Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1891, Patterson Twp., Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada; with spouse & children; next to brother Thomas
• Census: 1901, Patterson Twp., Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada; with spouse, children & father; farmer
• Census: 1911, South Himsworth Twp., Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada; with spouse & children; labourer; Pt 27, Con 3

William married Mary THOMAS on 13 Mar 1876 in Nipissing Twp, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada. Mary (daughter of Thomas THOMAS and Jane SIMMONDS) was born on 14 Jan 1859 in Wilberforce Twp., Renfrew, Ontario, Canada; died before 1942. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Cause of Death (Facts Pg): Pneumonia From Falling Through The Ice In Winter
• Occupation: Shoemaker
• Emigration: 1832; listed in 1901 census
• Census: 1851, Con 13 Lot 17 Wilberforce Twp., Renfrew Co., Ontario
• Census: 1861, Con 13 Lot 16 Wilberforce Twp., Renfrew Co., Ontario
• Census: 1891, Patterson Twp., Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada; by self on same census page as sons Thomas & Wm; next to Thomas Smith bro in law
• Census: 1901, Patterson Twp., Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada; with son Wm

Notes:

!SOURCE: 1. SMITH FAMILY TREE
2. REFLECTIONS OF RESTOULE 1850-1990
3. PIONEER REMINISCENSES OF THE UPPER OTTAWA VALLEY
4. 1851 CENSUS-WILBERFORCE
5. THE MARRIAGE REGISTER OF UPPER CANADA VOL 5 BATHURST DISTRICT
!MARRIAGE: 7 APR 1851 BY REV. THOMAS HANNA; WIT: OZIAS BENNING & RALPH LETT(5)
!OCCUPATION: SHOEMAKER BY TRADE, SAILOR BY CHOICE, FARMER FOR A SHORT TIME, ADVENTURER(2)
!DEATH: BILLY HAD MOVED TO A CABIN ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF COMMANDA LAKE AND IN FEB 1904, WHILE CROSSING THE LAKE TO VISIT HIS FRIENDS JIM A ND CARRIE MCVEETY HE FELL THROUGH THE ICE WITHIN SIGHT OF THEIR HOME. J IM RAN TO HIS RESCUE, BUT BY THE TIME JIM GOT HIM TO THE HOUSE, BILLY'S LO NG WHITE BEARD WAS FROZEN STIFF. THE ORDEAL PROVED TO BE TOO MUCH FOR BIL LY WHO CONTRACTED PNEUMONIA AND DEPARTED FROM THIS LIFE A FEW DAYS LATER AT AGE 96(2)
!HOME: WILLIAM ADN CHRISTIANNA LIVED IN A LOG HOUSE BUILT IN WILBERFORCE TWP. IN 1854 AND HAD 3 CHILDREN BY 1861(3( SHORTLY AFTER HE AND SPOUSE SEPARATED HE AND THE CHILDREN CAME TO RESTOULE, ABT. 1868. A MIDDLE AGED MAN WITH FIVE YOUNG CHILDREN WM. JR. 14; MARY 12; ROBERT 10; TOM 8; ELLEN ALMOST 5 STARTIN O UT ON AN ADVENTURE WITH NO MAP, ONLY VERBAL DIRECTIONS TO GUIDE THEM TO TH EIR DESTINATION; A SPOT SOUTH OF LAKE NIPISSING. BILLY AN IRISH IMMIGRAN T, FROM THE PEMBROKE AREA THEY CAME BY STEAMER TO CHALK RIVER, THEN LOAD ED THEIR BELONGINGS INTO TWO INDIAN WAR CANOES, PICKED UP THEIR PADDLES A ND HEADED UP THE OTTAWA RIVER. THE THRILL AND EXCITEMENT OF PREPARATION SO ON GAVE WAY TO REALITY AS MUSCLES ACHED FROM LONG HOURS OF PADDLING AND CA RRYING THEIR BELONGINGS ACROSS PORTAGES, BUT THE JOURNEY HAD BEGUN ADN THE RE WAS NO TURNING BACK. THEYU FOLLOWED THE VOYAGEURS' HIGHWAY UP THE OTTA WA RIVER, MATTAWA RIVER, TROUT LAKE, AND LAVASSE RIVER, THEN ACROSS LAKE N IPISSIN TO THE MOUTH OF SOUTH RIVER, A JOURNEY OF SEVERAL WEEKS. NO LI FE JACKETS PROTECTED THOSE YOUNSTERS AS THEY BUFFETTED THE TREACHEROUS WAV ES OF LAKE NIPISSING. ONLY THE DETERMINATION AND RELENTLESS URGING OF BIL LY ENCOURAGED THE BOYS AS THEY PLIED THEIR PADDLES AND STRUGGLED FORWAR D. AT THE TINY SETTLEMENT OF NIPISSING, THEY RESTED BEFORE STRIKING O UT ON FOOT FOR THE HEAD WATERS OF RESTOULE RIVER, FOLLOWING BLAZES ON T HE TREES. APPARENTLY, ANOTHER MAN WALKED WITH THEM AS A GUIDE. EDITH(TENN ANT) STACEY TELLS OF HER MOTHER, THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE MCKEE FAMI LY , DESCRIBING THE JOURNEY TO HER MANY TIMES AND RECALLING HOW WEARY S HE WAS. ELLEN ALSO TOLD OF HEARING "THE MAN" SAY "WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRAI L, THERE'S THE BLAZE", LITTLE ELLEN WAS PERPLEXED AS OLDER MEMBERS OF T HE FAMILY WATCHED FOR BLAZES. TO HER BLAZES MEANT FIRE AND SHE KEPT ASKI NG HER DAD TO SHOW HER THE BLAZE. AT THE DINNERING PLACE (HOTHAM), THEY C OOKED A MEAL BEFORE CONTINUING. THE YEAR WAS 1868. NO DOUBT THEY WERE EXH AUSTED, BUT THEIR ENTHUSIASM WAS UNDAUNTED. RETOULE'S *FIRST* SETTLERS H AD ARRIVED SAFELY! WITH THE HELP OF FRIENDLY INDIANS, THE MCKEES BUILT TH EIR LOG CABIN ON THE WEST BANK OF RESTOULD RIVER. THE MEN MADE A TRIP BA CK TO PEMBROKE FOR MORE SUPPLIES BEFORE WINTER SET IN AND BILLY MCKEE'S T WO YOUNG DAUGHTERS WERE TAKEN TO STAY WITH FRIENDS UNTIL LIVING CONDITIO NS HERE COULD BE IMPROVED(2)
!DOB:1908? ; AGE 34 MAR 15 IN 1851(4)

1871 - Living in Matawan West Township, Nipissing District, Ontario. Willi am, 52, born in Ireland, Church of England, Irish, Farmer; Christien, 3 5, born in Ontario, Church of England, Scotch; children: William, 16, Robe rt, 14, Thomas, 10, Mary, 7, Ellen, 5. All the children were born in Onta rio. William owns 50 acres of land with 5 acres improved. The family li ve in a shanty.(from Sharon Weller) 1861 Wm 43; christianna 25, wm 7, robert 5, thomas 1

WM McKee suspected of killing his wife prior to going north. He claimed s he ran away. There was never a trace of her. He was also suspected of killing a man while up north.

William married Christianne A SMITH on 7 Apr 1851 in Wilberforce Twp., Renfrew, Ontario, Canada. Christianne was born on 29 Feb 1836 in Bromley Twp., Renfrew, Ontario, Canada; died before 1881. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas + Jane SIMMONDS. Jane was born on 25 Aug 1829 in Aylmer, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada; died on 4 Dec 1923 in Nipissing Twp, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Charles married Hannah MANNALL on 16 Feb 1824 in Vaudreuil, Quebec. Hannah (daughter of John MANNALL and Mary) was born on 31 Aug 1795 in Kenogamissi; was christened on 16 Feb 1824 in Terrebonne, Vaudreuil, Quebec, Canada; died on 6 Apr 1868. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]