ALEXANDER McKINLEY, retired jeweler, Washington, is a native of the borough, born January 4, 1817, a son of Alexander, who was born in this county. Samuel McKinley, grandfather of our subject, was a pioneer in North Strabane township, where he bought land and passed the remainder of a very busy life. He married a daughter of Thomas Scott, who was the first prothonotary and the first representative in Congress from Washington county. Alexander McKinley had several children, of whom Samuel went to Ohio, and Alexander, the father of our subject, remained in his native county, where he learned the trade of mechanic, working chiefly at furniture making. He married Hettie, daughter of Abednego Jones, a tailor, whose trade was mostly among the Quakers, and who came from Philadelphia to Washington. He was in the former city when the British captured it, and was arrested by them as a spy, but was released; he died in Washington. Alexander McKinley died suddenly in middle life while at dinner; his widow survived him several years, passing away in Washington. They were the parents of ten children, of whom three sons and four daughters were living at the time of their mother's death; Now (1892) there are surviving one son, our subject, and one daughter, Clara, widow of William Bryson, of Washington. Alexander McKinley, whose name commences this sketch, received his education at the public schools in his native city, and afterward attended Washington and Jefferson College. He learned the jewelers' trade, and in 1840 opened a store for himself, continuing until 1886. On April 27, 1852, Mr. McKinley was married to Margaret D. Hayes, of West Granby, Conn., who was visiting her brother when she met her future husband. She died in 1871, the mother of eight children: Frances E.; Thomas, in eastern Pennsylvania; Lucian, a physician in Ohio; Frank B.; Samuel, in Washington; and Alexander, Ella and Alice, who died young, the latter preceding her mother to the grave. Mr. McKinley's next marriage was on January 30, 1872, with Mrs. C. J. Dalbey, whose maiden name was Bailey, an English lady, a resident of Wheeling, W. Va. Politically, our subject was first a Whig, and since the organization of the party has been a stanch Republican, standing firm in the ranks, and is now an uncompromising Protectionist. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. F. B. McKinley, the third son of Alexander McKinley, was born April 26, 1860, in Washington, Penn., and attended the Union High School, afterward studying Latin under the preceptorship of Rev. George P. Wilson. He commenced to learn the jewelry and watchmaking trade with his father, and continued with him until February, 1886, when Alexander McKinley retired. In March, 1886, he opened business on his own account. On September 22, 1886, he was united in marriage with Miss Queen M., daughter of David F. Ross, of Washington, and a member of one of the oldest families of the county. She is a graduate of the Union High School, and of the Washington Female seminary. One child, Ethelynn May, has come to bless this happy union. Mr. McKinley is a Republican, a member of the Improved Order of Heptasophs, and a deacon of the Second Presbyterian Church of Washington. He is one of the most popular rising young business men in the borough, and has surrounded himself with hosts of friends.

Text taken from page 980 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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