REV. WILLIAM FINLEY MCKEE, D. D. Among the able, successful and popular preachers of the Gospel in Washington county is the Rev. William Finley McKee, who has for nearly two score years ministered to the spiritual needs of the First Presbyterian church of Monongahela. During this period he has by his faithful and conscientious efforts, greatly stimulated the various activities of this well known religious societ~, building up the membership, increasing the attendance at the religious services and leading the church in a larger and more practical application of its mission and possibilities as a potential factor in the betterment of the community. At the same time, Dr. McKee's ability, activity and personal qualities have won for him a high standing throughout the community and the respect and esteem of his brethren of the ministry.
William Finley McKee was born at Flat Woods, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on the 29th of July, 1867, and is the son of Finley and Eliza A. (Harper) McKee. The father was born at Bellevernon, this state, July 9, 1828, and died at Flat Woods, February 23, 1895. In early life he became a school teacher, which profession he followed for fifteen years, later engaging in farming. Politically he was a democrat and he was a school director and a member of the Laurel Hill Presbyterian church. He was the son of Henry and Susanna (Hombake) McKee, the former of whom was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1798, and died at Beallsville, Pennsylvania, in February, 1891. He was a farmer by occupation and a stanch democrat in his political views. He was a Presbyterian in early life, but when he retired from his farm, in 1860, to Beallsville, Pennsylvania, he joined the Methodist Episcopal church, as there was no Presbyterian church at Beallsville. He was buried in the cemetery of the old Rehobeth Presbyterian church, near Bellevernon. He was the son of John and Mary (Seabring) McKee, the former of whom was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1760, and died in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1830, at the age of seventy years. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and was wounded in the battle of Monmouth, New Jersey. He also fought in the War of 1812. He had come to this country as a lad in 1777 and immediately joined Washington's army. On returning to civil life he turned his attention to farming, which he followed during all of his active years.
Eliza A. (Harper) McKee was born at Vanderbilt, Pennsylvania, October 11, 1832, and died at Flat Woods, May 11, 1900. She was the daughter of Daniel and Marjorie (Huston) Harper, the latter of whom was a direct descendant of Captain Joseph Huston, of the Revolutionary war. Daniel Harper was a native of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and was residing at Vanderbilt at the time of his death. He had been a lifelong farmer and was a man of prominence in his community. He was a member of the Laurel Hill Presbyterian church and politically was a democrat, having served for a number of years as a justice of the peace in his locality. His wife was born in Fayette county, where her death occurred in 1870.
William F. McKee received his elementary education in the public schools of Fayette county and then attended the State Normal School, at California, and Cross Creek Academy. In 1898 he was graduated from the Ohio Northern University with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and then attended the Western Theological Seminary, where he was granted the degree of Bachelor of Sacred Theology in 1896. In 1912 the Ohio Northern University conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. His first pastorate was at Clarkson, Ohio, where he served from 1896 to 1899. From that year until 1902 he served the church at Niles, Ohio, and then went to the church at Turtle Creek, where he ministered until 1906, when he was called to the pastorate of the First Presbyterian church of Monongahela, which he is still serving.
Dr. McKee is an earnest and eloquent speaker, his sermons are able and thoughtful and his personality is of that type that wins the favorable opinion of all who come in contact with him. He has at various times been honored by his church, having served as a trustee of Poland Union Seminary, Ohio, and as trustee of the Ohio Northern University. He has served as moderator of the presbyteries at Mahoning, Blairsville and Pittsburgh, and he has three times been sent by his presbytery to the General Assembly and many times to the Synod. Politically Dr. McKee is nominally a democrat but maintains an independent attitude, preferring to vote according to the dictates of his judgment as to both men and measures, regardless of party lines or platforms. He is a constant student, a close and thoughtful reader, and keeps in close touch with the great issues of the day, on which he holds strong and positive convictions. He is a man of courage in his views of public questions and fearless in his utterances. Of scholarly attainments and ripe judgment, and consecrated to his calling, he has been a power for good in his community, where his self-abnegating services have been appreciated through the years. With a sympathy that is boundless and a love of humanity that is deep rooted in a broad and tolerant appraisal of human nature, his cheerful manner, kindly humor and utter freedom from every form of affectation have endeared him to his entire congregation, while throughout all circles he is held in the highest regard.
Dr. McKee was married at Jackson, Ohio, July 21, 1896, to Miss Mary White, who was born May 15, 1868, at Jackson, the daughter of John W. and Margaret (Harper) White. Her father was a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and his death occurred in Jackson, where he had been engaged in the mercantile business. He was an elder in the United Presbyterian church and a republican in his political views. He was attending college at Athens, Ohio; at the outbreak of the Civil war, but he laid aside his books and enlisted for service, remaining in the army until the close of the conflict. His wife was a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and is now living at Jackson. Mrs. Mary McKee was graduated from the high school at Jackson and then took a special teachers' training course at the Ohio Northern University, following which she was for several years prior to her marriage engaged in teaching in the Jackson public schools. She is very active in the work of the First Presbyterian church and is also a member of the Friday Conversation Club. She has proven an ideal pastor's wife and is very popular among the members of her husband's congregation, especially among the young women, as well as all others with whom she associates.
To Dr. and Mrs. McKee have been born three children: Paul Harper, born September 30, 1898, at Clarkson, Ohio, was graduated from the Monongahela high school in 1916 and then attended Wooster College, at Wooster, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1921 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then attended Princeton Theological Seminary for two years and is now professor of English in the American University at Beirut, Syria. Margaret Eliza McKee was born at Niles, Ohio, August 7, 1900, and was graduated from the Monongahela high school in 1918. She then entered Muskingum College, from which she was graduated in 1923 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and is now teaching history in the Donora high school. Mary Anna McKee, who was born at Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1903, was graduated from the Monongahela high school in 1922 and is now a member of the class of 1926, Muskingum College.