The Capital Times, Monday, September 28, 1953
"All Around The Town -- The McKee Family---Pioneer Area Farmers---Nora McKee Teacher
By Alexius Baas
THERE are families, especially in country areas, which, by their industry and influence upon the community life, often give their locale a name even though it be not so registered in the postal directory. The McKees of Fitchburg district to the south of Madison are such a family and the Capital Times of Sept. 22 notes in an obituary the passing of one of its best known members-- Nora, for many years a school teacher in the Madison area.
Dennis McKee, born in 1829, founder and patriarch of the family, came from Ireland to the United States in 1849. Like hundreds of his fellow countrymen he was driven from the homeland by the disastrous potato famine of 1848. Ireland's loss proved to be America's gain. Dennis came first to New York and he remained there for some years. In 1864 he came west to Wisconsin. His life from that time on was that of a successful farmer.
---
Dennis McKee was married twice. By his first wife he had three children, Julia, Mrs. Bridget Frenzel, and William, one time owner of the Maple Lawn Dairy and Maple Lawn Heights near the State Fish Hatchery. These three are deceased. His second wife was Rosina Sweeney. She bore him nine children of whom Mary, teacher at Columbia university, Sara of St. Paul and Mrs. Kathryn Svedlund of Evanston, Ill., are living.
The remaining six-- Edward J. McKee, father of Lyman, who gave me most of the information for this article, Terry McKee, former well known dentist of Madison and a good friend of the writers', Elizabeth, employed for many years at the University of Wisconsin, Ann, long time employee in the secretary of state's office, Timothy who never married but devoted his life to the home farm, and now Nora-- are all deceased.
When Dennis McKee, who died in 1920, retired from active farm life about the turn of the century, Timothy took over and Edward bought the farm next door. These two farms are now operated by William McKee and my informant Lyman.
These two brothers of the third generation have also purchased two adjoining farms-- formerly known as the Hassett and Lydon farms.
----
Nora McKee was born in 1869. Her primary education was received at a country school facetiously known in the neighborhood as the Dogtown school. Just where she went to high school is not known but Lyman was of the opinion that it was at some Catholic school, possibly Edgewood. She then attended Whitewater State Teacher's College and Columbia (New York) University.
In 1889 she started her active teaching career. Her first assignment was Fitchburg. Then followed teaching at Westport, Verona, Sun Prairie and Bristol. In 1902 came her first Madison position and from that time until 1940 when she retired she taught first grade continuously making a total of 51 years of teaching, 38 of which were at the Longfellow school.
During her long service there the school was remodeled and partially rebuilt three times. Among the many pupils that passed through her grade there were many of three generations-- in other words grandparents, parents and the children of these last.
---
To list all the Madison children who received her instructions would fill a volume. To estimate the tremendous influence for good exercised by Nora McKee and women like her is impossible. She was more than a teacher-- she was a foster mother to her pupils. She had keen intelligence, Irish wit and humor, and a warm heart.
'She had no hobbies,' said her work with and her love for her pupils made her life. She thought of and lived for nothing else. Every spring it was her custom to bring her pupils out to the farm for an outing and this was a rare treat for city children especially. It was a pleasure to water her with the children. She reminded us for all the world of a motherly old hen with her brood of little ones.'
So passes a great soul and a great woman. One is tempted to moralize upon the application of the adjective. Ordinarily we think of it in connection with men and women who make a noise in the world. It is Nora McKee and men and women like her who should receive it."
"All Around The Town -- The McKee Family---Pioneer Area Farmers---Nora McKee Teacher
By Alexius Baas
THERE are families, especially in country areas, which, by their industry and influence upon the community life, often give their locale a name even though it be not so registered in the postal directory. The McKees of Fitchburg district to the south of Madison are such a family and the Capital Times of Sept. 22 notes in an obituary the passing of one of its best known members-- Nora, for many years a school teacher in the Madison area.
Dennis McKee, born in 1829, founder and patriarch of the family, came from Ireland to the United States in 1849. Like hundreds of his fellow countrymen he was driven from the homeland by the disastrous potato famine of 1848. Ireland's loss proved to be America's gain. Dennis came first to New York and he remained there for some years. In 1864 he came west to Wisconsin. His life from that time on was that of a successful farmer.
---
Dennis McKee was married twice. By his first wife he had three children, Julia, Mrs. Bridget Frenzel, and William, one time owner of the Maple Lawn Dairy and Maple Lawn Heights near the State Fish Hatchery. These three are deceased. His second wife was Rosina Sweeney. She bore him nine children of whom Mary, teacher at Columbia university, Sara of St. Paul and Mrs. Kathryn Svedlund of Evanston, Ill., are living.
The remaining six-- Edward J. McKee, father of Lyman, who gave me most of the information for this article, Terry McKee, former well known dentist of Madison and a good friend of the writers', Elizabeth, employed for many years at the University of Wisconsin, Ann, long time employee in the secretary of state's office, Timothy who never married but devoted his life to the home farm, and now Nora-- are all deceased.
When Dennis McKee, who died in 1920, retired from active farm life about the turn of the century, Timothy took over and Edward bought the farm next door. These two farms are now operated by William McKee and my informant Lyman.
These two brothers of the third generation have also purchased two adjoining farms-- formerly known as the Hassett and Lydon farms.
----
Nora McKee was born in 1869. Her primary education was received at a country school facetiously known in the neighborhood as the Dogtown school. Just where she went to high school is not known but Lyman was of the opinion that it was at some Catholic school, possibly Edgewood. She then attended Whitewater State Teacher's College and Columbia (New York) University.
In 1889 she started her active teaching career. Her first assignment was Fitchburg. Then followed teaching at Westport, Verona, Sun Prairie and Bristol. In 1902 came her first Madison position and from that time until 1940 when she retired she taught first grade continuously making a total of 51 years of teaching, 38 of which were at the Longfellow school.
During her long service there the school was remodeled and partially rebuilt three times. Among the many pupils that passed through her grade there were many of three generations-- in other words grandparents, parents and the children of these last.
---
To list all the Madison children who received her instructions would fill a volume. To estimate the tremendous influence for good exercised by Nora McKee and women like her is impossible. She was more than a teacher-- she was a foster mother to her pupils. She had keen intelligence, Irish wit and humor, and a warm heart.
'She had no hobbies,' said her work with and her love for her pupils made her life. She thought of and lived for nothing else. Every spring it was her custom to bring her pupils out to the farm for an outing and this was a rare treat for city children especially. It was a pleasure to water her with the children. She reminded us for all the world of a motherly old hen with her brood of little ones.'
So passes a great soul and a great woman. One is tempted to moralize upon the application of the adjective. Ordinarily we think of it in connection with men and women who make a noise in the world. It is Nora McKee and men and women like her who should receive it."
The Capital Times, Monday, September 28, 1953
"All Around The Town -- The McKee Family---Pioneer Area Farmers---Nora McKee Teacher
By Alexius Baas
THERE are families, especially in country areas, which, by their industry and influence upon the community life, often give their locale a name even though it be not so registered in the postal directory. The McKees of Fitchburg district to the south of Madison are such a family and the Capital Times of Sept. 22 notes in an obituary the passing of one of its best known members-- Nora, for many years a school teacher in the Madison area.
Dennis McKee, born in 1829, founder and patriarch of the family, came from Ireland to the United States in 1849. Like hundreds of his fellow countrymen he was driven from the homeland by the disastrous potato famine of 1848. Ireland's loss proved to be America's gain. Dennis came first to New York and he remained there for some years. In 1864 he came west to Wisconsin. His life from that time on was that of a successful farmer.
---
Dennis McKee was married twice. By his first wife he had three children, Julia, Mrs. Bridget Frenzel, and William, one time owner of the Maple Lawn Dairy and Maple Lawn Heights near the State Fish Hatchery. These three are deceased. His second wife was Rosina Sweeney. She bore him nine children of whom Mary, teacher at Columbia university, Sara of St. Paul and Mrs. Kathryn Svedlund of Evanston, Ill., are living.
The remaining six-- Edward J. McKee, father of Lyman, who gave me most of the information for this article, Terry McKee, former well known dentist of Madison and a good friend of the writers', Elizabeth, employed for many years at the University of Wisconsin, Ann, long time employee in the secretary of state's office, Timothy who never married but devoted his life to the home farm, and now Nora-- are all deceased.
When Dennis McKee, who died in 1920, retired from active farm life about the turn of the century, Timothy took over and Edward bought the farm next door. These two farms are now operated by William McKee and my informant Lyman.
These two brothers of the third generation have also purchased two adjoining farms-- formerly known as the Hassett and Lydon farms.
----
Nora McKee was born in 1869. Her primary education was received at a country school facetiously known in the neighborhood as the Dogtown school. Just where she went to high school is not known but Lyman was of the opinion that it was at some Catholic school, possibly Edgewood. She then attended Whitewater State Teacher's College and Columbia (New York) University.
In 1889 she started her active teaching career. Her first assignment was Fitchburg. Then followed teaching at Westport, Verona, Sun Prairie and Bristol. In 1902 came her first Madison position and from that time until 1940 when she retired she taught first grade continuously making a total of 51 years of teaching, 38 of which were at the Longfellow school.
During her long service there the school was remodeled and partially rebuilt three times. Among the many pupils that passed through her grade there were many of three generations-- in other words grandparents, parents and the children of these last.
---
To list all the Madison children who received her instructions would fill a volume. To estimate the tremendous influence for good exercised by Nora McKee and women like her is impossible. She was more than a teacher-- she was a foster mother to her pupils. She had keen intelligence, Irish wit and humor, and a warm heart.
'She had no hobbies,' said her work with and her love for her pupils made her life. She thought of and lived for nothing else. Every spring it was her custom to bring her pupils out to the farm for an outing and this was a rare treat for city children especially. It was a pleasure to water her with the children. She reminded us for all the world of a motherly old hen with her brood of little ones.'
So passes a great soul and a great woman. One is tempted to moralize upon the application of the adjective. Ordinarily we think of it in connection with men and women who make a noise in the world. It is Nora McKee and men and women like her who should receive it."
"All Around The Town -- The McKee Family---Pioneer Area Farmers---Nora McKee Teacher
By Alexius Baas
THERE are families, especially in country areas, which, by their industry and influence upon the community life, often give their locale a name even though it be not so registered in the postal directory. The McKees of Fitchburg district to the south of Madison are such a family and the Capital Times of Sept. 22 notes in an obituary the passing of one of its best known members-- Nora, for many years a school teacher in the Madison area.
Dennis McKee, born in 1829, founder and patriarch of the family, came from Ireland to the United States in 1849. Like hundreds of his fellow countrymen he was driven from the homeland by the disastrous potato famine of 1848. Ireland's loss proved to be America's gain. Dennis came first to New York and he remained there for some years. In 1864 he came west to Wisconsin. His life from that time on was that of a successful farmer.
---
Dennis McKee was married twice. By his first wife he had three children, Julia, Mrs. Bridget Frenzel, and William, one time owner of the Maple Lawn Dairy and Maple Lawn Heights near the State Fish Hatchery. These three are deceased. His second wife was Rosina Sweeney. She bore him nine children of whom Mary, teacher at Columbia university, Sara of St. Paul and Mrs. Kathryn Svedlund of Evanston, Ill., are living.
The remaining six-- Edward J. McKee, father of Lyman, who gave me most of the information for this article, Terry McKee, former well known dentist of Madison and a good friend of the writers', Elizabeth, employed for many years at the University of Wisconsin, Ann, long time employee in the secretary of state's office, Timothy who never married but devoted his life to the home farm, and now Nora-- are all deceased.
When Dennis McKee, who died in 1920, retired from active farm life about the turn of the century, Timothy took over and Edward bought the farm next door. These two farms are now operated by William McKee and my informant Lyman.
These two brothers of the third generation have also purchased two adjoining farms-- formerly known as the Hassett and Lydon farms.
----
Nora McKee was born in 1869. Her primary education was received at a country school facetiously known in the neighborhood as the Dogtown school. Just where she went to high school is not known but Lyman was of the opinion that it was at some Catholic school, possibly Edgewood. She then attended Whitewater State Teacher's College and Columbia (New York) University.
In 1889 she started her active teaching career. Her first assignment was Fitchburg. Then followed teaching at Westport, Verona, Sun Prairie and Bristol. In 1902 came her first Madison position and from that time until 1940 when she retired she taught first grade continuously making a total of 51 years of teaching, 38 of which were at the Longfellow school.
During her long service there the school was remodeled and partially rebuilt three times. Among the many pupils that passed through her grade there were many of three generations-- in other words grandparents, parents and the children of these last.
---
To list all the Madison children who received her instructions would fill a volume. To estimate the tremendous influence for good exercised by Nora McKee and women like her is impossible. She was more than a teacher-- she was a foster mother to her pupils. She had keen intelligence, Irish wit and humor, and a warm heart.
'She had no hobbies,' said her work with and her love for her pupils made her life. She thought of and lived for nothing else. Every spring it was her custom to bring her pupils out to the farm for an outing and this was a rare treat for city children especially. It was a pleasure to water her with the children. She reminded us for all the world of a motherly old hen with her brood of little ones.'
So passes a great soul and a great woman. One is tempted to moralize upon the application of the adjective. Ordinarily we think of it in connection with men and women who make a noise in the world. It is Nora McKee and men and women like her who should receive it."
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