U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- McKinney Sanford C. (1861-1936) --------------------------------------------------------------------- A History of Preston County West Virginia Biographical Department, Supplied by J. R. Cole Kingwood, W. Va., The Journal Publishing Company, 1914 by H. S. Whetsell Pages 763-765, SANFORD C. McKINNEY. Luke McKinney and his wife, Aylse (Spencer), settled on the McKinney homestead, near Bretz, before the War of 1812. He was born March 4, 1782, and died July 27, 1862. She was born July 27, 1792, and died April 11, 1877. Their children were: John S., born May 25, 1811, died January 1, 1890; Harrison, born January 2, 1813, died November 1, 1892; Michael, born April 10, 1816, died December 18, 1888; Sarah (Menear), born May 6, 1818, died May 26, 1899; Arthur Wesley, born April 13, 1820, died May 24, 1899; Julia Ann (Watson), born May 13, 1822, died April 17, 1849; Rebecca (Flick), born May 14, 1824, died May 16, 1891; William H., born March 22, 1826, and still living; Alexander M., born May 17, 1829, died February 4, 1892; Joseph Jackson, born January 13, 1832, and still living; Gabriel, who was born and died February 6, 1834. Joseph Jackson McKinney married Caroline P. Zinn. She was born October 18, 1836, and died January 1, 1910. She was a native Prestonian and a daughter of Henderson B. Zinn, of the Zinn settlement. They first built a log house that stood on the same ground as the present house, built by S. C. McKinney in 1911. Later, in 1868, they built a better log house near by, which is still standing. J. J. McKinney was a member of Company B, 14th West Virginia Volunteers, and served through the war. He participated in the battles of Cloyd Mountain, Lynchburg, Carter's Farm, Kernstown, Berryville, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek, and quite a number of minor battles and skirmishes. These battles were fought by the 6th, 8th and 19th Corps, under Major-General Philip H. Sheridan. At the battle of Fisher's Hill the 6th and 19th were formed in front, the 8th by a brisk flank movement was formed in the rear of Company B of the 14th W. Va., which was deployed on the skirmish line, and was one of the first to cross their earthworks, and just in time to see the grey coattails standing behind like checker boards. At the battle of Cedar Creek, the 8th and 19th boys formed in front of the 6th, somewhat farther to the rear, the two in front were completely shut out, it was a complete stampede, but the glorious old Sixth came up like a billow on the ocean and checked them, and held them in check, until the 8th and 19th got reformed, and little Phil on his coal black charger came dashing up, the tide turned — the tide set in the other way. Only three officers of Co. B reported for duty, all three corporals. He, being senior, took command of Company B (13 men) and formed them in their proper places in the regiment; the regiment was sent to support a battery, and stayed to the finish. He had the honor of commanding Company B (13 men) in the last charge the regiment ever made, and the last stand made in the valley by the Confederates. After the war he returned to the farm. He also did carpenter work, building two or three schoolhouses. His boys were also handy with tools. S. C. McKinney built the house his father now lives in at Morgantown. The children of J. J. McKinney and his wife were: Malissa Elvira, now the wife of N. W. McMillen, a farmer near Masontown. She was born September 26, 1854; Albert Raymond, born July 8, 1856, died October 22, 1912, in Indiana; Frances Ellen (Spurgeon McGee), born June 26, 1858; S. C. McKinney, born March 8, 1861; Annie May, born December 9, 1865; Julia Agnes, born August 30, 1867, died September 19, 1890; Claudius L., born September 15, 1869, is a successful contractor in Morgantown; Harriet Welton (Born), born October 17, 1871; Arizona Ray (Addison), born July 6, 1874; Joseph Webster, born and died May 7, 1876. S. C. married Annie B. Rogers, February 24, 1895. She was born November 4, 1878, and is the daughter of William and Margaret Rogers, of Pisgah, and a granddaughter of the late Perry J. Rogers, one of the oldest settlers of that place. The children born to this union were: Otto F., born December 29, 1895; Hugh G., born January 16, 1897; Blanche Edna, born September 27, 1900; Joseph H., born October 2, 1902; Parley J., born January 29, 1904; Albert L., born February 21, 1906; William H., born June 17, 1909; Oma Evedelle, born October 13, 1912. The McKinneys have all been successful farmers. The orchard planted by the late grandfather still bears something like 1,000 bushels annually. This has resulted from spraying and paying scientific attention to the needs of the trees. This orchard has a tree which grows apples without seeds, and was never known to bloom; also has trees which grow apples which are both sweet and sour, sweet on one side and sour on the other, neither is it fruit by graft. S. C. McKinney pays particular attention also to stock raising. He deals in Hereford cattle, the Berkshire and Pollen China hogs, and loves the Merino sheep and good horses. S. C. McKinney took an active interest in developing the home farm from his boyhood, working most of his time for his parents until he was near thirty years of age. He then bought a farm on the east side of Cheat, went to Oklahoma, participated in a land drawing and failed to draw a claim; came back to Illinois and bought eighty acres, rented it, came home, sold out and moved to Morgantown and did carpenter work for two years, then moved to Illinois, improved a farm there, got the chills, sold out and came back, bought the old homestead, and expects to spend the remainder of his life improving it. --------------------------------------------------------------------- From Register of Deaths, Preston County, WV (Page 83, Line Number 32) FULL-NAME: Sanford C. McKinney BIRTH-DATE: Mar 8, 1861 BIRTH-PLACE: W.Va. DEATH-DATE: Mar 3, 1936 at age 74y-11m-24d DEATH-PLACE: Near Bretz, W.Va. MARITAL-STATUS: Married OCCUPATION: Retired Farmer FATHER: Joseph J. McKinney (born in W.Va.) MOTHER: Caroline P. Zinn CAUSE-OF-DEATH: H. Disease BURIAL: Masontown --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Preston County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/preston/bios.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------