U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- McKenzie, James Alexander (1866-1932) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 J. A. McKENZIE (Pages 748- Pages 748-749 J. A. McKENZIE, prosecuting attorney of Hancock County and a prominent attorney of New Cumberland, West Virginia, was born July 30, 1866, at Inverness, Columbiana County, Ohio, and is a son of Thomas P. and Elizabeth (Smith) McKenzie, natives and residents of Columbiana County. As the name indicates, the McKenzie family originated in Scotland, and was founded in Ohio by James McKenzie, the great-grandfather of our subject, who located in the State as a pioneer, in the latter part of the 18th century. He lived to the age of 100 years. He was an extensive farmer and also conducted a woolen mill in Columbia County. His son, also named James, was a physician for some years in Hancock County, Virginia, now West Virginia, and was a party to the first deed ever recorded after the county was organized. He married a Miss Patterson and reared a family of 12 children, a survivor being N. K. McKenzie, a resident of Wellsville. Thomas P. McKenzie, the father of our subject, served during the Civil War in Company I, 78th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. The mother of our subject is a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Smith, early settlers of the State of Ohio. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. McKenzie, namely. J. A., of this sketch; Jennie, wife of T. C. Williams, of Utica, Ohio; Ella, wife of B. C. Grafton, of Columbia County, Ohio; and William, shipping clerk at the National Tube Works at McKeesport, Ohio. Our subject was reared and educated in Columbiana County, Ohio, and followed school teaching during five winters, taking a course in the meantime, at Mount Union College, where he was graduated in 1890. In the fall of 1892 he entered the Cincinnati Law School and was graduated there in 1894, with his degree of LL. B. In January, 1895, he removed to New Cumberland, started into the practice of his profession, and met with immediate and unusual success. In 1896 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Hancock County, being honored with a re-election in 1900. Mr. McKenzie is a stanch Republican and has actively supported the candidates and measures of his party. On November 27, 1895, he was married to Margaret Patterson, who is a daughter of Thomas and Catherine Patterson, of Columbiana County, Ohio. Two children have been born to this marriage, Elizabeth and Thomas. Both Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie belong to the Presbyterian Church. Fraternally he is both a Mason and an Odd Fellow, belonging to the New Cumberland lodges of both orders. Mr. McKenzie has made an enviable record as prosecuting attorney. He has given special study to the laws relating to the duties of the position and is also well versed in other lines. His ability and industry, his carefulness, fairness and promptitude have won him a large clientele and he occupies a prominent position among the members of the Hancock County bar. ------------------------------------------------------------------- DEATH CERTIFICATE, Hancock County WV, #8908 FULL-NAME: James Alexander McKenzie BIRTH-DATE: July 30, 1866 BIRTH-PLACE: Highlandtown, Columbian Co., Ohio DEATH-DATE: July 5, 1932 AGE-AT-DEATH: 65y-11m-5d DEATH-PLACE: New Cumberland, Clay District, Hancock County, WV USUAL-RESIDENCE: Ridge Ave. MARITAL-STATUS: Married (Margaret Patterson) OCCUPATION: Retired / Attorney at Law FATHER: Thomas P. McKenzie (born in Columbian Co., Ohio) MOTHER: Elizabeth Smith (born in Columbian Co., Ohio) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Chronic Nephritis, Hypertention / Cerebral Hemorrhage INFORMANT: T. F. McKenzie BURIAL: New Cumberland ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Hancock County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/hancock/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------