Memorable Manitobans: Samuel James McKee (1849-1937)

Samuel James McKee Click to enlarge

Cleric, educator.

Born in Waterloo County, Ontario on 17 July 1849, to Irish parents, he attended Stratford and Brantford grammar schools and graduated from the University of Toronto in 1872, winning the silver medal in metaphysics. Ill health brought him west in 1881, and he opened a private school at Rapid City in 1881 which prospered until 1889. He was a member of the First Convocation of the University of Manitoba.

After a year in Ontario he returned to Brandon and opened another private academy, closing it to become a member of Brandon College’s first faculty in 1899. He was professor of philosophy. On principle he did not belong to any secret societies or clubs. McKee was a Liberal in politics, but never ran for public office.

He and wife Laura Emma Harris (1854-1939) had five children: George Eugene McKee (1881-?), Mildred Roseborough McKee (1883-1956, wife of Robert Alexander Cunningham), James Harris McKee (1889-1977), William Carey McKee (1892-1918), and Robert Allan McKee (1893-1919).

He died at Vancouver, British Columbia on 14 September 1937 and was buried in the Brandon Cemetery. The S. J. McKee Archives at Brandon University is named for him.

See also:

McKee of Brandon College by Tommy McLeod
Manitoba History, Number 40, Autumn/Winter 2000-2001

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Brandon College and Clark Hall Buildings (270 Eighteenth Street, Brandon)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Prairie College (RM of Saskatchewan)

Samuel James McKee, Dictionary of Canadian Biography.

Sources:

Birth registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

The Story of Manitoba by F. H. Schofield, Winnipeg: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1913.

“Dr. S. J. McKee, educationist, dies,” Winnipeg Free Press, 15 September 1937, page 9.

Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by John M. “Jack” Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.

We thank Tom Mitchell for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 2 February 2019

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!