another quarter section were purchased from John McKinnon in 1863. John McKinnon was a cousin of Mrs. McNee. More land was purchased in 1866.

On the second eighty a set of buildings were erected and this has become the McNee century farm. One of the original buildings still stands (a former granary). This building was constructed from hand-hewed timbers and mortised together with hickory pegs.

Mr. and Mrs. McNee were the parents of four sons and one daughter. William A., born in 1861, became an astute banker at Laurens, Iowa. He married Emma Wiss and passed away in 1947. The second son, John M., a farmer at Laurens, was born in 1863, and married Anna Leonard. He died in 1947 also. David was born in 1865, married Mary Russell, and became a farmer at Fairfax. He passed away in 1944. Norman M,, born in 1866, married Lena Newton. He stayed on the family farm and died in 1950. William's daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 1869. She died Mrs. Wilbert Reid, in 1911.

William and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. McNee was a member of the St. Clair Lodge from 1870 until his death. His four sons were also Masons.

Fairly well established on the farm, William imported Clydesdale horses from Scotland in the 1880's. At one time, six stallions were kept for breeding purposes. He also imported Gallaway cattle from Scotland.

Mr. McNee died suddenly of a stroke in 1899. After his death, Norman M. McNee rented the farm from his mother. Norman married Lena Newton at her home in 1897. Lena was educated in a country school and graduated from Tilford Academy in Vinton, Iowa. She taught in the country school before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Norman McNee lived on the Grote farm south of Prairie Creek the first year of their marriage. Meanwhile, a new home was being built. It was completed in 1898 and they moved in to spend the rest of their life there.

Elizabeth McNee (Norman's mother) lived to be 91 years old, being blind for the last twenty years of her life. She passed away in 1918.

Mr. and Mrs. Norman McNee bought the farm after Elizabeth's death, the final purchase in 1920. They were the parents of eight children. Two of the eight died in infancy, and a third choked to death on an apple when he was about two years old. Those living are: Elsie, who married Ed Miller and has two sons, Norman and Robert. Norman married Elaine Swick and has four children-Darrel, the twins Kevin and Karen, and Glenn. Robert married Joan Brockschink and has three children, Debbie, Bruce, and Van. Elsie's sister, Lucille, lives in Marion as Mrs. W. N. Shellenbarger; Mrs. William Garza, Jane, who now resides in San Antonio, Texas, and is a registered nurse, and Robert, who married Mildred Crow. They have a son and two daughters, Gary, Connie, and Lorie. Gary married Carolyn Memler in 1962. Norman A., the oldest of the boys, married Ida Boddicker, of Blairstown.

Mr. and Mrs. Norman M. McNee celebrated their golden wedding in 1947. They were members of the Methodist Church and Eastern Star in Norway Norman and his-wife are buried in Mound Cemetery. Both of their parents are buried there, also.

Norman M.'s two sons, Norman A. and Robert, are presently living on the farm and run it on a partnership basis. Norman lives in the house built by his father. The fourth generation, Robert's children, live on this farm which their great-grandfather purchased back in 1854 and 1863.

Obituary:

WITH MASONIC HONORS.

Late Wm McNee Laid at Rest at Norway Yesterday.

The funeral of the late William McNee occurred at Norway Sunday at 12 o'clock, a large concourse of friends and neighbors, as well 'as Masons from surrounding towns being present. The services were conducted at the house by Rev. Ainsley of Blairstown and at the grave by the fraternity. By request of the master of St. Clair lodge No. 164, C. D. Huston, W. M. of Mt. Hermon lodge No. 263 Cedar Rapids, was present and conducted the services.

Mr. McNee was one of the pioneer residents, a man of sterling qualities and his friends were legion. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, September 24, 1830, came to Chicago January 30, 1854, removed to Cedar Rapids, December 23 1856, and to Benton county in March, 1861. He was married to Elizabeth McKinnon-Rogers from Buchlgvie, Scotland, September 23, 1859. The widow, four sons and one daughter survive him.

Will:

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF Wm. McNee

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN.

I , Wm McNee a resident of the Township of St. Clair in the County of Benton, and state of Iowa, being of sound mind and memory and yet mindful of- the-uncertainties of human life., do make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament in the manner following, hereby revoking and cancelling any and all former wills or codicils by me heretofore made.

First:- I direct the payment of all my just debts and funeral expenses.

Second. I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, Elizabeth McNee, the undivided one half (1/2) of all my real estate, wherever situated, the same to be used and enjoyed by her during her natural life.

Third. I give, devise and bequeath to my son William A. McNee an undivided five thirty secondeth (5/32), to my son John M McNee an undivided four thirty secondeth (4/32), to my son Norman McNee an undivided six thirty secondeth (6/32), and to my daughter Elizabeth McNee an undivided one. thirty secondeth of all my real estate wherever situated.

Fourth. I hereby direct that all the personal property of every name and nature, of which I may die seized, shall be divided equally between my wife Elizabeth McNee and my son Norman McNee, subject however to the provision hereinafter named.

Fifth. It is my wish and I hereby direct, that all of my said real estate shall remain intact and shall not be sold or divided during the life of my wife Elizabeth McNee, and. the stock, and other personal property necessary to carry on the farm successfully, shall remain thereon and that my said farm shall be carried on as a whole and for the benefit of my wife and those of my children who shall remain at home and participate in working and managing the farm, and that they shall receive from the proceeds of said farm as follows: my wife, Elizabeth McNee, one half (1/2) and those of my children who remain at home as before stated, an equal share of the other half.

Sixth. Should my wife or any one of those of my children who are interested in the personal property and management of the farm, become dissatisfied with remaining at home as hereinbefore provided, then and in that event, it is my wish that my wife and my executor together select two disinterested me, which two selected shall choose a third to act as appraisers and fix a fair market value on his or her share of my said real estate and personal property, for which amount, after being so appraised the one dissatisfied may dispose of his or her share to those remaining at home.

Seventh. After the death of my wife, it is my will and I hereby direct that that portion of my property, both real and personal, which I have bequeathed to her, for her use and benefit, during her natural life time, shall be divided among my children mentioned in paragraph Third hereof, and in proportions therein named.

Eighth. That, as I have previous to the making of this my last will and testament, given to my son David McNee the sum of Four Thousand ($4,00.00) Dollars as his full share of my estate, I desore and hereby direct that he, my son, the said David McNee, shall have and receive no other or further part or share of my estate, either real or personal.

Ninth. I hereby nominate and appoint my son Norman McNee as executor of this my last will and testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th day of May 1898 (signed) Wm. McNee.

The above instrument, consisting of two sheets was, on the day of the date thereof, signed, published and declared by the said testator to be his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who have signed our names at his request as witnesses, in his presence and in the presence of each other.

(Signed) Jasper Brown, Norway Benton County Iowa
James M Hibben, Norway Benton County Iowa

From the 1878 Biographies of St. Clair Township

McNEE, WILLIAM, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Florence; born in Scotland Sept. 24, 1830. Married Elizabeth McKinnon in Linn Co., Iowa, in 1858; she was born in Scotland in 1828; they have five children -- W. A., John Malcom, David, Norman and Elizabeth Catherine. Mr. and Mrs. McNee are members of the United Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M.

More About William McNee:
Burial: Mound Cemetery, Benton County, Iowa
Cause of Death: Stroke
Emigration: Glasgow, Scotland
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: 1880, Saint Clair, Benton, Iowa, United States ⁵

Notes for Elizabeth McKinnon:
Elizabeth came to America with her parents, brothers and sisters in 1850.

More About Elizabeth McKinnon:
Arrival: 1845 ⁶
Burial: Mound Cemetery, Benton County, Iowa
Medical Information: Blind the last 20 years of her life
Residence: 1900, Saint Clair, Benton, Iowa⁶

More About William McNee and Elizabeth McKinnon:
Marriage: September 23, 1859, Linn County, Iowa ⁷

Children of William McNee and Elizabeth McKinnon are:

	2	i.	James R.² McNee, born Abt. 1852 in Iowa.
+	3	ii.	William Alexander McNee, born September 17, 1861 in Norway, Benton, Iowa; died February 24, 1947 in Laurens, Pocahontas, Iowa.
	4	iii.	John Malcom McNee⁷, born June 12, 1863 in Benton County, Iowa; died 1947. He married Anna Leonard; born Abt. 1868 in Benton County, Iowa.

More About John Malcom McNee:
Occupation: Farmer

+	5	iv.	David McNee, born March 12, 1865 in Benton County, Iowa; died April 11, 1944 in Cedar Rapids, Linn, Iowa.
+	6	v.	Norman M. McNee, born December 17, 1866 in Benton County, Iowa; died 1950 in St. Clair Township, Benton, Iowa.
+	7	vi.	Elizabeth Katherine McNee, born July 26, 1869 in Norway, Benton, Iowa; died July 08, 1912 in Storm Lake, Buena Vista, Iowa.

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