My Genealogy Hound

James M. Key, a merchant of Steelville, was born in Crawford County, November 25, 1856, and is a son of William T. and Catherine J. (Wheeling) Key, natives, respectively, of Crawford and Washington Counties, Mo. The paternal grandfather came from Kentucky, while the maternal grandfather was born in Dublin, Ireland, and came to America when quite young. William T. Key was a blacksmith and wagon-maker by trade, and also engaged in merchandising. He died in 1884, at the age of fifty-four years, being a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which church Mrs. Key is a member. Of their five children three are living, one son being a jeweler at Willow Springs, Mo. James M. Key was reared on a farm, received a limited education, and when twenty-two years of age was engaged as a clerk in Steelville, where he was employed three years, and then was called to clerk for the Midland Blast Furnace Company. He was soon after made assistant book-keeper, and later, for two years, had entire charge of the books. Failing sight compelled him to seek other occupation, and for two years he was a traveling salesman from St. Louis. In 1885 he opened a store in Steelville, and has since done his share of the trade. In 1884 he married Mrs. Mary E. Jamison, a native of Crawford County, who is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In politics, Mr. Key is a Republican.