I am searching for information on Loren Uriah (aka L.U.) Mckee and particularly for information that might provide clues as to L. U. McKee's parents. Loren was born in April 1866, in Iowa, according to federal census data, and married Blanche (surname uncertain as she was adopted by a J.D. and Sarah King. They lived in Woodbury Iowa until around 1905, then moved to San Diego California.

My grandfather (Frederick Ansel Mckee)b 1868 Dubuque CO Iowa, had 10 siblings. One of his bros. was named Loren Ulysses b April 1 1853 In La Motte, Jackson Co Iowa m.June 11 1874 in La Motte to Blanche Titus, d.march 13 1914 San Diego California where he was a Methodist minister.
His parents Alexander Doidge McKee and Eliza Ann Wright were both born in Sacketts Harbor, Jefferson Co. NY.
If this sounds like the right info- I have much much more!

Jeri McKee Wenke

Thank you so much for responding to my query. Some of your information does click with some of mine. The names are close, and to be honest, the Uriah is based on family tradition, in the only census data I've found thus far, Loren is listed simply as L.U., so I suppose the family might have confused Uriah with Ulysses. The wife's name is the same too, Blanche. Unfortunately I don't know my great grandmother's surname, she was adopted by John and Sarah King, and I don't know if she used that name or her birth surname. In the 1870 census for Le Roy Township, Benton County Iowa, she is simply listed as Blanche, under J.D. King as head of household. I do know she was born in Illinois, where the Kings lived until 1866. Although I don't know the actual date of death for my Loren, I know he was in San Diego in 1906, and his wife is listed as a widow in 1920, so your death date seems consistent. In the 1900 census, Loren listed his parents' birthplaces as New York, again matching your data. Also, my family tradition always held that my great grandfather Loren was a methodist minister. In fact, my grandfather, Earl Dempster McKee's, ob states that his father was a methodist minister, but that was written, of course, by the third generation. I've been discounting the methodist minister thing, since Loren is listed as an insurance salesman, both in the 1900 census and in a early San Diego phone book. But it's weird that your Loren Ulysses would have been a methodist minister, given the tradition surrounding mine. The birthdates of the Loren's, alas, don't match. The 1900 census for Woodbury Iowa give my Loren's birthdate as 1866. That would have made him 6 years younger than his wife (she was born in 1860, a date which cross checks in 3 censuses) so it's possible the birth info given for Loren in 1900 wasn't accurate. The marriage dates though don't match either, and although the 1900 census data is again suspect, since it indicates they were married a year after Earl Dempster was born, my Blanche would have been 14 in 1874, which seems an unlikely age for marriage given her adopted family (her father was a respected local lawyer). Also, Earl Dempster was born in 1886, which again suggests a marriage date much later than 1874. Still, gosh darn, there seem to be a lot of coincidences here, too many to dismiss out of hand. The similiarity of names, the locations - Iowa and San Diego. I would love a chance to explore this more thoroughly. There might be some family connection (Loren U. McKee not seeming a very common name, and from Iowa to San Diego), even if the two Loren's were separate individuals. You can contact me at my email address if you like, I'd love to hear from you.

I have been unable to find an obit for Loren U. McKee in the San Diego Union around March 13, 1914. However, based on city directories for San Diego, Loren did die sometime during 1914. There are no other Loren's or L McKees listed. Also, in one directory listing Loren U. is designated as a Dr. (I'm assuming Doctor of Divinity, which would match your data and my family oral history) as well as a general broker. Based on evidence to date, I think your Loren is undoubtedly the same person as my Loren. I would deeply appreciate any further information you have on Loren McKee and his family.

Am wondering if our McKee's could be related? My David & Henrietta McKee arrived in 1851 from Ireland and it was ca.
1860 by the time they arrived in Iowa, settling in Polk Co. as farmers, he then died in 1862 and she remarried to John Lowe and eventually moved to Jewell Co. KS and died ca. 1880. She had four McKee sons, Thomas James who lived and died in Des Moines, Samuel John who died in Idaho but is buried in Iowa, my gr-grandfather David who died in KS and William who lived and died in Ellensburg, WA. She also had 1 McKee
dau. named Francis "Fanny" who md. W. T. Lowe and died
ca. 18 yrs. of age aft. giving birth to a babygirl. Henrietta also
had a son Fred J. and a dau. Clara Laura by John Lowe. I'm
thinking perhaps Loren and David were related, what time-span are you talking about? <bcluck@telepath.com>

My Loren's parent's were born in New York, so am not sure your McKees who emigrated in 1851 could be related, although it might be possible if they were joining relatives already here etc. I'm just beginning to research this line, and don't have enough info amassed to know much yet.

I was always told my dad had an uncle that was a minister.

My grandfather is also Frederick McKee. He is my second great grandfather. I have just started looking at my family history and would love any information you have.

Here is my rundown-

Frederick was married to Cora Squier they had a daughter Lois Margaret McKee (in Iowa) before Cora died in Yakima, Washington 1901. Frederick remarried.
Lois married Robert Mayer and had 2-3 children. One was my grandmother Betty Lois Mayer.
Betty married Donald Ash had 5 children w/him Clyde being the oldest - Donald left the family and she went on to have 2 more children with William Terry. Those children took the Ash last name.
Clyde married Geraldine Ord and had 3 children. (One of which is me)