Bios: McKINNEY family: Forward township, Allegheny county, PA ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Marta Burns McKINNEY This name, so familiar and so honored in western Pennsylvania and represented in the present by John McKinney of Forward township, Allegheny county, Penna, was brought to Pennsylvania by Matthew McKinney, born in Scotland. He came to eastern Pennsylvania a grown man and about 1777 crossed the mountains to western Pennsylvania locating on government land which he patented. His farm of three hundred acres was then virgin forest, located in what is now Forward township, Allegheny county, Penna. He was a hardy pioneer, full of energy and courage, two qualities greatly needed by him who would subdue the forest, battle with adverse circumstances and with danger lurking in every quarter cause the fertile field to follow his labor. While clearing his land he lived in a log house, both standing as monuments of his untiring energy for many years. His first wife, Elizabeth Lord, soon succumbed to the privations of frontier life, and he married a second wife, Ann Thompson with with her lived on his farm until his death October 22, 1809. He was a Presbyterian in religion and of that sturdy Scotch blood that made their lives conform to the strict creed that they strongly believed was the correct rule of life. Children of Matthew McKinney and Elizabeth Lord McKinney: James McKinney; John McKinney, a farmer, moved to New Concord, Ohio, where his descendants are yet found; Henry McKinney, also moved to New Concord, Ohio, married and left issue; Polly McKinney married a Snodgrass and died at Braddock, Penna; Nancy McKinney married Isaac Storer and died in New Concord, Ohio; Matthew McKinney (1) died in infancy. Matthew McKinney by his second marriage had no issue. James McKinney, eldest son of Matthew McKinney and Elizabeth Lord McKinney, was born on the frontier farm, now Forward township, Allegheny county, February 9, 1783, and there lived until his death, October 18, 1863. He was his father's assistant from an early age and at the death of Matthew McKinney he bought out the other heirs and retained possession of the acres he had helped wrest from the forest. He owned two hundred forty acres of the original three hundred, and replaced the original log house with a four room frame house and also erected a commodious frame barn. These buildings stood for ninety two years until July 30, 1909, when they were struck by lightning and destroyed by fire. He cultivated his farm all his active years, but between seasons was a "freighter" on the old National Pike, making trips on that road until after his marriage. On many of these trips he drove as far west as Chillicothe, Ohio, and as far east as Philadelphia. He prospered in his undertakings, but his freighting business was brought to an abrupt close, as his wife whom he met at the Black Horse Tavern in Wheeling, would not be left alone during the many weeks the trip required. So henceforth he devoted himself entirely to the cultivation of his farm. He served for a short time during the second war with Great Britain, but in the main lived a quiet, retiring life devoted to home and family. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. He married Mary Wallace Blee who survived him ten years, dying March 24, 1873, aged seventy seven years. Children: Elizabeth McKinney, born September 29, 1817, died unmarried January 28, 1873. Nancy Jane McKinney, born January 28, 1820, married Peter Reasoner, and died at New Concord, Ohio, February 29, 1908. Margaret McKinney, born December 21, 1821, died at the homestead, unmarried, October 18, 1895. Matthew McKinney, born May 10, 1822, died September 10, 1822. Ann McKinney, born December 21, 1823, married Solomon Speer, died at Elizabeth, Penna, January, 1910. Robert McKinney, born May 21, 1825, died at the old homestead, January 13, 1902. John McKinney, of further mention. Mary McKinney, born September 2, 1829, married Louis Snee, and died April 18, 1856. John McKinney, second son and seventh child of James McKinney and Mary Wallace Blee McKinney, was born on the farm in Forward township owned by his father and grandfather, November 21, 1826, and died there August 12, 1911. He attended the public schools and remained at the home farm until his marriage. He then bought the adjoining farm and there resided until 1861when his father, an old man, induced him to give up his own farm and return to the homestead where he remodeled and enlarged the farm house and there resided until his death. He lived to be eighty five years of age and until two years prior to his death was active and vigorous, giving little evidence of his great age. He was a democrat in politics and for twenty eight years served as school director. Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. He married November 14, 1850, Mary Jane Marshall, born October 17, 1828, in New Concord, Ohio, daughter of Judge Robert Marshall and Polly Reasoner Marshall. Judge Marshall settled in Ohio from New Forence, Westmoreland county, Penna, was a judge of Guernsey county, Ohio, courts for twenty eight years, a well-educated man, a just judge, and an upright citizen. He died March 1, 1873, and his wife, Polly Reasoner Marshall, September 20, 1840. He married a second wife, Polly Wilson. Children: Elizabeth McKinney, born December 8, 1819, died unmarried at the age of seventy five years. Martha McKinney, born August 2, 1821, married Samuel Marshall and died in Kirkwood, Illinois. Nancy McKinney, born November 5, 1823, married Robert McKinney and died in Forward township, Allegheny county. Margaret McKinney, born August 3, 1826, married Mack Galbraith and died in Monmouth, Illinois. Mary Jane McKinney born October 17, 1828, died January 28, 1896, married John McKinney. John R McKinney, born February 26, 1830, deceased, a farmer of Muscatine, Iowa. Robert W McKinney, born February 5, 1832, now a farmer near Stronghurst, Illinois. Samuel McKinney, born May 3, 1834, a minister of the United Presbyterian Church and at time of death president of Tarkio, Missouri, College. Joseph McKinney, born March 3, 1836, died aged eighteen years. Benjamin McKinney, born November 16, 1837, died at the old Marshall home in New Concord, Ohio, November 4, 1912. Sarah Catherine McKinney, born February 14, 1840, married Samuel Torrance and lives in Monmouth, Illinois. Children of John McKinney and Mary Jane Marshall McKinney: Robert Biddle McKinney, born February 10, 1852, now a grocer in Elizabeth, Penna. 8 Florence Lecky b. Oct-1855 m. R. B. McKinney Lived in Elizabeth, PA about 1906. 9 Irene McKinney b. Apr-1879 m. 1899 Alexander Patton 10 Earl Patton 10 Robert Linn Patton Anna Martha McKinney, born April 10, 1857, married Stephen Wall, whom she survives, a resident of Forward township. James Lord McKinney, born September 20, 1862, now working the home farm in connection with his brother John McKinney, unmarried Eliza W McKinney, born July 6, 1867, unmarried, residing with her brothers at the homestead. John McKinney, of futher mention. John McKinney, youngest child and third son of John McKinney and Mary Jane Marshall McKinney, was born on the homestead, October 15, 1869. He was educated in public schools and Elizabeth Academy, and after finishing his school years returned home to the farm, and in association with his brother, James L McKinney, works the one hundred and twenty one acres. They are breeders of pure blooded Guernseys, their herd numbering about twenty five head of these choice dairy breed of cattle. Their farm is well improved and well managed, the brothers and sister there residing all being interested in its upkeep and thoroughly capable. John McKinney is unmarried, is an Independent in politics, and like all of the McKinneys a member of the Presbyterian church. Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921 Title: Vol. 2 Genealogical and personal history of western Pennsylvania; editor-in-chief, John W. Jordan. Imprint: New York : Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915. p993