BIOGRAPHY - John McKinney
JOHN McKINNEY, a member of the firm of J. McKinney & Son, has been
engaged in business in Piper City since 1869, and is one of the honored
pioneers of the county. He is a native of the Emerald Isle. He was born in
Cookstown, near Belfast, November 28, 1834, and is a son of Archibald
McKinney, who was born and reared in the same locality, and was a merchant
in the linen trade. He married Elizabeth McKinney, who bore the same name
but was no relative, and all of the children who are yet living were born in
Ireland. The family left their native land in 1847, sailing from Liverpool,
and after six weeks arrived at Philadelphia. In 1857, the father came West
and settled upon a tract of wild prairie land in Brenton Township, where he
resided until eight years ago, since which time he has made his home in
Piper City. He is now ninety years of age, but his wife died June 1, 1892,
within three days of her eightieth birthday. He and his family are all
members of the Presbyterian Church, and, in politics, he is a Republican.
Three children are yet living: John, of this sketch; Mrs. Perry, who is now
a widow and resides with her father, and Mrs. McLaughlin, of Piper City.
Our subject spent the first fourteen years of his life in his native land
and then accompanied his parents to this country. He attended a night school
in Philadelphia, and acquired a good English education. After serving a
five-years' apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, he worked in a brick
yard, and, in 1856, emigrated to Illinois, and was employed on the Illinois
Central Railroad, before the city of Paxton was established. In 1859, he
came to Piper City, before it was laid out, where he has since made his
home, and, in 1866, took charge of the lumber department of the business of
J. A. Montelius. Three years later, he went into business for himself as a
lumber-dealer, and in 1871 admitted his brother William into partnership.
They opened a furniture and hardware store and the connection was continued
until 1880, when the brother died, and Mr. McKinney was again alone in
business until 1888, when he admitted his son Will to partnership. They deal
in lumber, carry a large stock of hardware and furniture, and do an
undertaking business, their sales the past year amounting to $37,000. From
the beginning, their trade has constantly increased and they are well
deserving the liberal patronage which they receive.
April 23, 1865, in this county, Mr. McKinney was united in marriage with
Fredericka Walrich, who was born in Hanover, Germany, and, when a child, was
brought to this country. They have five children living and have lost one:
Lizzie R. was married June 16, 1892, to Rev. Amery S. Haskins; Will O., who
attended Bryant & Stratton's Business College of Chicago, has for four years
been a partner of his father and is an enterprising young business man; Kate
M. graduated from the Onarga Academy in June, 1892; Jennie M. and Emily F.
are at home; and Maggie died at the age of nine years.
Mr. McKinney cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln and has
since been a stalwart supporter of Republican principles. He has served as a
delegate to the county conventions and is influential in its councils. He
has held a number of local offices, including that of Township Collector,
and was a member of the Village Board. He and his family belong to the
Presbyterian Church of Piper City, of which he was a charter member, and of
which he is now Trustee. He takes an active part in its growth and
upbuilding, and has been liberal with his means in its support. Mr. McKinney
came to Ford County before it was organized and has been prominently
connected with its history. He deserves great credit for what he has done
for the community and his name should be enrolled among the founders of
Piper City. In his business career he has met with signal success, for which
he has no one to thank but himself, as his prosperity has come as the reward
of his own efforts.
Extracted 28 Mar 2020 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Record of Ford County, Illinois, published in 1892, pages 280-281.
