[page 800] John H. Lee has been a citizen of Page County since 1869, and is a highly respected farmer of Washington Township. He was born in Middlesex County, near London, Canada, December 7, 1843; his father, William Lee, was born in Canada of [page 801] English ancestry; he married Miss Harriet Lacey, a native of Canada, of Dutch extraction. Three children were born of this union, two sons and one daughter. John H. was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and obtained his education in the common schools of Middlesex County, Canada. He was united in marriage, April 10, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Ward, who was born near Toronto, Canada. She is the daughter of William and Lucinda (Custad) Ward. In the spring of 1868 Mr Lee emigrated to Tennessee, but not being satisfied there the following fall he removed to Page County, Iowa, where he purchased eighty acres of land, on which he has since resided. He has improved the place until it is one of the most valuable and desirable homes in the township. The residence is surrounded by magnificent pines and other evergreen trees, and a thrifty orchard of cherry trees is near by.

Mr and Mrs Lee are the parents of three children: Horace William was born in Middlesex County, Canada, January 10, 1866, and is now married and resides in Coin, Iowa; Effie M. was born February 13, 1878, and Frank H. died in infancy.

In political thought and action our subject stands with the Republican party, but has never aspired to public office. He and his family are worthy and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Northboro, Iowa. He is a man of good, reliable business habits, and has the confidence and regard of a wide circle of acquaintance.

[page 845] John W. McKinley, a prominent agriculturist of Amity township, has been identified with the interests of Page County since the year 1858. His great-great-grandfather came from Ireland and settled in the southern part of York County, Pennyslvania, eighteen miles from Lancaster City, at a time long antedating the Revolutionary war; there are still some of the descendants of the original family living on the old homestead. They were Scotch Presbyterians, and the succeeding generations of the family have always held to that belief. The great-grandfather, Stephen McKinley, was born on the old farm, and the dusky Indian children were often his playmates. He was too young to be a soldier in [page 846] the war of the Revolution, but his brother David served in that conflict. Thoms McKinley, son of Stephen McKinley, was also born on the family homestead and spent all his days there. He married Elizabeth Wilson, and they had a family of nine children, who lived to maturity. Thomas McKinley was a prosperous farmer, and lived to the advanced age of ninety-five years. He was a life-long member of the Presbyterian Church and a man of sterling traits of character. Stephen McKinley, his son, the father of John W., was born on the McKinley homestead and resided in that locality all his life. He married Jane Andrew, who was of Scotch ancestry. To them were born five children: John W., Robert A., James W., Elizabeth J. and Rosina P. The members of this family are now widely scattered. Stephen McKinley was a quarter master in the civil war. He was a man of fine constitution and of an active, vigorous temperament. He enjoyed the confidence of all his fellow-citizens to a great degree. For three years he was County Auditor, and two terms he represented the county in the State Legislature. He was personally acquainted and on terms of friendship with the Hon. Simon Cameron. He was a Democrat, but during the excitement of the Rebellion he became allied with the Republican party. He had an active mind and took a deep interest in all the important questions of the day. He lived to the age of seventy-eight years.

John W. McKinley, the subject of this biographical notice, is the son of Stephen and Jane (Andrew) McKinley, and was born in York County, Pennsylvania, in 1825. He enjoyed superior educational advantages, attending both the common and select schools. At the age of twenty-two years he began teaching in York County and followed the profession many years. In 1856 he was united in marriage to Margaret A. Moughtin, a daughter of John and Mary (Smith) Moughtin. Four children were born of this union, who have lived to maturity: Mary E., Maggie L., Joseph A. and James M. In 1858, as before stated, Mr McKinley came to Page County, Iowa, and settled at College Springs; there he taught school three years and afterward taught several country schools. He served as Justice of the Peace twenty years, for two years was County Surveyor, and has held other township offices. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party. He was an advocate of the abolition of slavery and was a stanch Union man. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church, of which he has been deacon twenty-three years. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Amity College for twenty-five years. He is a practical farmer and has accumulated considerable property. During all the years he has resided in Page County he has enjoyed the respect and confidence of all who know him, and has made an enviable reputation.