This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ci.2ADE/4721 Message Board Post: MCKEE OIL WELLS The small quips about the oils wells were found in the 50 and 75 years section of the Bloomfield News. 17 Mar. 1911 - The second Oil Well to be driven on the McKee farm south of Lyons was shot Tuesday afternoon and proved much more productive that the first one. A hundred and sixty quarts of nitroglycerin were used in the shooting and the concession from the force of the explosion was felt for miles around. Bloomfield News Thursday, 23 Mar. 1911 FLOWING WELL Lyons and all Greene County Rejoices Over More Oil on McKee Farm Early this morning the North American Oil co., an association of Lyons Business men, through its secretary, Bryon W. Barge, announced that the hard stone in which the drillers had been working for several days had been penetrated at a depth of 1765 feet and the efforts of the company had been rewarded by producing a flowing well of high grade oil similar in quality to that which was drilled a couple of years ago. At a depth of 1700 feet a strong flow of gas was encountered and it was settled fact that the drill would penetrate the rich reservoir of oil which underlies that section of Greene county. This company has leases on 1,600 acres south of Lyons. In addition to the oil find, the report was given out a few days ago that in going down in the earth two veins of ore had been drilled through, which were carefully measured and the drillings sent to assayers in Denver and Indianapolis. The assays disclosed the fact that the ore was gold bearing and also contained silver. One vein eighteen feet thick assays $16 gold and $4.70 silver to the ton, while the other assays $20 gold to the ton. Lyons and Washington Township is to be congratulated and the whole county rejoices over the good luck. It already has the finest farming land in the United States and is populated with the best people on earth and their prosperity is deserved. 1 Feb. 1912 - James G. McKee of Washington Twp. was in town last saturday. He says drillers are rapidly sinking another oil well on the farm of his father R. T. McKee 21 Mar. 1912 - The Well being drilled on the McKee farm has reached a depth of 1700 feet and a fine flow of gas has been rreached. It is intended to drill another 100 feet. 4 Apr. 1912 - Isaac Hunter... He lives on a farm which corners with the McKee place, and his home is only a short distance Northeast of the new oil well which was developed last week. The hole on the McKee farm, fortunately, is the only place where oil has been found, but of course, other producing wells will be drilled and Mr. Hunter is confident oil will be produced on his place someday in the future. 25 Apr. 1912 - The oil well which was shot last week on the McKee farm, was not the success hoped for. In the 5 Dec. 1912 issue of the Bloomfield News appears a picture of the 1st Oil Well Derrick erected on Great - Grandfather McKee's farm. It said: "The fisrt oil well on the McKee farm was drilled during the Summer of 1907. It was shot the 1st of Aug. of that year." Later in the article on the Hunter Oil well says: The Hunter well makes nine that has been drilled since May 1907, and it is the only producer except the three on the McKee farm, which adjoins the Hunter farm on the west." Bloomfield News 25 Dec. 1912 SHOT STARTED OIL. Gas Pressure Causes Petroleum to Spurt at Well No. 5 Last Monday afternoon a large crowd gathered near the Oil well No. 5 on the McKee farm south of Lyons, to witness the shot which would determine whether it was a producer or a dry hole. The charge of 140 quarts of nitroglycerine was touched off at 5 o'clock and it was a perfect shot. The sight was a beautiful one and it developed the fact that No. 5 is as good is not better than No. 13 well on the Hunter farm. President Holmes, of the North American Company, which owns all the well on the McKee farm, was present and is elated over the prospect for the development of a great oil field in Greene county. Work of erecting derrick for three other wells is in progress. Are there any more articles. Is there more to the 50, 75 year ago quips found. I can remember that back in the mid 1960's to 1972 there was a picture of the McKee Oil Well in the Evening World, the daily verison on Bloomfield News. Would like some pictures of the oil wells if they exist yet and more history on them for my McKee Manuscript.