It was the year 1920 that John Campbell McKee, Ellen Hemingway McKee, his wife, and
  my dad, John Charles McKee, Sr., moved to Barber County. Grandpa had bought a place out
  beyond the Union Chapel, 17 miles southwest of Medicine Lodge and moved from Chicago.
     Grandpa McKee passed away in 1912, and Grandma and Dad continued to run the farm. 
  Dad was married to Christine Rickhoff on September 4, 1915, in Blue Island, Illinois,
  and immediately returned to Barber County and the farm. I have always considered myself
  to be lucky to be alive. Mom and Grandma were in a "runaway" buggy accident shortly
  before I was born. Grandma died in June, 1916, from injuries, and I was born on July 19,
  a month later, at home on the farm. My brother, Donald Earl, was also born there on 
  September 3, 1917.
     In 1918 Dad sold out his farming equipment and moved to Medicine Lodge. His "hired
  hand," George Baier rented the farm and operated it until his son, Sam, assumed
  management many years later.
     My sister, Ellen Marie, was born on October 26, 1918, while we were living on North
  Main Street, next door to Mattie Binning. Another sister, Helen Lucille, was born on
  July 20, 1920, just a couple of blocks away, also on North Main Street.
     It was shortly after I completed my first year of school in May, 1923, that the McKee
  family moved back to Illinois. Mom and Dad had been very active in the early days of
  Barber County and returned as often as possible for many years. I especially remember
  the "Peace Pageant" celebrations we attended.
     Dad bought what is still mom's permanent home in Steger, Illinois in 1924. He had
  been employed by Prudential Insurance Company in late 1923 and remained with them until
  he retired in the mid 50's.
     My last visit to Barber County was in January, 1973. I picked up Mom in Foley, Alabama,
  and drove to Medicine Lodge. The trip was made so that I would explore the possibility of
  buying the McKee farm, since the McKee Trust, owners at that time, was to be liquidated.
  Unfortunately, it did not work out, and the farm was later bought by Sam and Bonnie Baier.
  That ended a long and memorable "tie" the McKee's had to Barber County.
     Mom is still living, also four of her five children and, at the moment, proudly thinks
  of her 21 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 305 
     Submitted by: John Charles McKee, Jr.