The 1875 Minnesota census showed J. A. McKay (age 38, born in Canada) married to Angelina (age 27, born in Pennsylvania) and living in Alexandria, Minnesota. Children William (age 5, born in Minnesota), Maud (age 3, born in Minnesota), and John (age 2, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1880 United States census showed John A. McKay (age 43, born in Canada, farmer) married to Angeline C. (age 30, born in Pennsylvania) and living in Alexandria, Minnesota. Children Wm. W. (age 9, born in Minnesota), Lorena M. (age 8, born in Minnesota), John S. (age 6, born in Minnesota), Charles R. (age 4, born in Minnesota), Catharine M. (age 2, born in Minnesota), and Mary F. (age 1, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1885 Minnesota census showed J. A. McKay (age 47, born in Canada) married to A. C. (age 36, born in Pennsylvania) and living in Alexandria, Minnesota. Children W. W. (age 14, born in Minnesota), L. M. (age 13, born in Minnesota), J. S. (age 11, born in Minnesota), C. R. (age 9, born in Minnesota), Kate (age 7, born in Minnesota), Hanner (age 6, born in Minnesota), Ronald (age 4, born in Minnesota), A. H. (age 2, born in Minnesota), and Henry (age 0, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
Page 343. John A. McKay is a member of the firm of McKay & Thoreson, dealers in groceries and provisions, Alexandria, Minnesota. Mr. McKay is a native of Ontario, Canada, born in 1837, and is the son of John and Rachel (Maxwell) McKay, who were both natives of Scotland. The father came to Canada in 1821, and lived and died in the city of Perth, where he was honored and
Page 344. esteemed by his fellow-citizens. He held the position of postmaster-general and many other offices, and was the only British officer located in that part of Canada. He was a captain in the British army and led the Seventy-second and Seventy-eighth Corps of English troops at the battle of Waterloo. He had many degrees of honor conferred on him by the British government. The father died in 1839 and the mother departed this life in 1861. They had four children, two of whom are now living – Alexander, who was a lawyer in West Virginia. His property was taken by the confederates in the Civil War and he was taken prisoner. His brother and friends have been able to find no trace of him since his capture. He either died in prison or was killed by the enemy. Another member of the family, James, is now living in Dakota. He is the son of Mrs. McKay by a second marriage. John A., the subject of our sketch, spent his early life on a farm. At sixteen years of age he went to work upon the river Clyde and also spent some time on the river Grand, in Canada, then later came to the State of Wisconsin, where he worked in the river trade on the Willow and Apple rivers. He followed this means of obtaining a livelihood for about eleven years. In 1870 he came to Douglas county, Minnesota, took a homestead within the city limits of the city of Alexandria and had a log house built upon it, in which he lived for some five years. He then built a nice house and a fine barn. Mr. McKay has seen hard times since coming to this country, and has known what it is to be without money. On coming to Alexandria the only cash he had was twenty-five cents in paper money. He had to pawn his wedding coat for board over night and the next day.
From these small beginnings Mr. McKay has risen to be one of the solid, prosperous citizens of Alexandria. He is the only brick maker in or around the city, manufacturing all the brick used here on his farm. He has done an extensive business in this line for the last ten years, employing continually from ten to twelve men. Besides this he engaged in farming and in running a business in the village. He owns a good place of business on Sixth avenue and a building on Main street, two doors south of Walker’s brick block. Mr. McKay’s business ventures have been many and of various kinds. In 1877 he engaged in the furniture business, following the same with good success for eight or nine years. The winters of 1885, ’86 and ’87 he spent in California speculating in land, in which business he made considerable money. His present business was started the 25th of September, 1888. Mr. McKay was married in 1869 to Miss Anna Hainor, of Pennsylvania. They have eleven children – William W., Maud R., John S., Roy C., Mabel, Florence, Ronald, Andrew H., Henry J. B., Sherman B. and Annie B. Mr. McKay is a republican in politics, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F. In political and business circles he is prominent. He was a trustee for the Baptist church for a number of years. He is acknowledged to be one of the most indefatigable workers in any line that will benefit Alexandria, and it at the front in every effort to improve the city. He has held the office of justice of the peace for several years, and, in fact, has always taken an active and prominent part in all public affairs. (Illustrated Album of Biography of the Famous Valley of the Red River of the North and the Park Regions, Alden, Ogle & Company, Chicago, 1889)
The 1900 United States census showed John A. McKay (age 63, born in May 1837 in Canada, farmer) married to Angeline C. (age 50, born in December 1849 in Pennsylvania) and living in Alexandria, Minnesota. Children William W. (age 29, born in October 1870 in Minnesota, brick maker), Maud L. (age 28, born in May 1872 in Minnesota), John S. (age 26, born in November 1873 in Minnesota, shepherd), Katharine M. (age 23, born in February 1877 in Minnesota), Florence M. (age 21, born in April 1879 in Minnesota), Ronald A. (age 18, born in December 1881 in Minnesota, laborer), Andrew H. (age 16, born in November 1883 in Minnesota, laborer), Henry J. B. (age 14, born in August 1885 in Minnesota), Sherman B. (age 12, born in November 1887 in Minnesota), and Elizabeth W. (age 10, born in June 1889 in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1910 United States census showed John A. McKay (age 72, born in Canada, farmer) married to Annie C. (age 61, born in Pennsylvania) and living in Alexandria, Minnesota. Children Andrew H. (age 27, born in Minnesota, farm laborer), Henry J. B. (age 25, born in Minnesota, railroad civil engineer), Sherman B. (age 23, born in Minnesota, farm laborer), and Elizabeth A. (age 21, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
MCKAY, JOHN A., merchant, b. in Ontario, Canada, in 1837; came to Minnesota in 1870, and took a homestead on the site of Alexandria; engaged in the manufacture of brick, and after 1888 in mercantile business. [35.] (Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society, Volume XIV, Minnesota Biographies 1655-1912, Compiled by Warren Upham and Rose Barteau Dunlap, Published by the Society, June, 1912, St. Paul, Minnesota, Page 471)
The 1920 United States census showed John A. McKay (age 82, born in Canada, land agent) married to Annie (age 71, born in Pennsylvania) and living in Alexandria, Minnesota. A daughter, Katherine (age 43, born in Minnesota), also lived with the couple.
John Alexander McKay died October 11, 1925, in Douglas County, Minnesota.