KEE: Of Harper, Countsville.
Alfred Newton Kee, the first of the name who settled in Roane County, was born in Lewis County, West Virginia, September 6, 1862, son of James P. and Harriett (Hinzman) Kee.
The Kees are English, and descendants of one of the name who made his home and business in Ireland for one or two generations, and shortly before the American Revolution four brothers whose names were James, John, Aaron and George came to America, landed "on the Eastern Shore." George, the youngest brother being at the time a mere boy, says the family traditions, and soon after landing all separated from each other. The next we have of certainty is that Aaron Kee has reached Pocahofltas County, where he united in marriage with a Miss Heath, and they made their home about one mile from the present site of Marlinton. There to Aaron and his wife were born and by them reared at least two sons whose names were John and James. John Kee came to Upshur County, having learned the trade of tanner; he was employed by Jacob Lorentz in his large tannery there in Upshur and worked in that tannery several years, in the mean time married his employer's daughter, Miss Rarriett Lorentz; acquired a tract of three hundred acres of land on Hackers Creek, near where is now Berlin. There John and his wife, Harriett (Lorefltz) Kee, spent a long and useful life time. He was elected and served as assessor of Lewis County many terms. To John and Harriett were born and by them reared there on that farm five sons and one daughter, their names: James, Frank, John N., William B. and Alice.
Of those sons, James married Miss Harriett Hinzman, and settled on the old ancestral homestead on Hackers Creek.
To James and Harriett (Hinzman) were born and by them brought up there, three sons and three daughters: Alfred Newton (he first named), Phillip Sheridan, Idress Lee, Kate, Nora and James Frederick (died in Roane County, not married).
Alfred Newton ("Bub") Kee was born September 1, 1862; married in Upshur County, September 16, 1883, Miss Electa C. Robinson. They settled in Roane County ,in the year 1890, for their lifetime home, first in Walton, then acquiring the Adams' farm near Countsville, moved on that fine farm, using it and his other lands in the business of stock raising, at which he has prospered. He has been popular and was his party (Democratic) nominee for sheriff of Roane County once or twice, but the county was from two to three hundred majority Republican at that time.
To Alfred N. and Lectra (Robinson) Kee, his wife, have been born and by them reared the following children, named in order of respective births: Ferris A., Bernice May, Esten B., Idress Lee, Rex, John L., Phillip Pritts, Brell, Kate, Orland D., Muriel, and Rolfe. John N. Kee, son of Colonel John and Harriett (Lorentz) Kee, married and made his lifetime home at Glenville, West Virginia; these were the parents of State Senator John Kee of Bluefield, who served as State Senator, year 1925.
Source: History of Roane County, West Virginia, 1774-1927 William H. Bishop, Esq. p 570-571
Submitter: Sandy Spradling, November 28, 1999
