Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Page 780 

WILLIAM J. MCKEY, of the firm of McKey & Johnson, hardware dealers of Valley Center, is a native of Knox County, Ohio, and was born Aug. 8, 1849. He is the son of Andrew and Anna (Lowry) McKey, both of whom were natives of Ireland, who had come to this country in 1840. Immediately on landing in America they located at Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio, where his father carried on the business of shoemaking. The latter had been bred to the trade of shoemaker in the old country, and followed it after coming to the United States for ten years. He died in Missouri about 1871, when he had attained the age of fifty-six, years. The mother of our subject survives her husband, and is making her home with her son George W., who is a merchant and banker at Howard, Elk Co., Kan. They had a family of six children, four boys and two girls -- George W., Elizabeth J., John A., Anna; W. J., the subject of our sketch, and Robert S., who died in infancy.

            Mr. McKey, of whom we write, remained at home until he had attained his twentieth year, up to which time he was employed in drawing the elements of an excellent education from the common schools of his native county, and in assisting his father in the labors on the farm. After leaving the parental roof he first engaged in farming in Missouri and Kansas, which vocation he followed for about twelve years. He came to Sedgwick County in 1882, locating in Valley Center, and commenced in the mercantile business, in which he is now engaged. The firm of which he is a member are the leading dealers in their line in the northern part of the county, and carry the largest stock of hardware anywhere in this locality outside of the city of Wichita.

            On the 16th of May, 1870, Mr. McKey entered into a matrimonial alliance with Miss Jennie E. Wilcox, a native of Callaway County, Mo., and a daughter of Harvey and Rosa M. (Crowson) Wilcox. Her father was engaged in farming in Missouri, but he is now numbered with the dead. Her mother is still living, and is the parent of six children, of whom Mrs. McKey was the fourth in order of birth. Two children have come to brighten the fireside of Mr. and Mrs. McKey -- William A. and George Robert. One daughter, Rosa Belle, was given to them for a short time, but was called home when she was four years of age.

            The subject of our sketch is a Democrat in his political faith, but has no aspirations for public office. He is a very influential and prominent member of the I. O. O. F., and is the present V. G. of the Subordinate Lodge, and is also a member of the Encampment. As a merchant he has the confidence of the community, and as a man their utmost respect and esteem, and his commercial probity is almost proverbial in the township.

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