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Topic: Lost McKay clan
Conf: Dickinson County Queries, Msg: 8158
From: Deleted User
Date: 12/13/1999 08:46 PM

Tracing Donald MCKAY, a gg uncle after whom my gfather, father, and I were named. Following are the facts that define the dead end I've reached:
I have located a Donald McKay (and sister Margaret (Maggie) McKay and brother Neil
McKay) in the census records for Dickinson Co. However, they disappear from the areas records in the 1880's. 1870 US Census lists Donald as a 24 yr. old farmer in Sherman Twp, Dickinson Co. 1875 Kansas Census lists Donald as 29 yrs. old and in agriculture in Ridge Twp, Dickinson Co. 1880 US Census lists Donald as a 36 yr. old stock raiser in Hope Twp, Dickinson Co. with a wife, Margaret A., age 22, housekeeping, b. Canada, father b. Ireland, mother b. Penn.; William, son, age 5, b. Kan.; John Hays, son, age 3, b. Kan.; Myrtle A., dau., age 1, b. Kan.
Church records of the First Presbyterian Church of Junction City, KS list
Williamina McKay (sister of Donald) as a member in 1872, then as dismissing her
membership to Abilene, in Dickinson Co., KS in 1884. Could not find her name on any
census or cemetery records in Abilene. Did she really move there?
1885 Kansas Census does not list Donald, but lists his four children as living with D.
S. and Margaret Edsall. D.S. is a 33 yr old farmer in Hope Twp. Margaret is a 26 yr. old female, CAN, MO. William B. McKay, m., 9. Kan.; John H. McKay, m., 8, Kan.; Myrtle A. McKay, f., 6, Kan.; Ada B. McKay, f., 4, Kan.
Is the 1885 Margaret Edsall the 1880 Margaret A. McKay, Donald's wife? Regardless, I assume that Donald temporarily or permanently left his family or died between 1880 and 1885. It is possible that his wife was remarried, to D.S. Edsall.
Related (?) facts: It was during this period (1882) that Donald's brother John McKay immigrated from Scotland to Illinois. Also during this time (March 30, 1884), Donald's sister Williamina left the First Presbyterian Church in Junction City, KS, to depart for Abilene, KS. Where was Donald?
1886 Dickinson County Directory lists no McKays in the County. 1900 US Census lists no McKays in Dickinson Co., KS. Cemetery records at the Dickinson County Historical Society show no McKays; where did they go?


DON MCKAY
mckay.donald@mcleodusa.net