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| MacKean McKean MacKeen McKeen McCain |
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In 1902 Cornelius McKean of Perry, Iowa, published his researches
on the ancestry of William MacKean of Argyllshire, Scotland.
The book contained his work and that of over 70 contributors who had researched their Mackean family origins. The history traced the descendants of William MacKean's grandsons, who had emigrated from Ireland to America, producing branches of the family in New Hampshire, Nova Scotia, and Pennsylvania, and subsequently all over North America. The book was over 200 pages of family narratives, illustrations and pictures, and provided details on over 650 MacKean family members. In the 1930's William R. MacLean of Nova Scotia began researching the Nova Scotia branches of this family and compiled a large amount of information which subsequently found its way into the hands of Clarence Archibald of Denver, NS. In 1987 John E. McKeen of St.Paul Minnesota paid a visit to Nova Scotia, doing research on his family's origins. He met Wilma (MacKeen) Powell of Aspen NS, and Clarence Archibald, who unearthed the William MacLean work, and coupled with the original work of Cornelius McKean, initiated a project which has been ongoing ever since. Wilma Powell prevailed upon her nephew Bob Marks, of Halifax, to undertake the job of organizing the data and the rest, as they say, is history. Bob spent the next 15 years creating and maintaining both word processor files (from which the book is printed) and a genealogy database containing the history of the MacKeans. In 1990 'MacIain Chiefs' was printed and made available to any and all who requested a copy. Bob continued to be the focal point of family correspondance and research, and in 2000 a revised and updated 'MacIain Chiefs' was printed. This book was over 430 pages of family history and contained over 8,600 descendant names. The descendants of William MacKean have continued to contribute their family histories to this project and to date there are over 19,000 names in the database. In February 2004 Bob Marks announced his retirement from the MacIain Chiefs project. He will be greatly missed as his work and dedication over 17 years, along with the MacKean descendants who initiated the project, and those who contributed their family histories, ensured the success of this genealogy. As of August 2006 there are a limited number of 'MacIain Chiefs 2005' genealogy books available for sale. A description of the book contents is available h e r e and if you are interested in purchasing a book, c o n t a c t the webmaster, and include your address in the message so that mailing costs can be provided with the cost of the book. |