McKinnie, Nathan 1816-1907

MCKINNIE, MCKINNEY, DUNCAN, DAVIDSON, BERSTLER, HODGE, WHERRY

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/31/2013 at 15:19:28

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Feb. 26, 1907

NATHAN MCKINNIE

Mr. Nathan *McKinnie was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, Jan. 30, 1816, remaining in that county until he was fourteen years of age, when he moved with his parents to Guernsey county of the same state. There he grew to manhood and was married to Miss Lillie A. Duncan March 26, 1840. They moved to Iowa, near Millersburg, Iowa county, in 1854, remaining in Iowa county till 1892 when they left the farm and built a neat and comfortable cottage under the shadow of the U.P. church at Guernsey. There they lived happily for ten years, when Mrs. McKinnie was called home. In 1903 he moved to Grinnell where he has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. W.H. Davidson, residing there until Feb. 20, 1907, when he departed this life.

To Mr. and Mrs. McKinnie were born twelve children, eight of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, and these all survive him except one, Mrs. Rebecca J. Berstler, who preceded him by about two weeks to the better land. The other children are Mrs. S. Hodge of Atlantic, Ia., Theophilus of Afton, Ia., Mrs. J.P. Wherry of Everett, Wash., W.D. of Los Angeles, Cal., J.C. of Altus, Okla., R.E. of Everett, Wash., and Mrs. W.H. Davidson of this place.

Mr. and Mrs. McKinnie lived to celebrate their sixtieth wedding anniversary.

Mr. McKinnie made profession of his faith in Christ in early manhood, and has been a devoted Christian all his life. For years he has been a ruling elder in the church of his choice. He was a great reader and had a remarkable memory. His reading was almost entirely along religious lines and he was well versed in scripture and in church history. The memory of the reading of other years has been a great comfort to him during the last four years when he was almost blind.

Mr. McKinnie was a strong man--physically, intellectually and spiritually. Coming to Iowa at an early day, he had a wide experience in the hardships of frontier life and bore them bravely. Even to the time of his death he had a powerful physique. His intellectual powers remained even to the last. On the Saturday before his death he rallied greatly and conversed with great freedom; his eyesight was keener and his hearing more acute than it had been for many months. Spiritually, Mr. McKinnie was strong in the faith. The great doctrines of our religion had been deeply impressed upon his heart and he was ready with a reason for the faith which he held. He loved the house of God. How regular was he in attendance upon the ordinances of divine worship! Even when almost blind and deaf, he would come and sit Sabbath after Sabbath on a chair in front of the pulpit. He was present at the last communion, and though now his chair is vacant, yet his gracious influence abides.

An impressive service was held at the W.H. Davidson home on Thursday at 4 p.m. conducted by Rev. W.W. Woodburn. Those from a distance who were present at this service were Mrs. S. Hodge of Atlantic, Ia., Mrs. Albert Davidson and Mrs. Herbert Davidson of Brooklyn, Ia. The body was taken to Guernsey on Friday morning accompanied by Messrs. J.C. and Theophilus McKinnie, Mrs. Hodge and Mr. and Mrs. Davidson and daughter Mary. A very fitting service was held in the U.P church of that place, conducted by Rev. H. Westlake, the pastor. A number of friends and neighbors were in attendance, also three grandchildren--Mrs. R.C. Hutson of Arion, Ia., E.A. Berstler of Belvidere, S.D., and Kenneth Berstler of Guernsey. The other grandchildren and great-grandchildren were not able to be present on account of sickness in their families.

The family wish to sincerely thank friends and neighbors for their kind assistance during the illness and death of our father.
===============================================
Find-A-Grave Memorial #81935493 *McKinney, Nathan