James W. McKinney, minister, educator, and County Superintendent of Schools, was born March 13, 1871. He was the eldest son of James H. and Minerva McKinney, and was born and raised on their family farm near Hudgens in Southern Township a few miles south of Marion. His father, James H. McKinney, enlisted at Marion in Company B, 81st Illinois infantry. His desire to defend the Union cost him months of imprisonment at Andersonville Prison.

James completed his public school education in the Lance district of Southern Township. He prepared for his chosen profession by attending school at the Southern Illinois Normal University at Carbondale and then Valparaiso University in Indiana.

McKinney was just twenty one when he began a series of meetings in the homes of Willie James and Andy Starrick in section 36 of Southern township.  The neighbors gathered of an evening and the young preacher addressed them from the hearthstone. When he grew too warm on one side, he took it as a sign it was time to address the opposite group in the room.

In the spring the meetings adjourned to a brush arbor, and sixty-two converts were baptized. The Free Baptist church was organized, a building erected and named McKinney chapel after their boy preacher by unanimous vote of the congregation when they organized in 1895. James served the congregation seven years.

In 1895, the same year that McKinney chapel was dedicated, Rev. McKinney married Miss Agnes L. Neilson, granddaughter of the preacher whose farm became Neilson Junction.

James was trying to farm as well as preach and when his church members wanted him to hold day services, corn planting time interfered. But men came with eleven teams, broke the ground, and planted the crop all in one day.

Their ingenuity also extended to practical jokes. One night when services were over the preacher was delayed until everyone had gone. He untied his horses and tried to get into his wagon, but its wheels were in the air. Boys had unhitched the team, turned the wagon over, and hitched it up again. Some of the men were called back to right the wagon, and all went home.

From that first church, Rev. Mr. McKinney served many congregations, all Baptist in the Southern Illinois Baptist association. He divided his time with school work, and supervised the schools of Johnston City, Golconda, Carterville, and Creal Springs.

The 1900 census finds James, 27, and Agnes, 22, living in Southern Township with their first child Harvey, 4 years old. James is listed as a minister and the couple has had 2 children, one is living.

In 1901 he served as Pastor of the Hampton Free Baptist church south of Crab Orchard and then again in 1909 and 1910.

The 1910 census locates the McKinney family renting in Carterville while James is teaching public school. The couple has added two more children. Those at home are Harvey, 14, Robert, 7 and Wendell, 10 months of age.

In 1914, James W. McKinney was elected County Superintendent of Schools; he continued to serve in this capacity until 1926.  On his election to Superintendent of Schools for the county, James and Agnes bought a home at 1007 West Main Street (this is where Paul Wilson Realty is located at this date) and began living in Marion.

On October 1, 1918, when the Rev. J.W. McKinney began his work with the Free Baptist Church of Marion at 205 E. Warder St., the building was in bad repair, the small membership of forty people were discouraged and the church had no pastor. With the Rev. McKinney as pastor, the church voted to become the Warder Street Baptist Church.

In 1921, the old building was removed and the present building began. It was completed under Rev. McKinney’s leadership and its membership grew to 528.

The 1920 census reveals that James McKinney and his wife are living at their home at 1007 West Main Street. The couple now list four children living at home. They are Harvey 24, Robert 17, Wendell 11 and Ruth aged 8. James is a pastor at Warder Street and still serving with the county schools.

In the 1930 census, James and Agnes are now in their fifties and have two kids left at home. Wendell is 21 and working as a clothing salesman and Ruth is 18 and attending school.

The 1940 census finds the McKinney in their family home and in their sixties. Their son Harvey is divorced, driving a taxi and living at the home with his 13 year old son Jimmy Lee McKinney. Also in the home is Agnes’s 87 year old, widowed father W.W. Scot Neilson.

In 1946, in ill health, the Rev. McKinney resigned from the Warder Street Baptist Church after 28 years of service to the church and in his 56^th year as minister.

McKinney passed away in 1950 and Agnes died in 1967. McKinney was a Republican, a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and was affiliated also with the Modern Woodmen and Woodmen of the World.

Sam’s Notes:

Harvey Lee McKinney served fifteen months in the World War, born 1896, died April 27, 1980

Robert E. McKinney, was elected to the same office November 8, 1938, a promotion from his work as principal of three Herrin grade schools. Born 1903, death unknown

Wendell McKinney, born 1909, death unknown

Ruth McKinney, born 1912, death unknown

 

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(Data from Williamson County in the World War, WCHS; Pioneer Folks and Places, Barbara Barr Hubbs; Federal Census Records; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 04/15/2013)