John F. McKinley was born in Ireland in 1839, and came to America in 1857. He was living at Meriden, Conn., when the war broke out and he enlisted in Comapny E, Third Connecticut Infantry, and served three months, participating in the battles of Bull Run and Fairfax Court House. He went to California in the fall of 1861 and remained on the Pacific coast seven years. He came to Clayton County in 1868. He owns a finely cultivated farm of 200 acres in section 21, Grand Meadow Township. He was married Oct. 11, 1869, to Ellen Fleming, who was born in New York, March 14, 1845. They hae had nine children--Mary Ann, born Oct. 19, 1870; Lizzie, Nov. 9, 1871; Rosa, June 29, 1872; Nellie, Aug. 16, 1873; Katie, June 16, 1874; John, Nov. 26, 1875, and died the same day; John A., Nov. 17, 1877; James, Jan. 18, 1879, and Emily, May 13, 1881. Mr. McKinley is a member of the Catholic church. He votes the Democratic ticket. source: History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, p. 830 |