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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County
Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908

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The Biography of Joseph McKINLEY 

Transcribed exactly according to the original complete text by Joan Achille and Alice Stipak. 

[Surnames: McKINLEY, PRATHER] 

[Page 988] 

    
McKINLEY, Joseph.--Representing the third generation from John McKinley, who came from Ohio, and at an early day settled in Bond County, Ill., and afterward in Fulton County, the present Joseph McKinley was born on the farm he now owns and occupies on Sect. 34, Woodland Township, April 15, 1863. He is a son of Calvin McKinley, whose biography, as well as a sketch of the grandfather's life, appears on another pages of this work. 
    
Joseph McKinley remained at home until his marriage, April 17, 1893 to Magethe Prather, a native daughter of Woodland Township, and after the death of his father he purchased the old homestead of 130 acres, which he proceeded to generally improve. His present beautiful surroundings are largely of his own making, for he has planted and fostered an abundance of shade and fruit trees, shrubs and flowers, and has installed facilities for general farming and stock-raising on a large scale. He is especially interested in high-grade stock including horses, cattle and hogs, and conducts his farm upon scientific and modern principles, maintaining neatness, order and a general atmosphere of thrift. 
    
Mr. and Mrs. McKinley are the parents of two children, of whom Aubrey was born April 10, 1899, and Clarence W. June 14, 1903. Mr. McKinley finds time to cultivate the social quality and is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America of Astoria. In politics he is a Democrat, but aside from the formality of casting his vote upon well-considered public questions, is not active in political matters. He is one of the open-minded and well-posted men of his township, an advocate of progress and enlightenment and a stanch supporter of honest business and clean social life.