Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 919 - 920

ROBERT J. McKIM, a well-known and honored citizen of Wichita, formerly a hotel-keeper, but now living in retirement in his pleasant residence at No. 934 North Lawrence avenue, comes of an honorable ancestry of Scotch-Irish blood, one of whose representatives, the great-grandfather of our subject, was one of the first settlers of Virginia, making his home in that beautiful region near Richmond, his journey to this country being a long and tedious voyage of nearly three months. The family were farmers for many generations, and some of the members were for long years engaged in that occupation near Baltimore. They were always thrifty, prosperous people, and at an early period were slave-holders.

            Joseph McKim, the father of our subject, was born on his father's plantation in Loudoun County, Va., in 1763. After completing his education he learned the trade of tanner, and at the early age of eighteen became a pioneer of Kentucky, contemporary with the celebrated frontiersman, hunter and pioneer, Daniel Boone. He settled in Bourbon County, near Millersburg, and eight miles from Paris, and there took up a farm of 200 acres, and operated an extensive tannery for many years. He married, on the 1st day of January, 1800, Miss Martha McClelland, a Kentucky lady of Scotch-Irish parentage. They became the parents of thirteen children, nine of whom lived to maturity. Samuel H. died at the age of eighty-one, in California; Elisha was a farmer of Lewis County, Mo.; William A. died at Canton, in Northeast Missouri; he had been a merchant for forty years. J. Morton died in Callaway County, Mo.; he was a successful farmer and stock-raiser. Martha married William Holladay; Lucinda married Mr. Throckmorton; Elizabeth married Mr. James; Jane A. married Mr. McClure. Mr. McKim was an educated man, was a gentleman of the old school, and was considered wealthy in those days; he always kept a sideboard well furnished with liquors, and used them in hospitality with great moderation. His family was a very moral one, and it is said that none of them was ever under the influence of liquor or was ever known to use profane language. He was an earnest member of the Christian Church; he was a great reader of the Bible, and, having a good memory, could quote the Scriptures freely. Mr. McKim was a prominent man in his locality, and a leader in politics; he was in every way a meritorious man, of fine character, regular in his habits, and had a time for everything; his descendants may well revere his memory. He always lived on his plantation, and died at the age of seventy-six.

            Robert J. McKim, of this biography, was born Oct. 25, 1825, in the old home of his parents in Kentucky. He received a common-school education, and as in early life he evinced an unmistakable talent for business, he was set to work as a clerk in a store at Millersburg, to learn the details of the mercantile trade. He received a good practical training, and so faithful and efficient was he that at the age of twenty-one be was enabled to buy the largest stock of goods that ever came into Millersburg, and the following year began his successful career as a merchant, remaining in that city in that capacity until 1854. Our subject took unto himself a wife and helpmate in the person of Miss Julia Neville Dorsey, a daughter of the Collector of the Port of New Orleans, Greenbery Dorsey. The marriage took place Jan. 8, 1851. To them were born five children - Joseph Dorsey, Samuel Warren, William. Morton, Julia and Horace Miller; the latter died at the age of one year. The loving wife and mother departed this life in August, 1864. Mr. McKim was married to his present wife, formerly Miss M. E. Harris, daughter of John M. and M. T. (Walters) Harris, of Missouri, formerly of Kentucky. The marriage took place Feb. 1, 1866.

            After leaving Millersburg, in October, 1854, Mr. McKim settled on a farm in Callaway County, Mo.; this change was made on account of his health, and he remained there, actively and prosperously engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, for seven years. He then went into the mercantile business in Millersburg. Subsequently he went to Columbia, Mo., and there became the proprietor of the Central House, and after that became the owner of the Carroll House, Carrollton, continuing in the hotel business in different places in Missouri until 1883. In that year be came to Wichita, and for some time managed the Tremont House with excellent success, his wide experience, ready tact and genial courtesy making him a popular host. Mr. McKim is now living retired from active business, having accumulated a sufficiency of this world's goods to enable him to pass his remaining years in ease, surrounded with the comforts of life, and enjoying the respect and confidence of his fellowmen in the highest degree. Mr. McKim is a true-hearted man, an earnest believer in the doctrines of Christianity, and from very early years has been an active member of the Christian Church; politically, he is a stanch Democrat, and socially, he is a prominent Mason, and has taken all the Chapter degrees.

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