Marrying McKee

Last week, I heard a family story that sparked a whirl-wind week of research! Clues are still rolling in for the mystery that instigated the search; watch for a twin-related story soon (teaser alert!). Meanwhile, an entire branch of the family that was little more than a dotted line previously has come into much sharper relief.

A previously unknown family member was found buried in the “Wilson/McKee” plot at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis, TN. McKee is a familiar name, of course. Amelia Egan Huetson McKee is my 3x great grandmother; we visited her headstone during our family reunion cemetery crawl last May. But who is Wilson? To answer that, an introduction must be made to the well-married Arthur McKee.

To begin, the image below illustrates who Arthur M. McKee is to the family:

Before last week, Arthur was no more than a sibling on the family tree. And, before last week, it looked like Amelia’s headstone was alone at Elmwood. She is definitely Not alone in her final resting place. Interred in the plot are:

• Nettie Wilson Couch (buried 1903)
• Louis J. Wilson (buried 1913)
• Louis Wilson (buried 1915)
• Amelia E. McKee (buried 1918)
• Louise McKee (buried 1918)
• Arthur M. McKee (buried 1927)
• Mrs. Minni Holloway (buried 1939)
• Mrs. Helen E. Spalding (buried 1942)

The plot was purchased by J.M. Couch and Arthur McKee. Written in faded lettering, the Elmwood map says to contact Mrs. A.M. McKee of 885 Cox Ave for permission to be buried in this plot. Wilson. Couch. Who are these people? Several days with death certificates, burial records, and census documents all lead to one source: Arthur McKee himself.

Arthur married not once, not twice, but three times! Two of those wives had been married previously themselves, so each added their own children to the tree – in this case, Wilsons and Parks. Next the female children married, changing their names – here, adding the name Couch to the mix. The image below shows Arthur’s family; Edward McKee appears to be his only direct descendant. All dotted-line individuals are step-children.

It seems that Nettie Wilson was the impetus for the purchase of the plot. On 8 Sep 1903, she married J.M. Couch. Sadly, she died only 17 days later on 25 Sep 1903. She was only 18 years old. She was followed in death by her brother, Louie, in 1915. His headstone is a very tall Woodmen of the World monument that I’m sure I saw in previous Elmwood visits; I just never knew it was connected to our family.

Headstone of Amelia McKee (1843-1918)

Headstone of Louie Wilson (1883-1915)

Special thanks to Elmwood historian Dale Schaefer for his thorough research of their records and to cousin Madeleine Donovan for her endless patience as sounding-board and editor!