BIOS: Henry Clay McKINLEY, M.D., Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sharon Trosan Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, Biographical Review Publishing Company: 1899, pp. 22-24 Henry Clay McKinley, M.D., an able physician of Meyersdale, Somerset County, Pa., was born in Flint Stone, near Cumberland, Md., October 5, 1840, son of Arthur and Ruhama (Rowland) McKinley. The family is of Scotch-Irish origin, and remote ancestors of Dr. McKinley were the same as those of our present Chief Magistrate. Henry McKinley, the Doctor's grandfather, who was a native of Ireland and the son of a Presbyterian minister, came to America when a boy, and settled in York County, Pennsylvania. He was by occupation a saddler. He was married in Hancock, Md., and his children were: Stephen, Arthur, Herbert, Nelson, and Helen. Arthur McKinley, the second son, was born in Washington County, Maryland, in 1809. Having learned the saddler's trade with his father, he in 1843 settled in Somerset County, where he followed that business for the rest of his active years, and where he died in 1888. For many years he served as Postmaster in Salisbury. He was prominently identified with the township offices, and was a leading member of the Reformed church. Ruhama, his wife, was a daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Hart) Rowland, of Washington County, Maryland, and a representative of an old family of that State. She became the mother of twelve children, seven of whom are living, namely: Daniel O'Connell McKinley, a dentist of Salisbury; Jeanette H., whose home is in Santa Clara, Cal.; Henry Clay McKinley, the subject of this sketch; Thomasene, who has been twice married, and is now Mrs. Edward McDonald, of Salisbury; Kerren H., who married Casper Wahl, and resides in Salisbury; Anna Hart, who is the widow of Elijah Fuller, and resides in Cumberland, Md.; and Stephen R. McKinley, who is a saddler by trade and a resident of Salisbury. Henry Clay McKinley came with his parents from Maryland to Salisbury when three years old, and his early education, which was begun in the public schools, was completed at the County Normal School in Meyersdale. For some time after leaving school he worked at brick- making both in Alleghany County, Maryland, and in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Later he entered a drug store in Maryland, and while there began the study of medicine under Dr. Henry C. Stuart, formerly of Somerset County, remaining with him until July, 1861, when he enlisted as a private in Company A, Tenth Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteers. The regiment reached Washington City on July 23, two days after the first battle of Bull Run, and was later ordered to the Peninsula, in the vicinity of Richmond, where he was stricken with camp fever, which confined him to the hospital in Philadelphia for several months. He was finally discharged in the fall of 1862. After spending a full year in recovering his health, he resumed his professional studies under his former preceptor, and, entering the medical department of the Philadelphia University in 1865, was graduated in 1868. Coming to Meyersdale, he was associated with Dr. U. M. Beachley until 1872, when he engaged in practice alone; and with the exception of two years he spent in Waterloo, Ia., he has since resided here. He has acquired a large and lucrative practice both as a general physician and specialist, his particular attention being given to obstetrics. He is a member of the State and County Medical Societies, and has been secretary of the latter since its organization. In 1872 Dr. McKinley married Lydia A. Beachley, a sister of Dr. U. M. Beachley and a daughter of Daniel and Eliza (Meyers) Beachley, the former of whom was a son of Abram Beachley and descendant of a pioneer settler I this section. Dr. and Mrs. McKinley have two children: Mary Jessie, who has been a teacher in the public schools; and Daniel Arthur, who is now a student in California. The Doctor also reared and educated Arminta Farmer, who resided with him until her marriage with George C. Call, and is now living in Iowa. Politically, Dr. McKinley is a Republican. He belongs to Post No. 114, G.A.R., in which he has held all of the important offices, has been a delegate to various encampments, and has served as aide on the Department staff. He is a member of the Reformed church.