Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 665
PROF. HARVEY A. KINNEY

Prof. Harvey A. KINNEY, of the Woodbine Normal School, came to Harrison County in August 1878, and the first Monday in September took charge of the Magnolia High School, and was the Principal of the same four years. The next year he was assistant Principal of the Missouri Valley High School, and served as Principal of the same school the next three years. In the autumn of 1885, he was elected to the office of County Superintendent of Schools.

He remained in the Missouri Valley Schools until June 1886, and was a resident of the place until the spring of 1887, at which time he moved to Woodbine. In the fall of that year Messrs. KINNEY, RIDDELL and MATTER, organized the Woodbine Normal and about the same time our subject was re-elected as School Superintendent.

Mr. Kinney is a native of the Empire State, born in Cortlandville, Cortland County, N. Y., December 10, 1854. He is a son of John and Samantha (COPELAND) KINNEY. The father was a native of New York, born in 1812, and the mother a native of New York, born in 1829. The father was a farmer and our subject remained at home, assisting on the farm until July 1878, when he started West, stopped one month in Butler County, Iowa, and then came to Harrison County. After attending the common schools of his native county, in September 1873, he commenced attending the State Normal School, at Cortlandville, N. Y., from which school he graduated July 2, 1878. He had taught school in New York State, prior to coming to Iowa.

Mr. Kinney was united in marriage May 26, 1886, to Miss Minnie S. SMITH, daughter of Rev. Cyrus and Amanda C. (BESSEY) SMITH, both natives of Ohio. Her father was born December 27, 1839, and the mother October 1, 1842. Our subjects wife was born in Van Buren County, Mich., August 11, 1867, and removed with her parents to Mills County, Iowa, in 1885, where she remained until the date of her marriage. She received her education at the common and high schools, and for a short time attended Simpson College, at Indianolia, Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. KINNEY are the parents of one child--Harvey S., born January 10, 1891.

In religious matters, our subject is a believer in the Baptist faith and a member of that denomination, while his estimable wife is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Politically, Mr. KINNEY, affiliates with the Republican party. As an educator, the Professor ranks high among the instructors of the state. His work in the High Schools of Harrison County as well as in the Normal at Woodbine, together with his efficient work as County Superintendent, has made him a prominent factor in the role of an educator in Harrison County. The reader is referred to the history of the Normal School for more concerning this mans educational career.

Return to 1891 Biographical K Surnames Index

Back to 1891 Biographies Index