Samuel McKee

1870

Emily was not born until 1874, Shannon found them in the 1880 Montague County Census. At that time John
was not listed with the family. There was a John Evens living with them,he worked on a farm there.

In 1889 at the age of 25 Samuel married Eliza Lee Hunter, daughter of William Peter and Elizabeth Jane (Beatty) Hunter. When they were found in the 1900 census they were living in the small town of Mineral Wells,Texas,with four of their children;
Eula Lee,Samuel Harvey,Pansy Viola, and Joseph Ira. Eliza older sister Lizzie Mahurin and her two small children were living with them
at the time. Samuel and Eliza proceeded to add three more children to the family after 1900 census. Jesse Oscar,
Charlie William,and Nellie Bly. Samuel's brother John and their mother Sarah was living in Mineral Well at the same time.

Eula Lee, the oldest of Samuel and Eliza was strong willed and rebellious,and Samuel didn't spare the rod. She became Pregnant at 13, and the baby's father Aaron Hall was 14,and they were too young to marry. She gave birth to a baby boy in April 1907,and named him Ted Hall his fathers last name.

Later that year,Samuel received serious internal injuries when his wagon got stuck on a tree stump,
and turned over on him. He died three weeks later at the age of 42. He is in an unmarked grave,
believed to be on the banks of Brazos River, near Mineral Wells Texas. Many years later,Nell his
youngest daughter, tried to find his grave, but was unable to. It's believed to be in the general area
of the Indian Creek Cemetery.

After Samuel's Death,tradgedy followed the McKee's. At only 35 Eliza had to raise her seven children
and a new grandchild. Nellie her youngest,was two at the time. How she feed them heaven only knows,but it is very possible that she moved to her family,the Hunters,near Happy Hollows a small community
in Eastland County Texas.

Eliza's brothers Joe and Will Hunter were considered well off for that period in time,and Joe's wife Melissa,died in 1901 leaving him to raise their twelve children. Joe never remarried,so it's hightly probable that Eliza and her mother helped him raise the children. Eliza was not found in the 1910 Census for Palo Pinto Texas but Jessie and Nell were listed at the Tanner Public School in Eastland County in 1915.

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