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Sarah G. E. McKee (*North Bay Nugget*, 1934)

Sarah Galt Elwood McKee (1842–1934) was a Canadian social reformer and temperance leader. For many years, she worked actively in several fields of philanthropic work. McKee served as president of the Ontario Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU).^[1]^[2]

Early life and education

Sarah Galt Elwood was born at Dundas, Ontario, January 21, 1842.^[1] Her parents were James Galt and Mary (Caldwell) Elwood.^[2]

After the family moved to Kemptville,^[3] she was educated in the local public and high schools.^[1]^[2]^[4]

In 1858, the family moved to Brockville, Eastern Ontario.^[3]

Career

McKee worked as a social reformer in several branches of philanthropic work.^[4]

Interested in the temperance reform movement from early adulthood, McKee identified herself with the Independent Order of Good Templars (IOGT), the Sons of Temperance, the WCTU, as well as the Dominion Alliance for the Total Suppression of the Liquor Traffic on which she served for 22 years as a member of its executive committee.^[1]

Her connection with the WCTU began in Simcoe County, Ontario, where she served for 25 years as local and county president. In 1900, she was elected president of the Ontario WCTU, which office she held for ten years; he was made honorary president of that Union in 1910. She served for 12 years as vice-president of the Dominion of Canada WCTU. She was for 24 years on the publication board of Canada's White Ribbon Tidings. McKee was for many years superintendent of the Department of Work Among Miners and Lumbermen for the World's WCTU. She twice represented the Dominion at World Conventions of the WCTU.^[1]^[2]^[4]

McKee favored equal suffrage, total Prohibition of the liquor traffic, and independence in politics. During World War I, she engaged in temperance work among the Canadian soldiers and sailors.^[1]^[2]^[4]

Personal life

In religion, McKee was Presbyterian.^[2]

On May 20, 1864, she married the Rev. Thomas McKee, J.P.S.,^[4] inspector of schools at Brockville.^[1] The couple had five sons and three daughters.^[2] Rev. and Mrs. McKee removed to North Bay, Ontario, in 1913. He died there the following year, and she died there on March 24, 1934.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Cherrington, Ernest Hurst (1928). "McKEE, SARAH GALT (ELWOOD).". Standard encyclopedia of the alcohol problem. Vol IV. Kansas-Newton. Westerville, Ohio: American Issue Publishing Co. p. 1632. Retrieved 31 March 2024 – via Internet Archive. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Morgan, Henry James (1912). "McKee, Mrs. Sarah Galt Elwood". The Canadian Men and Women of the Time: A Handbook of Canadian Biography of Living Characters. W. Briggs. p. 775. Retrieved 31 March 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Noted Temperance Worker Dies After Active Career". North Bay Nugget. 26 March 1934. p. 9. Retrieved 31 March 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "McKee, Sarah Galt Elwood (Mrs. Thomas McKee), Barrie, Ont., Can.". Woman's Who's who of America: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporary Women of the United States and Canada. American Commonwealth Company. 1914. p. 523. Retrieved 31 March 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.