The James McKinney Family

The James McKinney Family

Homestead: The time was about the same time as Peter Crabtree and Mary, Addie and Vester were proving up on their land. (About 1889)

Location of house: 1 ½ miles west of Prairie Rose Schoolhouse. It was a sod house on a steep hillside with a shed type barn on the opposite bank. The road was east to west and the farmstead was on the north side of the road. On the south side was the pastureland of the Charles Fancher homestead. The Fancher house was over a couple of hills in another draw. (The Fancher land was bought by Frank & Mae Crabtree in 1918.)

The McKinney Family:

• James & Nancy McKinney
• There was an older son, Arthur
• A son, Ed McKinney married LaVerne (Hoover) Gibberson.
• LaVerne’s daughter Ellen (Gibberson) Drummond,
• a daughter was Mrs. Wiley and her sons Frank and Willie Wiley. (Mrs. Wiley married Mr. Smutz when Frank and Willie were young and they lived south of Parks near the George Bartletts). Frank Wiley married Ruth Bartlett

(Note: 1900 census includes a daughter Hattie age 16)

In later years, the McKinneys moved to Haigler where he was remembered for his long white beard and sitting on a bench along the sidewalk giving out dimes to all the kids.

I remember only one incident that happened when the McKinneys still lived out in the country. It was after a big Sunday dinner – I was one of the many kids playing outside. My cousin, Bennie Wiley was about to “catch it” from his dad for something or other, but great Grandpa McKinney intervened pretty loudly! So did Grandma Smutz and the day was saved for the kids. (especially Bennie).

I remember hearing about Ed’s strip-down Ford – The “sporty thing to drive” back then.

The McKinneys were close neighbors when I was very small; Their names were household words. But I can’t remember anything more specific to tell about them.

I remember later families who lived in the McKinney’s sod house:

• Slim & Eva (Gordon) Wilkens who worked for my dad (Frank Crabtree),
• Roy and Lillie (Gardner) Freemyer and their baby Philip, and
• Ralph and Helen (Gardner) Queen.
• The land was later sold to Jake Wall.

--A handwritten note by Alice (Crabtree) Gregory