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Washington County >> 1887 Index Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington
County, Iowa M J. P. McKenzie, Justice of the Peace, and notary public, Ainsworth, Iowa, was born in Beaver County, Pa., Feb. 25, 1821, and is a son of Allen and Deborah (Morton) McKenzie, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch descent, his grandfather McKenzie coming from Scotland and settling in Pennsylvania. The latter is a native of Ireland. They reared a family of eight children, only two of whom are now living -- Margaret, the widow of David Matthews, and our subject. Both parents died in Pennsylvania several years ago. The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm, and for about twenty-five years after reaching his maturity was engaged as a farmer, generally working on a farm in the summer and teaching school in the winter months. His education was obtained in subscription schools of his native State, with the addition of six months at a High School. On the 16th of October, 1849, he was united in marriage with Miss Phoebe McClelland, a daughter of John and Anna E. (Keister) McClelland, the former of Irish and the latter of French and German descent. She was born in Butler County, Pa., July 19, 1831. They have has three children: Josephine E., widow of Dr. Milton Keister, of Illinois; Anna R., the widow of Rev. James P. Tedford, a minister of the United Presbyterian Church, who has one child, J. Paul; and Madge M., who is the wife of Dr. G. A. Solomon, of Beatrice, Neb. Mr. McKenzie came to Washington County, Iowa, in 1864, and settled in Washington, where he remained seven years engaged in the mercantile trade. In 1872 he came to Ainsworth, where he has since continued to reside. In 1874 he was selected Justice of the Peace, which position he has since continued to hold, and for the past eight years has been a notary public. Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Ainsworth, Mr. McKenzie being one of its Ruling Elders.
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