The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1922-11-16
Frank Mckee Dies
In New York City

Sam Mckee was a Civil war veteran.
a captain in the Fourteenth Kentucky
cavalry. He was taken prisoner here
in Mt Sterling. where he was In
charge of the Federal forces, and sur.
rendered the city to prevent its being
burned by the Confederates. He was
taken from here to Richmond, Va,
and served eighteen months in Libby
prison. While there the Confederates
more than once threatened to have
Mckee shot, and on one occasion the
news came that he would be shot on
a certain day. When General Bur.
bridge, who was in charge of the
Federal forces, announced that IL he
were shot that he would take three
of the most prominent Rebel sympa-
thizers in this county and have them
shot in retaliation. When this was
announced DIR. j. A. Hannah. l.. ID.
Wilson and p. A. Howard thought
they might come within the order
and rode horseback to Richmond to
intercede for McKee's life, and when
they got to Richmond they were all
put in prison, and for a time it looked
as If they would be shot, too. as spies,
but finally they were released. and
the order to shoot Mckee was re-
scinded
Captain Menee was finally ex-
changed, returned to Mt Sterling,
and when he got here was met by
regiment of soldiers and under the
booming of cannon. the glare of guns
and bayonets and waving of flags was
met on North Maysville street by
thousands of people.
He was afterward elected to con-
gress and served two terms. After
this service he was appointed pension
agent of Kentucky by President U. s.
Grant. and removed to Louisville,
where, after his term as pension
agent, he practiced law up and until
his death.
Frank Mckee started out as re-
porter on the Courier-Journal. He
was afterward admitted to the bar,
but is is said of him that he thought
it was too slow a way'to get money,
and went out with a circus. He was
later with Jack Haverly, the great
minstrel man. and while with him
was more than once stranded in the
New England states and was compell-
ed to walk back to New York.
Jack was very solicitous with Nc
Kee, taking him to Europe with him,
but the ghost of his long walk back
to New York came before him, and
he said to Jack: 81 can't go; | am no
Jesus and can't walk upon the water.
How would ever get back?"
While a reporter on the Courier
Journal he was sent to interview
Governor Pinchback of Louisiana--The
governor declined to be interviewed,
but the next morning there appeared
in the Courier-Journal two columns OF
an interview with him.
Mr.. Mckee was after leaving Jack
Haverly associated with Hoyt
Thomas. the firm of Hoyt, Thomas &
Mckee. and while with them was the
press agent and put on in all the big
cities the famous plays, THE Texas
Steer" "The Pavements of Paris,
1.-The Tin Soldier" and other plays
written by Hoyt. Hoyt was play
wright and wrote many plays and Nc
kee put them on. When Hoyt passed
away. II is said he and Thomas also
left their fortunes to Mckee, who
then and until his death was a resi-
dent Of New York.
His first marriage was TO Miss Isa-
belle Coe, who was the leading lady
in Nat Goodwin's Gold Mine" which
had such run through the country |
~ tuCtn 8ao Doth u a@oShboAS "ho
lied several years after her mother,
and for long time Frank was wild
over. While Republican in politics,
he made his home at the Democratic
Club on Fifth avenue. Two years
.go he was married again to a widow
n New York, and since then until
shortly before his death, being in
,ad health. they spent most OF their
ime In Europe.
He leaves brother Sam Mckee.
i New York. who is the sporting edi-
or of the Morning Telegraph, and is
me OF the most prominent Elks in
he country, a member Of lodge No.
where they have one Of the most
magnificent homes in the country on
street. II
He has another brother. Brainard
ickee, In Louisville, who is the au-
lconunaed on page four)