The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-10
In the Early Days OF the State He
Engaged I'm General Merchadise
Business at Madison.
HEAD OF M'KEE SHOE COMPANY
HIS ADVANCED AGE, EIGHTY-ONE
YEARS, CAUSE OF DEATH.
Father Of Gen. w. j. Mckee, Edward
Mckee and j. r.. Mckee, Son-in-Law
of the Late President Harrison.

Early this morning one of Indianapolis
oldest and most prominent business men
passed away. At 1927 a. m. Mr.. Robert
8. Mckee, president of the Mckee Shoe
Company, died of old age at his home, 112t
North Meridian street. Mr.. Mckee had
been growing very feeble for the last few
months and his death had been anticipated
daily. DR.. Franklin w. Hays and members
when death came.
Robert s. Mckee was one of Indiana S
pioneers who followed the trading routes
between this city and Madison when the
State was practically an unbroken wilder
ness. He was born in Wheeling, w. Va. in
1922, but early in the forties came west
ward on a river barge down the Ohio river
and settled at Madison, Ind, where he en-
gagged in the wholesale grocery and gen.
eral merchandise business, under the name
of Weyr & Mckee, distributors of mer-
chandise. The business of the company
involved the laborious carrying of goods
into all parts of the State in wagons and
flatboats. Many time Mr.. Mckee Travelled
from Madison to Indianapolis on the seat
of a springless wagon, over roads that
were not only dangerous in themselves but
infested with robbers and wild animals
There were in those days no railroads and
the merchants depended entirely on the
wagons and boats for the sale of their mer-
chandise.
CAME HERE IN 1873.
Mr.. Mckee continued In business there
until 1870, when he moved to Louisville and
went into the shoe business, of which he
has made such a success. The name of the
firm was Mckee, Cunningham & Co. Three
years later Mr.. Mckee came to Indianap-
oils, during its period Of early prosperity,
and formed a partnership with the old
Branham Company, under the title of
Branham & Mckee. They engaged largely
In the shoe jobbing business. Several years
later Mr.. Mckee acquired control of the
firm and IL became the Mckee Shoe Com
pany. as it remains to-day, having grown
into one Of the most successful wholesale
shoe stores in the West under the control
and management of Mr.. Mckee and his
sons.
Although in his eighty-first year, Mr.
Mckee has faithfully discharged the du-
ties of his business up until the last few
months, when his extreme age began to
gradually pull him down. He had been
growing weaker daily and the end was ex-
pected momentarily. DIR. Franklin w.
Hayes has been in constant attendance on
him, and it was hoped that the strong con-
stitution that has carried him through an
active and pioneer life would sustain him a
few years longer.
THE MKEE HOME.
Mr. McKee's early residence was on Cap
itol avenue. but about fifteen years ago he
bought his present home. the beautiful old
house at 1l26 North Meridian street. known
as the Mckee home place.
While living at Madison. Mr.. Mckee mar
ried Miss Mary Lodge, OF that city. From
the marriage there resulted six children,
all of whom are living. The two eldest sons,
Edward Mckee, OF the Indiana National
Bank, and William j. Mckee, brigadier
general of the National Guard of Indiana,
were n business with their father, mold
ing the positions OF vice president and Sec
retary, respectively. The other children are
]. r. Mckee, of the General Electric Com
pany, New York: Frank L. Mckee. living
in New York: r. b. Mckee, with the Nc
Kee Shoe Company. and Mrs Charles Mer-
riIl whose husband Is treasurer of the
Robbs-Merrill Publishing Company J. r.
Mckee IL a son-in-law OF the late President
The funeral arrangements win probably
be announced to-day.