Homer lived with his
parents and never married. He traveled to Alaska during the gold
rush and never returned to Michigan.
In the 1900 US Census,
Homer is found in Wisconsin, Iron County, ED #41, Sheet 4b. It
states he is a day laborer born in New York.
In a letter written to
Mr. Ira McKee, East Jordan, Michigan:
"Dear Sir: In
reply to your letter of October 4 will say that Homer McKee did not
die in a lumber camp. He had 40 acres of land partly paid for and a
comfortable shanty on it. He was not married and lived all alone.
He
was not well for a long time, but was taken sick in the woods, and
picked up by someone that was passing by, and brought to town, but
lived only a little while and could not talk. They kept his body for
several days trying to find relatives but could not, and he was in
very poor circumstances. If there is any more you would like to know
you can write me again. Yours truly, W. Murphy, Ex. Sheriff (written
on his stationery when he had been sheriff of Villas County.)