McKINNEY, A. - 1914

MCKINNEY, CRONE, PRUNTY, DODDS

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/6/2009 at 03:32:01

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

A. McKinney, a prominent and leading citizen of Cleghorn, is a well known representitive of financial interests as president of the Cleghorn State Bank, which he purchased in 1908. His birth occured in Highland county, Ohio, on the 10th of November, 1845, his parents being Jesse and Ann Rebecca (Crone) McKinney. He was a native of Ross county, Ohio, while she was a native of Highland county. The father, an agriculturist by occupation, removed to Polk county, Iowa, in 1857, having traded his property for a farm in that county, and there devoted his attention to the work of the fields throughout the remainder of his life, improving his place until it became very valuable. Jesse McKinney and Ann R. Crone were married in 1842 at Centerfield, Ohio, and by this union there were five children, of whom three are now living: Abijah, the subject of this review; Sarah M., the wife of D. M. Prunty, of Cleghorn, Iowa; and Alameda, residing in Runnells, Iowa, in the old homestead. Mrs. McKinney passed away June 15, 1850. In 1851 her home near Centerfield, Ohio. Mr. McKinney married Margaret A. Dodds of Highland county, Ohio. To this union were born four children, of whom two survive, Henry V., who resides in Des Moines, Iowa; and Jesse, residing in Runnells, Iowa. Mrs. Margaret McKinney, passed away in March, 1897, and her husband's death occurred on the 20th of July, 1897.

A. McKinney acquired his education in the district schools of Polk county, this state, and followed the profession of teaching in the years of 1864 and 1865. Subsequently he attended a Baptist school at Pella, then called Iowa University, and after leaving the institution in 1867 again turned to the profession of teaching, acting as an instructor until April, 1870. At that time he purchased and improved sixty-nine acres of land in Polk county, Iowa, devoting his attention to its cultivation until the spring of 1876, when he disposed of the property and came to Cherokee county. Here he cultivated rented land in Marcus township until 1881, when he purchased a tract of two hundred and forty acres on section 17, Liberty township, began its improvement and remained busily engaged in it operation until the spring of 1901. At that time he leased the property and removed to Des Moines in order that his daughter might have better educational facilities. In July, 1908, he returned to Cherokee county and located at Cleghorn, purchasing the Cleghorn State Bank, which he has since ably conducted. The officers of the institution are as follows: A. McKinney, president; R. C. McKinney, cashier; and L. L. Patton, assistant cashier. The bank, which was organized in 1892, has a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars and deposits amounting to two hundred thousand dollars. As its chief executive officer Mr. McKinney has contributed in no uncertain degree to the contiued growth and success of the institution.

On the 14th of March, 1872, Mr. McKinney was united in marriage to Miss Jane Prunty, a daughter of Elias and Harriett (Cassel) Prunty, who were natives of Kentucky and Illinois respectively. About 1874 the father came to Cherokee county from Jasper county, Iowa, where he had followed farming principally but also worked at the painters trade. He purchased eighty acres of land in Marcus township, this county, and cultivated the place until the death of his wife in July, 1876. Throughout the remainder of his life he resided with his children, passing away in September, 1895. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McKinney were born five children, namely: Virgil I., an agriculturist of this county; R. C., who acts as cashier of the Cleghorn State Bank; Sarah Amnia, who was born on the 17th of July, 1876, and died on the 9th of January, 1877; Robert Francis, an electrical engineer, residing at Mechanicsville, New York; and Anna I., who is the wife of LeRoy Hidinger, of Memphis, Tennessee. The wife and mother was called to her final rest on the 25th of June, 1907, passing away after a short illness. The family home in Cleghorn, a handsome and attractive residence, is owned by our subject.

In his political views Mr. McKinney is independent. He has served as county supervisor for three years, acted as clerk of Liberty township and also in the capacity of trustee and has served on the town council of Cleghorn, discharging all of his public duties in an efficient and commendable manner. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church. He is a dignified, courteous gentleman, of kindly spirit and strong principles, who through his marked individuality has left an impress for good upon the community in which he has so long resided.