Alexander McKay
History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
USGENWEB Montana Archives
May be copied for non-profit purposes.

Alexander McKay, one of Virginia City's earliest and 
most respected pioneer miners and citizens, was born 
in Glasgow Scotland, May 15, 1832. His remote ancestors 
were Highlanders, but later generations of the family 
lived in the lowlands of Scotland. He was reared and 
educated in his native town and there learned the trade 
of plasterer,at which he worked in that city until 1854.
In 1854 Mr. McKay came to the United States. He landed 
in New York City and worked there, in Canada, and in the 
Southern States and was in Kansas during the troublous 
days immediately preceding the Civil War. In 1860 we 
find him en route to Colorado, crossing the plains with 
oxen. He spent two years at Denver, then a small town, 
and also for a while was at California Gulch. When gold 
was discovered at Bannack, and the news spread over the 
country, he,in company with about 130 men, started with 
horse teams and thirty-two wagons for Bannack, marking 
out their own road and fording the streams and rivers.
Arriving at Bannack they found the mining camp a scene 
of great activity. Mr. McKay mined there until the discovery
of gold at Alder Gulch, to which place he directed his 
steps in July 183, finding that camp also full of miners 
bent on securing the precious metal. He paid $500 for a 
fourth interest in a claim and worked hard until winter 
set in,during that time taking out $3,000. Then on 
account of the scarcity of water, he sold out, receiving 
$750 for his share. Since that time a deal of gold has 
been taken from the claim. In July 1864, he came to 
Bevin's Gulch and purchased 200 feet of land for $500 
and here he became permanently located, succeeding 
well and from time to timeadding to his claim. Now 
his claim extends for a length of two miles, and in 
its operation he employs usually aboutfifteen men. He 
had invested largely in lands, owns a comfortable home 
in Virginia City and loans his surplus funds.Mr. McKay 
was married in Kansas in 1860 to Caroline Hanson, a 
native of Germany. She has been with him in all his 
meandering and has proved herself a true and faithful
 helpmate. They have two daughters: Flora, the elder, 
was born on the plains between Denver and California 
Gulch, in the spring of 1861 and is now the wife of 
Dr. C.A.McNulty.The other daughter, Mary, was born in 
Virginia City on the last day of 1863. She is the wife 
of R.H. Herhold.

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