William McKinlay and Sons

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: California, United States
Surname/tag: McKinlay, McKinley

This page contains sources and newspaper articles in an effort to prevent any conflagration of the McKinlay men who lived in California around 1870s-1960s.

Contents 1 William McKinlay, the Father 1.1 Census Records 1.2 Will 1.3 Codicil 2 Mother is Burrows 3 James McKinlay 4 Edward McKinlay 5 William McKinlay, Jr. 6 Sources

William McKinlay, the Father

William McKinlay was born in Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, Scotland 21 September 1841.^[1] He came first to Canada and then to California and Nevada. He had three sons, James, William, and Edward.

Census Records

1851 - Torbush Cottage, Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, Scotland.^[2]

1861 - Faimegare Colliery, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland.^[3]

1880 - Aurora, Esmeralda, Nevada, United States.^[4]

1910 - Santa Rosa, Sonoma, California, United States. NOTE: This record also states he emigrated in 1868 which makes sense if he was living in Canada when he married in 1864.^[5]

Will

This is a copy of the will submitted to probate.

Dimond Alameda County, California

I William Mc Kinlay hereby make my last will - March 24th, 1906.

    FIRSTLY, I hereby give and bequeath to my son James Mc Kinlay of the City and County of San Francisco, my gold ring.

    SECONDLY, I hereby give and bequeath to my son William Mc Kinlay of Bodie, Mono County, California, my burial lot in Mt Olivet Cemetery, San Mateo County, California, reserving right of burial in aforesaid lot, if she should survive me, of my wife Helen May Mc Kinlay. I also give and bequeath to my son William Mc Kinlay, my gold watch and chain and masonic and Elke emblems attached to same.

    THIRDLY, I hereby give and bequeath to my son Edward Mc Kinlay my gold nugget pin.

    LASTLY, I hereby appoint my said wife Helen May Mc Kinlay Executrix of this will without bonds and I give her power to sell, lease, mortgage or otherwise dispose of my estate or any portion of it as she may desire, without the necessity of procuring an order of Court, and as fully as I myself could do if living, and hereby and hereby revoke all wills by me heretofore made.

    I declare that this will is entirely written, dated and signed by my hand.

William Mc Kinlay^[6]

This is the will that was rejected by the courts. Interestingly, or perhaps scandalously, it is dated later than the will that was submitted for probate!

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. I, William McKinlay, of the City of Santa Rosa, County of Sonoma, State of California, of the age of sixty-nine years, and being of sound and disposing mind and memory, and not acting under duress,menace, fraud or undue influence of any person whatever, do make, publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner following, that is to say:

    Firstly. I direct that my body be decently buried with proper regard to my station and condition in life and the circumstances of my estate.

    Secondly, I direct that my executors hereinafter named as soon as they have sufficient funds in their hands pay my funeral expenses and expenses of my last sickness, and that they then pay all of my just debts.

    Thirdly. I give and vequeath to my son James McKinlay, of San Francisco, an undivided one fifth of all property of which I may die seized or or possessed, real, personal or mixed, and wheresoever situated except as otherwise hereafter provided.

    Fourthly. I give and bequeath to my son William McKinlay all of my right, title and interest in that certain burial lot in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in the county of San Mateo, State of California; and I also give an bequeath to him my watch and chain; and I further give and bequeath to my said son, William McKinlay, an undivided two fifths of all of the rest and residue of my property, real and personal and mixed, and wheresoever situated.

    Fifthly. I give, devise and bequeath to my son, Edward, an undivided two fifths of all of the rest and residue of my property, wheresoever situated, and be the same real, personal or mixed, other than my said watch and chain and the said cemetery lot.

    Lastly. I hereby nominate and appoint T. J. Butts, of Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, and Edward mcKinlay and William McKinlay, two of my sons aforesaid, as the executors of this my last will and testament, to act without bonds either upon qualifying or upon the sale of any property, and hereby revoke all former wills by me made.

    In witness whereov, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 13th day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eleven.

William McKinlay (SEAL)

Codicil

    II, William McKinlay, of the City of Santa Rosa, County of Sonoma, State of California, of the age of sixty-nine years, being of sound and disposing mind and memory and not acting under duress, menace, fraud or undue influence of any person whatever, do mak, publish and declare this my codicil to my last will and testament in the manner following, that is to say,

    I hereby give and bequeath to my wife, Helen May McKinlay, an undivided one third interest in the rooming house furniture and fixtures known as the hotel Piedmont, No. 613 A Fourth Street, in the City of Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, and it is my desire that the other legatees named in my will do permit the said Helen May McKinlay to purchase the entire property in said rooming house furniture and fixtures at a reasonable price should she wish to do so. And I hereby declare that I have upon my life a policy of Two Thousand Dollars which is made in favor of the said Helen May McKinlay, which will permit her to purchase the said property if she so desires.

Dated June 28, A.D. 1911.

William McKinlay (SEAL)^[7]

WM M'KINLEY PASSES AWAY

Death Occurred Yesterday Afternoon at Santa Rosa

    Information was received in this city last night that William McKinley Sr. had passed away after a short illness at his home at Santa Rosa. Mr. McKinley several years ago suffered a severe illness from which at the time it was thought that he could not recover, but his wonderful constitution brought him through the illness, but he was undoubtedly left in a weakened condition so that he could not successfully combat a second severe attack.

    William McKinley was a native of Scotland, where he was born some seventy years ago. When a young man he came to America and took up the occupation of mining. In this he was successful and was regarded as one of the best miners who ever came to the Nevada district. For a number of years he was the superintendent of the Providence mine and he put the mine on a paying basis and maintained it as a dividend payer for a number of years.

    During the big Champion-Home mining suit he was an important witness for the Home company, his knowledge of the ground workings of the Providence, which at that time were not open, and his general assistance to the Home company in the litigation which terminated in a verdict for the Champion company.

    Mr. McKinley is survived by a widow and three sons by a former wife. They are Edward M., William Jr., and James McKinley. The deceased was an honored member of Nevada City Lodge of Elks, which organization he joined a number of years ago. The funeral will take place tomorrow in Santa Rosa under the auspices of Santa Rosa Lodge of Elks.^[8]

Mm. McKINLAY DIED SATURDAY

Funeral Under the Auspices of Santa Rosa Elks

    Death claimed as its own Saturday afternoon William mcKinlay, proprietor of the Piedmont lodging house. Deceased had been a sufferer for the past six months. The final summons released him from long confinement. Mr. McKinlay had resided here for the past four and a half years and had conducted the Piedmont lodging house during that time. He had resided in America most of his life, but was born in Scotland. When he came to America he settled in Nova Scotia. He came to California in 1864 and became a miner and since that time until coming to Santa Rosa he resided in the mining districts of this state and Nevada. He was 70 years old.

    Mr. McKinley was a Mason and an Elk. He belongs to a Masonic lodge in Nova Scotia and the Santa Rosa lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He joined the Elks in Nevada and affiliated with the local lodge after coming here.

    A widow and three sons are left to mourn his departure. The sons are James Mckinlay of San Francisco, William McKinlay, Jr., of Berkeley, and Edward McKinlay of San Jose.

    The funeral was held on Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, from the funeral apartments of Lafferty & Smith, and the services were conducted by the Elks. The remains will be shipped to Mt. Olivet cemetery on Tuesday morning for interment.

    The floral designs were many and beautiful, and those especialy handsome were the ones sent by the Elks' lodge and by a friend, J. H. Polmere of San Francisco.^[9]

First publication Dec. 14, 1911

    In the Superior Court, in and for the County of Sonoma, State of California. In the Matter of the Estate of William Mckinlay, Deceased. Notice of Time and Place for Proving Will. - C. C. P., Sec 1303.

    Notice is hereby given that Tuesday, the 26th day of December, A. D. 1911, at 10 o'clock A. M., of said day, and the court room of said Superior Court, in Department Two thereof, in the City of Santa Rosa, County of Sonoma, State of California, is hereby fixed and appointed as the time and place for proving the will of said William McKinlay, deceased, and for the hearing by the Court of the application of T. J. Butts, William McKinlay and Edward McKinlay, for the issuance to them of letters testamentary thereon.

    Dated December 14th, A. D. 1911

(Seal) W. W. FELT, Jr., County Clerk.

By W. E. Saunders, Deputy Clerk.

T. J. Butts, Esq., Attorney for Petitioner.^[10]

WM. McKINLAY WILL IS DECLARED INVALIDATED

    SANTA ROSA. May 23. - The will of the late William McKinlay was declared invalid in Judge Thomas C. Denny's court yesterday. H. S. Welch of San Francisco and his wife testified that McKinlay had told them of a prenuptial agreement, in which he was to give all his property to his widow, Helen may McKinlay. In the will, which was declared invalide, the testator gave his property to his three sons, William, James and Edward McKinlay, leaving the widow practically nothering. There is another will in existence which will be probated, giving all the property to the widow, with the exception of some family jewelry, which is bequeathed to the sons.^[11]

M'KINLAY WIDOW WINS WILL CONTEST

Sons of Deceased Providence Superintendent Fail to Get Father's Estate.

    Sometime since there was an item published in these columns of the contest of a will of the late William McKinlay, formerly superintendent of the Providence Mine. The will was offered for probate by the three sons of the deceased, William, James and Edward McKinlay. In the will, which was declared invalid by the court upon the contest by the widow, helen May McKinlay, the property was left to the sons and the widow was cut off without anything.

    Dr. H. S. Welch and wife, also former residents of this city, testified to a prenuptial agreement between McKinlay and his wifie, in which McKinlay provided that all the property should belong to the widow. McKinlay told the Welches of this agreement and it was upon their testimony that the will was set aside.

    Another will made by the deceased, in which he left all of his property to his wife, with the exception of some family jewels bequeathed to the sons, will now be offered for probate in the superior court of Sonoma county.^[12]

Mother is Burrows

According to Edward McKinlay's death record, his mother's maiden name was Burrows.^[13]

A marriage between William McKinley, age 23, and Sydonia Burrows, age 21, was solemnized according to the rites of ceremonies of the Church of England on 25 August 1864 in Albion Mines, in the County of Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada. The bride was born in Albion Mines, daughter of Joseph & Eliza Burrows, and the groom was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, son of James & Mary McKinlay.^[14]

Died.

    McKINLAY - In this city, February 5, 1899, Sydonia, beloved wife of William McKinlay, and mother of james, William and Edward McKinlay, a native of Nova Scotia, aged 55 years 7 months and 7 days.^[15]

James McKinlay

McKinlay - In Oakland, Sept. 27, 1949, James mcKinlay, beloved husband of Jesse B. McKinlay, loving father of Mrs. Eleanor S. Patterson, Mrs. Margaret Bordwell, William, E. J., and james T. McKinlay, grandfather of Eleanor M. Robinson, William and james MCKinlay, great grandfather of Eleanor B. Robinson, brother of Edward B. McKinlay. A native of Nova Scotia. A member of Occidental Lodge No. 22, F & A. M. Al Kader Temple, Mystic Shrine, Independent Order of Forresters of San Francisco, and Oak Lawn Bowling Club.

    Friends are invited to attend the funeral services Friday afternoon, Sept. 30, at 1 o'clock in the Chapel of Albert Brown Co., 3476 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, under auspices of Occidental Lodge F. & A. M. Interment, Mountain View Cemetery.^[16]

Edward McKinlay

PERSONALS.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward McKinlay and the latter's mother, Mrs. Bastian, went to Nevada City Wednesday.^[17]

A couple of notes on this news article - Mrs. Bastian was probably Mrs. Baston, a simple misspelling. Being that this appeared in an Oakland newspaper infers that that is where they lived in 1897.

Resigned His Position.

    Tomorrow Edward M. McKinlay will take his departure for San Francisco, where he will manage the St. Nicholas Pharmacy, which was recently purchased by his father. Mr. McKinlay has resigned his position as assayer at the Providence mine, which he has most efficiently filled for the past five years. His wife and family will leave in about six weeks to take up their residence at the metropolis. Mr. McKinlay has many well wishers here.^[18]

William McKinlay, Jr.

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, (FamilySearch Record: XTLH-RYM : accessed 29 December 2023), William McKinley baptism on 17 Oct 1841 (born 21 Sep 1841), son of James McKinley & Mary McNiel, in Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom; citing Digital film/folder number: 007908726; FHL microfilm: 1042968; Record number: 14904095.
2. ↑ 1851 Census: "1851 Scotland Census," database, (Ancestry Record 1076 #1904496 : accessed 29 December 2023); citing Parish: Cambusnethan; ED: 12; Page: 29; Line: 6; Roll: CSSCT1851_150; Year: 1851; Household schedule number: 90; Roll: CSSCT1851_150.
3. ↑ 1861 Census: "1861 Scotland Census," database, (Ancestry Record 1080 #289186 : accessed 29 December 2023); citing Parish: Hamilton; ED: 21; Page: 25; Line: 9; Roll: CSSCT1861_115; Registration Number: 647; Household schedule number: 108; Roll: CSSCT1861_115.
4. ↑ 1880 Census: "United States Census, 1880," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: MDCZ-3G3 : accessed 29 December 2023) FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YBL-9MDD, W Mc Kinley (38), married, Miner, head of household in Aurora, Esmeralda, Nevada, United States. Born in Scotland; citing Volume: 1; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T9; Affiliate Line Number: 00089; Digital film/folder number: 005161397; FHL microfilm: 1254758; Image number: 228; Sheet number: 110; Sheet letter: B.
5. ↑ 1910 Census: "1910 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry Record 7884 #1887487 : accessed 29 December 2023); citing Year: 1910; Census Place: Santa Rosa Ward 5, Sonoma, California; Roll: T624_109; Page: 4b; Enumeration District: 0161; FHL microfilm: 1374122.
6. ↑ Will: "California, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1850-1953," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry Record 8639 #616417 : accessed 29 December 2023); citing Probate Records, 1854-1931; Index to Wills, 1852-1955; Author: Sonoma County (California). County Clerk.
7. ↑ Probate: "California, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1850-1953," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry Record 8639 #616412 : accessed 29 December 2023); citing Probate Records, 1854-1931; Index to Wills, 1852-1955; Author: Sonoma County (California). County Clerk.
8. ↑ The Morning Union (Grass Valley, California); digital images, Newspapers.com (Newspapers Clip: 137354292 : accessed 29 December 2023); citing Sunday, 12 November 1911, pg. 6, col. 2.
9. ↑ Santa Rosa Republican (Santa Rosa, California); digital image, Newspapers.com (Newspapers Clip: 137355379 : accessed 28 December 2023); citing Monday, 13 November 1911, pg. 5, col. 3.
10. ↑ Santa Rosa Republican (Santa Rosa, California); digital images, Newspapers.com (Newspapers Clip: 137354455 : accessed 28 December 2023); citing Wednesday, 20 December 1911, pg. 7, col. 3.
11. ↑ Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California); digital images, Newspapers.com (Newspapers Clip: 137354319 : accessed 28 December 2023); citing Thusday, 23 May 1912, pg. 10, col. 7.
12. ↑ The Morning Union (Grass Valley, California); digital images, Newspapers.com (Newspapers Clip: 137355698 : accessed 28 December 2023); citing Saturday, 25 May 1912, pg. 5, col. 5.
13. ↑ Death: "California, U.S., Death Index, 1940-1997," database, (Ancestry Record 5180 #4852495 : accessed 28 December 2023); citing Place: Santa Clara; Date: 6 Nov 1961.
14. ↑ Marriage: "Canada, Nova Scotia Marriages, 1864-1918," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: WHNV-LWZM : accessed 29 December 2023) FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89N8-234L, Sydonia Burrows (21) marriage to William McKinley (23) on 25 Sep 1864 in Nova Scotia, Canada; citing Digital film/folder number: 007597258; Image number: 733.
15. ↑ The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, California); digital images, "Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers," Library of Congress (https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1899-02-07/ed-1/seq-13/ : accessed 29 December 2023); citing Tuesday, 7 February 1899, pg. 13, col. 7.
16. ↑ The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, California); digital images, Newspapers.com (Newspapers Clip: 137356868 : accessed 28 December 2023); citing Thursday, 29 September 1949, pg. 17, col. 7.
17. ↑ Oakland Enquirer (Oakland, California); digital images, Newspapers.com (Newspapers Clip: 137355595 : accessed 28 December 2023); citing Saturday, 24 April 1897, pg. 4,, col. 4.
18. ↑ The Morning Union (Grass Valley, California); digital images, Newspapers.com (Newspapers Clip: 137354974 : accessed 28 December 2023); citing Saturday, 14 April 1900, pg. 5, col. 3.