BIOGRAPHY: John R. McKenzie; Haverstraw, Rockland co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

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Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895

JOHN R. McKENZIE, Trustee of the village of Haverstraw, and a retired
contractor and builder, was born here June 21, 1818. He represents the third
generation of the family in America. His grandfather, Ebenezer McKenzie,
emigrated from Scotland about 1750, and settled on Nantucket Island, his
brother Kenneth, who accompanied him, settling probably in Maine. During the
Revolutionary War he enlisted in Massachusetts for two years, and at the
expiration of his term veteranized, being discharged at Newburgh. Col. Joseph
Vose, who commanded the First Massachusetts Regiment, made him a Lieutenant
February 1, 1779, and June 8, 1783, he was commissioned Sergeant of the same
regiment. After a service of six years and nine months, he was discharged at
West Point, his papers being signed by General Washington. On the discharge
there was an addendum stating that he was given the reward of merit. March
24, 1796, he was appointed by Gov. John Jay Ensign of a company of militia of
Orange County. His last years were spent in Rockland County, and his death
occurred at West Haverstraw.

June 9, 1781, Ebenezer McKenzie married Elizabeth Brown, who after his death
married Robert Conley. The latter was drowned in the Hudson River. In 1837
Mrs. McKenzie made an application for a pension, and was given $750 at first,
and about as much later, besides receiving $8 per month. Her closing years
were spent in West Haverstraw, where she died at the age of ninety. Her son
Ebenezer, Jr., was born December to, 1787, and died December 10, 1848. His
principal occupation was the shoemaker's trade, which he followed in
Haverstraw. In 182o he was commissioned a Lieutenant by Gov. DeWitt Clinton.
He had a fine voice, and led the singing in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of
which he was a member.

The wife of Ebenezer McKenzie, Jr., was Mary Cuddy, a native of Scotland, but
reared in New York and Haverstraw. Her parents were Rev. Robert and Eleanor
Cuddy, natives of Scotland, the former a local preacher in the Presbyterian
Church. She remained the devoted helpmate of Mr. McKenzie from their marriage,
June 4, 1814, until his death, and survived him a number of years, passing
away December 1, 1855. Of their children we note the following: Charles died
at thirteen years; Ebenezer passed away in 1826, when an infant; John Robert,
of this sketch, was third in order of birth; Eleanor was born in 1820, and
Heman B. in 1822; George was born in 1824, and died in infancy; Mary was born
in 1828, and died at the age of twenty years; and Sarah Ann, who was born in
1830, married C. P. Hoffman, and is now deceased.

From the age of thirteen years our subject assisted in the support of the
family. For two years he was employed on a farm, after which he served an
apprenticeship of four and one-half years at the carpenter's trade, and later
followed that occupation. His father's health failing, the entire support of
the family devolved upon him. Being active, energetic and capable, he secured
the principal building in the town, and saved asufficient amount to purchase
the homestead. After his father's death, his mother was his housekeeper, and
after her death his sisters, whom he had educated, made a pleasant home for
him. They married after a time, and he soon afterward established domestic
ties, being married, November 7, 1872, to Miss Emma G. Lane, daughter of
William R., and sister of Charles, Lane, both successful and well known
business men of Haverstraw. Her father, who was a native of Westchester County
and a locksmith by trade, came to Haverstraw with Day & Co., when they
established their lock works here. Later he engaged in the hardware business,
be-coming a well-to-do man, worth about $100,000. Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie have a
daughter, Fannie, wife of Arthur Wilson Milburn, of this village, and mother
of one child, who bears the same name as his father.

The principal business of Mr. McKenzie has been that of contracting, and for
years he was the leading man in that line here. Through industrious efforts
and fortunate investments in real estate, he has accumulated a valuable
property, and is surrounded by every comfort. For twenty-two years he has
resided on Front Street, where he has a house overlooking the Hudson. In early
life a Whig, he became a Republican on the organization of that party, and,
though in a Democratic stronghold, he was elected Village Trustee in 1890, in
which position he is now serving his sixth year. He has in every way protected
the interests of the place, has labored to secure all modern improvements, and
has been instrumental in establishing electric-light and gas works, building a
town hall, planting shade trees, and improving the sidewalks and curbing.
Against the encroachments of brick manufacturers he has also protected the
village. The brick-yards both north and south of the place had for years
gradually encroached on the streets, the clay from which was used by the brick
manufacturers, while the Board of Trustees sat idly by, without attempting to
protect the interests of the village. Finally, however, through his efforts,
one brick manufacturer was indicted, and the matter was adjusted in the
interests of the village.