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McKinney, Joseph Morris (b. 1838)
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History of Ritchie County
by Minnie Kendall Lowther
Wheeling News Litho. Co., Wheeling W.Va., 1911

Pages 607-609

J. M. McKinney, — Another family whose services to this county
merit recognition is that of Joseph Morris McKinney, of Hebron.

This family comes of Irish stock. Francis McKinney and Miss Hannah
Hopkins were married near Londonderry in the North of Ireland, and
their son, George, was educated for the ministry; but not finding
his heart wholly in this work, he emigrated to America before the
Revolution and settled near the boundary line of Loudin and
Fauquier counties, Virginia; here he met and was married to Miss
Mary James, and here, engaged in teaching until near the year 1812,
when he removed with his family to Harrison county, where he died
at the age of near one hundred years.

His son, Thomas, married Miss Frances Leah Gallaher, of Loudin
county, and on November, 24, 1802, their son, George Washington
McKinney was born. He married Miss Amelia Morris, daughter of the
Rev. Joseph Morris of Harrison county, and settled at Joseph's
Mills in Tyler county. Here Joseph Morris McKinney, the subject of
this sketch, was born, on February 22, 1838, and while he was yet
an infant his parents removed to Washington county, Ohio, where
they remained six years before returning to their former home in
Harrison county, where the mother died in l847. The father survived
her by a number of years, dying at tlie home of his son in this
county.

Joseph Morris McKinney and Miss Margaret Carlin, daughter of Joseph
Carlin. of Barbour county, were married on November 10, 1859, and
came to this county the following spring and settled near Hebron on
the old homestead which they still own, though they removed to
Tyler county a year ago.

Mr. McKinney has been a prominent figure in the public affairs of
the coutnty for almost a half-century. He served as Captain, Major
and Colonel of the Militia, and as clerk of the Regimental court.
He has been Supervisor of Clay district, President of the Board of
Education, member of the County Board of Teachers' Examiners, and
has three times filled the office of County Superintendent. He
being the first one chosen by the popular vote under the Free
School system; and was one of the chief factors in the inauguration
of this system: for under his administration the first houses were
built by the state. He was twice a member of the House of Delegates
from this county, and for thirty years, "wielded the birchen rod"
in the winter and farmed in the summer.

He entertains with pride the thought that he never used tobacco,
nor drank intoxicating drinks, and that all his sons imitate his
example.

He is the father of seven sons and four daughters, several of whom
have been identified in the profession of teaching.

George E. is a merchant of Ben's run in Tyler county; Thomas E.
resides in South Dakota, where he fills the chair of Mathematics in
the State University; John M. resides at the old home at Hebron;
Joseph, who is a civil engineer, lives at Parkersburg; Homer died a
few years ago; and A. L. is the other son.

Sarah Ellen, the eldest daughter, is Mrs. W. A. Douglass, of
Highland; Flora, is Mrs. J. C. McGregor, of Salem; and Hester M;,
and Amelia V. are at home.

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