From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 871-872
 
A. E. McKINNEY.  If any of the people who go to make up our cosmopolitan 
civilization have better habits of life than those who came originally from 
far-away Scotland, the biographer is in ignorance of it.  One will find upon 
making a study of these people that the qualities of thrift, stability, honor, 
soundness of judgment, from the principal basic elements.  Such qualities in 
the inhabitants of any nation will in the end alone make that nation great, 
affording such qualities as will enrich any clime and place any land at the 
top of the countries of the world, in the scale of elevated humanity.  Of this 
excellent people came A. E. McKINNEY, farmer of Darien township, Walworth 
county.  He comes of a race that produced such giant intellects as Scott, 
Miller, Burns, Wallace and Bruce.  He comes of a race that is famous for its 
original research in the various realms of science, invention, art, 
literature, to say nothing of the practical everyday things of life.  The 
Scotch blood is found in many of the leaders in every state and almost every 
section of the country.
 
Mr. McKINNEY was born on August 27, 1862, in Greenup, Scotland.  He is the son 
of William and Margaret (TAGGART) McKINNEY, both natives of Scotland, where 
they grew to maturity, received their educational training and were married.  
They emigrated to America in 1886, first settling in Allen's Grove, Walworth 
county, Wisconsin, where they established a good home and there the mother 
still resides, the death of the father having occurred on July 14, 1893.  He 
has long been engaged in railroad work, but most of his life was spent in 
farming.  
 
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. William McKINNEY, named in order of 
birth as follows: A. E., subject of this sketch; E. is deceased; Alex. lives 
at Capron, Illinois; William was next in order; James lives at Allen's Grove, 
this state, as do also Mrs. Mary EVANS and Mrs. Anna SIDDLE; Mrs. Sarah 
BARNHART lives at Joliet, Illinois; Mrs. Lillie EVANS lives at Freeport, 
Illinois.
 
A. E. McKINNEY, of this sketch, grew to manhood in Scotland and there he 
received his education.  When nineteen years old he emigrated to America, in 
1881, first settled at Greensburg, New Jersey, where he worked as a gardener, 
spending about a year there, then, in 1882, he came to Wisconsin and settled 
at Allen's Grove, Walworth county, and here he purchased one hundred and sixty 
acres of good land in Darien township, section 10, where he has since 
resided.  He has added many excellent improvements on the place from time to 
time and kept it well tilled.  He keeps a good grade of live stock and has a 
splendid set of buildings on the place.
 
Mr. McKINNEY is a Republican in his political belief and while he takes the 
interest of a loyal citizen in public affairs he has never sought political 
honors.  In religious matter he belongs to the Presbyterian church, and in 
fraternal he holds membership wtih the Woodmen.
 
Mr. McKINNEY was married on November 18, 1890, to Lizzie GREGG, daughter of 
John and Ann GREGG, a highly respected family of Darien township, and to the 
subject and wife four children have been born, named as follows: Archie, Jr., 
Earl, May and Lillian.
 
Submitted by Carol