The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-12-24
Death of william Mckee.

ST. LoEIs, Dec 2O-William Mckee, senior
proprietor OF the Globe Democrat. died very
suddenly of heart disease, about o'clock this
The death of William Mckee, chief owner of
was not unexpected TO those who have been
familiar with his physical condition during
the past two years. He experienced slight
paraivtic stroke In the summer OF 1873, since
which he has never regained his health, al
though using all efforts to care for himself.
manned at the seashore andin New York until
October. When he returned he seemed TO
evident tSsf his eu so1n Mas
only temporary. He visited the Globe
Democrat Office nearly every day, generally
came usual, and talked pleasantly with
callers, being apparently as well as he had
the Office for his residence, In his family car
rage. The last man to speak 10 him at the
who conversed with him rliefy as he entered
his carriage. Mr.. Mckee was driven to his
residence, accompanied by wife and daughter.
He spent the afternoon and evening at home,
ard frequently referred 10 his physical health
as being better than 1t had been for some time
past. At night he became interested in vol
ume of Washington Iryiug's works, and read
1t beyond his usual time for going to bed.
Shortly after IL he retired, but soon rose again
saying he felt restless 5nd could not sleep. He
went from his bedroom to an adjoining sitting
room, and seated himself in a chair.
an oppression of the chest, which
proved to be the fatal attack. A physician
was summoned ana remedies were applied,
but he sank steadily. and showed no signs OF
rallying. Atl2:45 he passed into what seemed
sleep, and to the surprise of those attending
him. it was the sleep OF death. Mr.. Mckee
was in his s1xty-ffth year. He was n native
of Ney York, and of Irish parentage. He
learned the printing business on Major Noah 3
Weekly Messenger in New York City, and was
subsequently on the Courier and Enquirer
under J. Watson Webb He CAME to ST. Louis
in 1871, and soon afterward obtained an inter-
est in the Evening Gazette, remaining in
1t two years. subsequently,, and when
the political doctrines OF the RunKer and
Barnburner factions of New York had spread
to the West, he started campaign sheet
I called the Barnburner, the first free soil paper
Published in Missouri, and perhaps Ia any
| slave-holding State. He was also engaged In
several other newspaper enterprises until In
| 1852, when he became one of the proprietofs OF
the Missouri Democrat, then under the con-
troll of Thomas n. Benton and Frank r. Blair
He remained in the Democrat until 1872 when
he sold that pa per to George w. Fishback, and
| in connection with D.. NJ. HouSer, one OF
his former partners. started the Globe. In
1875 the proprietors of the Globe purchased the
Democrat, and the two papers were CONSOLE
| dated. Mr.. Mckee owned tee controlling in
| tereSt in the Globe Dem ocrat, and had large
| real estate and other investments. His DEF n
| will not cause any change in the policy Oh
management of the paper, as his interest will
pass to his relatives in the establishment. Mr.
| d. M. Houser, for many years business mana
ger of the paper, will assume Mr. Mckee,
place as the head of the company PUBLISHING
the Globe Democrat.