William McKinney1,2

M, (1 January 1881 - 1974)

Father*William McKinney (bt 1838 - 1840 - bt 1885 - 1886)
Mother*Serena Catherine Breeden (10 Feb 1846 - 1928)
William McKinney|b. 1 Jan 1881\nd. 1974|p2737.htm|William McKinney|b. bt 1838 - 1840\nd. bt 1885 - 1886|p2729.htm|Serena Catherine Breeden|b. 10 Feb 1846\nd. 1928|p2730.htm|||||||Russell Breeden|b. 10 Jul 1807\nd. 20 Sep 1876|p2743.htm|Delaney Brooks|b. 15 Jan 1812\nd. 2 May 1890|p2744.htm|

Relationship Great-granduncle of James Jay McKinney.
Last Edited 2 Apr 1999
Reference MMMMMC.6
Researcher 0
Unrelated 0

Note* William McKinney Jr. He was born on January 1, 1881, at Lowell, Cherokee County, Kansas. He attended the Quaker Academy, and always remembered the teacher there who urged him and his brothers to become medical doctors. When eventually the teacher died, William had a stone erected for his grave.
He and two of his brothers graduated from the University of Kansas Medical School. They worked very hard to get an education, and William recalled that one year, after having worked all summer as harvesters, the employer failed to pay them; and they lost a whole year before the’ money could be earned again. They also worked in copper mines in Idaho; about this, William said that they often had to work long hours In water up to the waist; William graduated in 1911, and set up a practice in Latham, Butler County, Kansas, where he stayed for a time. He then joined the Navy, and was assigned for further study at the Naval Medical School in Washington, D. C. He was in the graduating class of 1916. He was temporarily assigned as Naval Recruiting Officer at El Paso, Texas.
Clara Cooke Kelsey of Baxter Springs, Kansas, joined him there, where they were married. Clara was a daughter of George Dallas and Henrietta Boyd Kelsey.
In 1917 .he was on sea-duty, then later was stationed in Bordeaux, France, until the conclusion of WW-I.
William was somewhat vain about his appearance. When he received his commission, he went to one of the finest tailors in New York City, and ordered four uniforms. They were always kept in a closet at his home, and were beautiful; fine soft fabric with lots of hand-sewn details. This period seems to have been the only light spot in his life; he danced a little in Washington, in Europe learned to like a glass of wine now and then, and even went to plays!
Returned to civilian life, he began practice in Baxter Springs, Kansas.
In general, he was an exceedingly conscientious man, and laid out for himself a most rigorous routine. After a few house-calls, he would arrive at his office at 8:30; go home for a half-hour lunch; then back to the office until 6:00, - except on Saturdays, when he stayed until 9:30; next, home to dinner; and finally, another round of house-calls. Sundays were different. He would load up the family and guests and head for Joplin, Missouri, where the nearest hospital was located After seeing any patients he might have, they would head for a picnic in the ‘Ozarks, where everyone would gorge on chicken, pie and angel-food cake! In inclement weather, they often visited the farms of his brother Joseph or sister Nell, where the children amused themselves pretending to operate the farm machinery.
Dr. McKinney charged $2.50 for an office call; $5.00 for a house-call; and kept most of his own medicine, which was included in the bill. Often, during the depression, he was paid in food or produce; sometimes not at all.
Dr. McKinney became blind in his old age, and died in 1974, at Baxter Springs. He and Clara Kelsey McKinney were parents of four children.



3 
Birth*1 January 1881 Lowell, Cherokee Co., KS3,2 
Burial*1974 Lowell Cemetery SW/4 NW/4 S32 T34 R25, Lowell, Cherokee Co., KS4 
Death*1974 4 

Citations

  1. AKA Will and Willie.
  2. [S4] 1900 US Federal Census: Garden Township,Cherokee Co. KS Supervisor Dist. 3,Enum. Dist. 23, Sheet 7, Lines 98-100, Sheet 8, Lines 1-2. Family 154. Page 70.
  3. [S73] Paul McGowen, Breeden/Hurst Family (n.p.: n.pub., 1983), Probably from Margaret Hunt.
  4. [S35] Don Ford, Cemetery Inscriptions Cherokee County, Kansas (n.p.: Heritage Books, Inc., 1988), pg 243.