J. B. McKinney

    J. B. McKinney came to Fowler, Benton County, Indiana, in March, 1881, erected the building on the corner of Fifth and Adams Streets, and in connection with his brother, who conducts a similar business at Red Key, Indiana, opened a hardware and implement store. He has one of the largest and best selected stocks of hardware and implements in the county, and is agent for the Moline plows, Deer's corn planters, and McCormick's harvesters, and also carries a very large stock of shelf hardware and stoves. In 1882, he transacted a business of $41,000, and during 1888 will exceed that amount by more than $4,000. Mr. McKinney was born in Jay County, Indiana, December 11, 1850, and is one of nine children in the family of Joseph J. and Elizabeth (Maitlan) McKinney. the former traces his ancestry to four brothers who came to Pennsylvania from Ireland about two hundred years ago; the latter is of Scotch descent and both are natives of Ohio, but removed to jay County, Indiana, where the former practices law, and oversees several farms of which he is the owner. he was four years a member of the Indiana State Legislature.

    J. B. McKinney was married, November 10, 1872, to Sarah J. Dunn, a native of Franklin County, Ohio, and they have three children -Arthur D., Nellie A., and Harley J. Both parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, Mr. McKinney is a Democrat.

Source: Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. F.A. Battey & Co., 1883.