Tribute to John Allen McKinney (1877-1937)

IN MEMORY OF MY DEAR FRIEND, JOHN MCKINNEY

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John McKinney was born August 4, 1877, Caswell County, North Carolina, at the farm on which he lived when he died, Jul 30, 1937, age 80, lacking 3 days.

Mr. McKinney leaves a good wife and eight fine boys and girls: Mrs. James Smith, Greensboro; Mrs. Nathaniel Rudd, Burlington; Vergil and Raleigh McKinney of Burlington; Maloy, Luther, Hassel, and Pauline at home.

Two children preceded Mr. McKinney to the grave. Mr. McKinney is also survived by one brother, Bill McKinney, and three sisters: Mrs. A. H. Oakley, Yanceyville; Mrs. W. E. Byrd, Yanceyville; and Mrs. Mack Blalock of Gibsonville, N. C.

John went to the hospital on July 20. From his conversations with folks and friends he did not believe he would live through the operation.

I helped him thresh wheat the day before he went to the hospital and he told me the wheat would never do him any good, and I felt that it wouldn't at the time. (How awful is the shock of loosing [sic] a good neighbor.)

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I went to see him Sunday before he died on Friday. He was feeling good, I thought. Little did I think I had bade his good-bye for the last time.

I was working near his home when the word came that John could not live much longer. I looked out at his good home with tears in my eyes and said: "Oh John, how can we live without you"? I hurried to his bedside and found his good family around his bed crying and praying, I imagine for his recovery.

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John was never united with any church but believed only in Salvation by Grace as preached by the Primitive Baptist Church.

I lived less than a mile of John all my live [sic], 49 years; and I never lived by a better neighbor and friend. I can't recall of ever hearing his use an oath and neither one of his children.

John had a good family for which we give him and his wife credit.

By

J. Y. Chandler
Yanceyville, N. C.
R. F. D.
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The foregoing was found in the Chandler Family Bible and shared by Tyler James Chandler. The subject is John Allen McKinney (1877-1937), who married Minnie Alice Rudd (1887-1965), and had at least ten children. The author is James Yancey Chandler (1887-1938), who died the next year in a tragic motor vehicle accident near Hogan's Creek bridge on the road between Yanceyville, NC, and Danville, VA.
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References

The Heritage of Caswell County, North Carolina, Jeannine D. Whitlow, Editor (1985) at 378 (Article #481, "Peter Allen McKinney Story" by David B. Byrd).

1920 United States Federal Census
Name: John H Mc Kinney [John A Mckinney]
Age: 41 [42]
Birth Year: abt 1879 [abt 1878]
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1920: Anderson, Caswell, North Carolina
Street: Yanceyville Road
House Number: Farm
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Minnie McKinney
Father's Birthplace: North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina
Occupation: Farmer
Industry: General Farm
Employment Field: Employer
Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
Household Members
Name Age
John H Mc Kinney 41 [42]
Minnie Mc Kinney 31
Virger A Mc Kinney 12
Eva M Mc Kinney 9
Beula V Mc Kinney 7
Raleigh T Mc Kinney 5
Maloy Mc Kinney 1 [1 6/12]