William C McKinstry
WILLIAM C. MCKINSTRY, a farmer and dairyman of Kiskiminetas township, Armstrong county, was born in this county, Feb. 8, 1856, son of William and Lydia (Andrew) McKinstry.
William McKinstry was born in Pennsylvania, Oct. 20, 1819, and died Nov. 21, 1902; his wife was born in this State, Aug. 16, 1820, and died Dec. 11, 1904. They were consistent members of the Lutheran Church. At the time of his death the father owned 111 acres of good farming land, which he had operated successfully for a number of years. In all of his transactions he was upright and honorable. A man who kept himself well posted on current events, he read the newspapers carefully, and was able to discuss the problems of the day accurately and logically. A charitable man, he was known for his kindness to the poor and afflicted. Eleven children were born to him, of whom William C. was seventh in the order of birth.
William C. McKinstry attended public school until his nineteenth year, and resided on the farm with his father until the death of the latter. For twenty-seven years he and his wife lived in a log house on the homestead, which still stands, although Mr. McKinstry expects to demolish it in the near future. When his father died, he moved his family into the homestead. During the many years he has been engaged in farming, Mr. McKinstry has given special attention to dairying. He now owns this old farm, which was one of the first to be developed in the township. In all his operations he has met with well merited success, for he has carried on his work intelligently and scientifically, and helped to raise the agricultural standard in his neighborhood.
On Dec. 4, 1879, Mr. McKinstry was married in Armstrong county to Wilhelmina Miller, whose parents were old settlers of Armstrong county. Mr. and Mrs. McKinstry became the parents of children as follows: Ada O., now Mrs. Z. U. Smith; Boyd P.; Clara E., Mrs. John Hilty; Myra, Mrs. Walters; Florence, Mrs. Grant Sewart; Cleascy and Clinton, twins; Emmet, and Earle. In politics Mr. McKinstry is a Democrat, and has served his township as school director and supervisor for a number of years. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and is as respected in that body as he is everywhere else.
Source: Pages 936-937, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed October 1998 by Kathy Zagorac for the Armstrong County Beers Project
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