Prestley Thompson McKinney (b. Oct 31, 1809, d. Sep 08, 1874)
Prestley Thompson McKinney (son of Samuel McKinney and Sarah Forgy) was born Oct 31, 1809 in New Carlisle, Clark County, Ohio, and died Sep 08, 1874 in Wingate, Montgomery County, Indiana. He married Catherine McClure on Aug 16, 1853 in Fountain County, Indiana, daughter of Nathaniel McClure and Mary Beaver.
Notes for Prestley Thompson McKinney: Prestley Thompson (PT) McKinney was born October 31, 1809 in New Carlisle, Ohio. He spent his boyhood and early manhood in Ohio where he began teaching music in school at 17 years of age near the old home place. In 1833 he went to Newtown, Indiana to visit his cousin Solomon. He was asked to stay and teach in the new log schoolhouse, which was among the first to be built in Fountain County, at Newtown, but refused. He and a Mr. Wallace started out on horseback to return to Ohio, going first to Lafayette. At Wildcat Creek, east of Lafayette, they spent the night. Rains had flooded all the bottomlands and they would have to wait three days or more to cross. Wallace decided to take a roundabout way home to Ohio. PT had him carry a message to the family and the school in Ohio that he would return to Newtown and teach there. He taught several years in Newtown and at once identified himself with all the active interests of the area that would be his lifetime home. On May 15, 1834 he married Sarah Jane McClure, who was also from New Carlisle, and lived in town at first. Sarah was the daughter of William and Esther (Gregory) McClure. He then also took up farming as his life's work. He purchased the east half of the west half of Section 9, township 20, range 6 west. This farm in Richland Township, Fountain County is still in the McKinney family. A man of sterling integrity of character, conscientious and upright in the conduct of his daily life, he was an energetic worker in the Presbyterian Church, and for many years was one of the elders in that religious organization. The union with Sarah McClure produced six children: Will (1835), Susan (1837), Esther (1838), Elizabeth (1840), Mary (1843), Hubert (1845) . Later PT moved to his own home that he and the McClure's had bought. He entered land 1.5 miles south of New Richmond, but later sold it. PT's wife Sarah died on January 26th, 1848 and was buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery. PT then married her sister Eleanor on May 17th, 1849. She was born July 16th, 1824 in New Carlisle. She was quarrelsome and did not get along with well with PT's children. Her father, William, and the rest of her family were very angry because of the marriage. They considered such a marriage an act of adultery. William McClure and his son James carried the matter into the Presbyterian Church and finally they left the church because of it in 1850. PT resigned as an Elder, but stayed in the church. "Believing that it will not be for the edification of the church that I should at present continue to exercise the office of ruling elder in the aforesaid church, I therefore hereby respectfully tender to you and through you to the church, my resignation of said office. With respect, your unworthy brother in the Lord, PT McKinney." This is dated September 28th, 1849 from the Session of the Newtown Presbyterian Church. Obviously this was considered quite an indiscretion as on January 14th, 1850 PT and Eleanor submitted this signed letter to the session of the church-" And whereas upon mature reflection we do now regard our conduct in this respect as wrong: Since according to God's word the good man swears to his own hurt and yet performs his oath. We do therefore deprecate our conduct in this matter as calculated to dishonor the Christian name and lower the standard of Christian morals and we do voluntarily make this expression of our penitential regret and subscribe our names this 14th day of January, 1850." PT and Eleanor had a son, Ozro Mills who was born in 1850 and died in 1851 and is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Eleanor died soon after on January 28, 1852 and is also buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery. Her father never came to the house until after Eleanor was gone and PT was married again. Upon Eleanor's death, the Elders of the church unanimously agreed that " Brother McKinney be allowed to resume the active duties of Ruling Elder as the reasons for the suspension no longer exist and that he be restored to his standing as an active ruling elder in this church." Ironically, PT was married again to another McClure, this time- no relation to the previous wives. In 1853 Catherine McClure, became the 3rd Mrs. PT McKinney. She was born on August 9, 1816 in Steam Furnace, Ohio. Her parents were Nathaniel McClure (1780-1851) of Lexington, Virginia and Mary Beaver (1782-1841) of Kentucky. PT was very involved in the Presbyterian Church in spite of all the troubles he had had in the church. Upon his death on September 8, 1874 the session of the church had this to say, "Brother McKinney was of a strong will, untiring zeal, and indomitable energy. For him to think was to act. He has been an elder in the Newtown Church for some forty years. Part of the time the only elder in the church. Literally carried the church along for some years. Was always in his place in the house of God when health would permit. Always in the prayer meeting and Sabbath School. Liberal in the support of the gospel, ready to every good word and work, faithful in the discharge of all the duties of the eldership, as was of the Christian. He left an example worthy of imitation by all his brethren in the eldership and in the church." He was an active and respected elder. He would go to the church in Newtown on Sunday mornings, build the fire, sweep the church, ring the bell, open the Sunday School and teach a class. He did this all of his life. He was also a Republican in politics and for several years was the township trustee for Richland Township.
James McClure (brother of the first two wives) took sick with a disease that PT had nursed him through two or three time previously. PT had studied medicine for 6 months and nursed the neighbors often. While PT was away at a Presbytery meeting, a relative who had been caring for James saw Catherine and told her PT should be at the McClure's home to help lay out James as he was sure he would die. When PT came home and heard this, he saddled his horse, went to the McClure's home and nursed James all night. He came back home for breakfast, back to McClure's, home for lunch, back to the McClure's, taking his supper with him. He had not been asked to eat and his horse stood outside all night. The same program was repeated the second day until James finally said, "Charles (McClure), go put up PT's horse, and PT was invited to eat supper with them. James McClure was cured of his sickness by the care provided by his brother-in-law, PT McKinney. .
More About Prestley Thompson McKinney: Burial: Unknown, Oak Ridge Cemetery, Wingate, Montgomery County, Indiana. Comment 1: 1833, Moved to Newtown, Indiana. Occupation: Teacher & Farmer.
More About Prestley Thompson McKinney and Catherine McClure: Marriage: Aug 16, 1853, Fountain County, Indiana.
Children of Prestley Thompson McKinney and Catherine McClure are:
+Frank Elwood McKinney, b. May 10, 1854, Newtown, Fountain County, Indiana, d. Sep 29, 1929, Newtown, Fountain County, Indiana.
+Charles Rollin McKinney, b. Jan 24, 1857, Newtown, Fountain County, Indiana, d. Apr 03, 1927, Newtown, Fountain County, Indiana.
+Eva Leolia McKinney, b. Jan 05, 1859, Newtown, Fountain County, Indiana, d. Sep 04, 1912, Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana.
Prestley Thompson McKinney (b. Oct 31, 1809, d. Sep 08, 1874)
Notes for Prestley Thompson McKinney: