09/19/2026
Learn more about Mackey's first settler, Sebastian Mackey
Here is some history of the man Mackey is named after as shared by Don Mackey:
This is Sebastian's story. He was my great-great grandfather. His son John was Clark's father. From the best I can gather Clark's farm was John's farm that was purchased in 1916. Others would have to confirm this for me. This is a very extensive story about Sebastian. Biography from Boone County History (1914)
Sebastian Mackey was for many years prominently identified with the agricultural interest of Boone County and at his death the community realized that it had lost a valued and useful citizen.
He as born in Pickaway County, Ohio, in November 1827, and in 1845 accompanied his parents on their removal to Piatt County, Illinois, where he grew to manhood upon a farm. His parents, Joseph and Catherine (Cole) Mackey, made their home in that state until called from this life.
His father was a native of New Jersey and the railways of Irish and Dutch lineage. Mr. Mackey had two sisters, one of whom still resides in Mansfield, Illinois at an advanced age.
While still a resident of Piatt County, Illinois, Mr. Mackey was married, September 11, 1853, to Miss Susan Kerr who was born in Franklin County, Ohio. In 1832, her parents, being John A. and Mary Polly (Peterson) Kerr, who were originally from Pennsylvania and of Dutch descent. They removed to Piatt County, in 1838 and there Mrs. Mackey passed her girlhood. She has one sister living, Mrs. Carrie Adams who is ten years her junior and is a resident of Crawford, Nebraska.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mackey are as follows:
Marcellus, who was an extensive cattleman of Frontier county, Nebraska, died in the fall of 1913, leaving a widow and four sons and one daughter, who are all grown.
Lenora, the next of the family, is the wife of Andrew C. Johnson, a farmer of Harrison Township, and they have three daughters.
Martha is the wife of August Stoll, a farmer living near Ontario, Story County, Iowa and they have seven daughters.
Sebastian Jr. a carpenter and contractor is married and has two sons.
Edgar who owns and operates land in both Dodge and Des Moines Townships, is married and has one daughter but his wife is now deceased.
John, who lives near the old homestead in Harrison Township, is married and has two sons and one daughter.
George is also a farmer of Harrison Township married and has two sons.
Coming to Boone County in 1854, Mr. Mackey purchased a farm in Jackson Township and a year later brought his family to this locality. In 1856, however, he removed to section 22, Harrison Township, where he made his home until his death on June 8, 1911.
In his farming operations he met with most excellent success and became the owner of 480 acres of very valuable and well improved land. In connection with farming he carried on his stock business, probably handling more stock than nay other man in the county. He bought, raised and fed for the market large herds of cattle. He was one of the most prominent men of his community and Mackey's Grove now known as Mackey was named in his honor. On first coming to this locality he built a house from lumber hauled from the sawmill at Milford on the Des Moines river and he was actively identified with the early development and improvement of this locality.
His political support was given the democratic party, and he served as trustee and in various township offices. He was an honored member of the Masonic fraternity and was a man whom to know was to honor.
