Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1068 - 1069

AARON McKINSTRY, who resides at the corner of Jackson and Thirteenth streets, Wichita, is the owner of one and one-half acres of land, which, surrounded by city lots, marks his residence. These lots, at present valuation, represent considerable value.

            Preble County, Ohio, was the first home of Mr. McKinstry, where he was born March 21, 1826, according to the record. Educated in a log schoolhouse, reared on a farm, with its usual hardships and privations, were the marked features of his early life, till he and his sister Catherine removed to Mattoon, Ill. Here he purchased a small tract of land for garden and dairy pursuits. This business engaged his energies for eight years. He farmed some there also, and his stock was of the best grade, being Short-horns. His business as a stock-raiser was profitable.

             John and Charity (Gard) McKinstry were his parents. The father was born Dec. 20, 1789, and passed away Sept. 14, 1851. He, too, was a husbandman, and succeeded in gathering much of this world's goods together. The mother was born April 25, 1792, and died May 9, 1875, after a long and useful life. The Baptist Church was a religious home for them, the church honoring her faithful husband with the office of Elder. Nine children, seven boys and two girls, made their household merry - Jacob, William, Joseph, George, James, Aaron, John, Catharine and Sarah. The three eldest and youngest are now deceased. The boys made men of sterling character and moral worth.

             The year 1876 dates the time Aaron McKinstry sold out in Coles County, Ill. He and the faithful sister then went to Wichita, Kan. Each had the good judgment to take a claim of 160 acres of land in Sumner County. The same fall they sold and came to this city. His dwelling is nice, and suited to his correct tastes. He appreciates thoroughbred Jerseys, and is supposed to have the finest four-year-old bull in the State. The grandsire of the latter is at Ontario, Canada. From this herd full-blooded calves are produced for market. This is diversion and a source of profit at one and the same time. The politics of Mr. McKinstry range along the line marked out by the Republican party, in which his sister fully sympathizes.

             The parents of Aaron McKinstry were good Christians. The father was buried in Ohio; the mother in Mattoon, Ill. The War of 1812 found the father a soldier in the ranks, never wounded, but was near Hull when he made his splendid fight. The widow drew a pension during her life for his meritorious service. John, the youngest brother of our subject, was a soldier in the 16th Illinois Cavalry, and took part in several engagements. He was captured at Jonesville, Va., and was in Libby Prison for fourteen months. After the war was over he became a policeman in Mattoon, Ill., and was killed by a ruffian while in the performance of his duty.

[ Home ]