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Continued: 1860 U.S. census, Janesville, Rock Co., Wisconsin; Edward C. Mckey, 47 yrs old, born in Ireland Occupation, "merchant" . Value or real estate, $50, 000.00. 1870 census, Janesville, Rock Co., Wisconsin, 48yrs, "dry goods merchant". Oshkosh City Directory for 1872 &1873; Edward McKey (McKey Bros. & Wm. B. Folds) Staple and Fancy Dry Goods, Carpets &, 79 Maine, Res. Janesville. !BIOGRAPHY: Edward McKey and his twin brother, Michael, prominent citizens and business men of Janesville, Wisconsin. The McKey brothers were born on the 18 of September, 1821 at Crossmolina, County Mayo, Ireland. Their parents being Thomas and Maria (Forrester) McKey. The brothers recieved their education at home and at a private school in the neighborhood. They showed a marked aptitude for history and literature. Leaving school at the early age of fifteen, were apprenticed to the dry goods business, working for a leading merchant in their town. The twins, even at this young age, displayed a high level of business qualifications and after four years of their apprenticeship having expired, were released from the indentures and remained with their employer. Edward visited the United States in 1840 for six months, but returned and with his brother started their own business which flourished untill 1846 when the great famine struck. The young brothers however had well directed ambitions and were determined to retrive their fortunes in America. In the early part of 1847, they emigrated to America, and located at Little Falls, New York and purchased a business in the fall of the same year. Hearing of the great possiblities in the West, they made the move in 1849, and opened a mercantile busines at Racine and then later in Janesville, Wisconsin.
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