Was educated at Butler Academy and Duquesne College, Allegheny City; studied medicine and graduated in 1852 from U. of Pa. Was appointed resident physician St. Joseph's Hospital, Phil., but owing to impaired health resigned, and went to the Alleghenies. In 1853 when the Penn. RR was being constructed he located at Altoona, and in 1856 went to Hollidaysburg. He shortly after made application and passed the Medical Army Board, and was commissioned an Assistant Surgeon, USA in August 1857. Was ordered to Fort Union, New Mexico, where he served in three Indian campaigns, two against the Navajoes, and one against the Apaches, as well as scouting on the vast territory between Fort Massachusetts, Colorado to Fort Buchanan on the border of Sonora, until April 1861. In July he was with the US troops under command of Major Lynde, 7th US Inf. at Fort Fillmore who surrendered his force to the Rebels, so indignant was Major McKee at this disgraceful affair that he subsequently published a "Narrative of the Surrender of a Command of US Forces at Fort Fillmore, New Mexico." Paroled with the Command he returned to Fort Leavenworth and subsequently ordered to Camp Butler, Springfield, Ill., as a prisoner of war on parole, which he reached in April, 1862. In June following he was exchanged, ordered to Washington City, thence to Chester, Pa. to assist in establishing a US General Hospital in that City. In July was ordered to headquarters Army of Virginia, as Assistant Medical Director, Gen. Pope commanding, was on duty at second battle of Bull Run and at Antietam, and director of the hospitals at Frederick City, Md. During 1862 and 1863 continued with the Army of the Potomac as Medical Director. In May 1863 took charge of the Calvery Street Hospital, Baltimore; in June ordered to Pittsburg to establish a General Hospital, and in autumn of that year, sent to Washington City in command of the Lincoln General Hospital, where he continued until 1865, during which period over 25,000 sick and wounded soldiers were cared for. In 1868 he was ordered to Santa Fe, New Mexico, as Chief Medical Officer of the district; in 1870 to Staten Island, NY and 1873 at Presidio, Cal. In 1876 at Fort Kipple, A. T. Medical Director of the Dept. of Arizona, where he remained until 1880; in 1883 again at Presidio, Brevetted Lieut. Col. USA for faithful and meritorious service; at Vancouver Barracks, Washington Territory, 1884; and in 1885 at Boston. Owing to an accident, a few years since the Doctor was rendered a cripple for life; is unmarried, resides at Butler, Penn.

Bio in :
JAMES COOPER MCKEE, a retired surgeon of the Unites States army, was born in the borough of Butler, Pennsylvania, May 18, 1830, and received his education in the public schools and at the Butler Academy. He then taught for two winters in Middlesex and Summit townships, and in 1848 attended Duquesne College. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. William C. THOMPSON, of Indianapolis, attended lectures at the Medical University of Pennsylvania, and graduated from that institution in 1852. Dr. McKEE commenced practice at Altoona, where he continued until 1856, and for the next year was located at Hollidaysburg. In 1857 he was examined by the medical board of the regular army, passed, and was commissioned assistant surgeon in the United States army in 1858. His first duty was in charge of a body of recruits from Fort Leavenworth across the plains to Fort Union, New Mexico, a march of 800 miles. In the winter of 1858 he went to old Fort Massachusetts, Colorado, from where he was ordered into the Navajoe Indian country, New Mexico, during the Indian war, and was there until 1859. He was next stationed at Fort Filmore, New Mexico, then ordered into Arizona, and served in the Apache Indian campaign until 1860, when he returned to Fort Filmore and was ordered into a winter campaign under General CANBY against the Navajoe Indians. In the spring of 1861 he returned to Fort Filmore, and, the Rebellion having broken out, he was taken prisoner by Major BAYLOR, who commanded a Texas Militia regiment, was paroled and finally returned to Fort Leavenworth, and thence to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. He was soon afterwards ordered to Fort Wayne, and then to Camp Butler, Illinois, where he had charge of the rebel prisoners of war. Here he was relieved from parole by exchange, and went to Chester, [p. 695] Pennsylvania, where he organized a hospital; was next ordered to join General POPE's army, at Second Bull Run, and served as assistant medical director of the army. At the battle of Antietam he was made assistant medical purveyor of the army, and stationed at Frederick City, Maryland, after the battle. He afterwards took charge of a hospital at Baltimore, and was next sent to organize a general hospital at Pittsburg. In 1863 Dr. McKEE was promoted to the rank of captain, and was placed in charge of Lincoln United States Hospital, Washington, D.C., with a capacity of 3,000 beds, where he remained until the close of the war. During this period 25,000 sick and wounded men passed under his attention. He was next ordered to New Mexico as chief medical officer, with headquarters at Sante [sic] Fe, where he met with an accident, was sent to Fort Wadsworth, in New York harbor, and remained there between three and four years. After a visit to Europe he became medical director of the department of Arizona, afterward served in the same capacity at Vancouver Barracks, Washington Territory, department of Columbia, and was finally retired from active service, in 1891, for injuries received in the line of duty, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He returned to his old home in Butler, which has since been his place of residence. Colonel McKEE is a gentleman of fine literary tastes, dignified character, broad views and a wide knowledge of men and books. He is the author of a pamphlet giving the details of the surrender of his command at Fort Filmore, which has run through three editions, and is highly prized by military men.