iCloud email without using the iCloud
I just created a new iCloud email address. However, I would prefer not to use the iCloud to upload/download messages. When I disable 'Mail' in System Preferences - iCloud, my new email mailbox goes away. I saw this page: iCloud: Mail server settings for email clients - Apple Support and suspect the answer may lie in setting up the mail server settings by hand (Mail - Preferences - Accounts). Is this the correct approach, or is there another way? I am running Yosemite on an iMac. Thanks!
iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)