Snyder Family 2016 - Person Sheet
NameJohn McKay 
Birth11 May 1857, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada
Death22 Jul 1940, Whatcom Co., Washington329
FatherDaniel McKay
MotherMary Matthison
Spouses
Birth30 Dec 1873, Pennsylvania
FatherChristian Sebold Rukgaber (1825-1885)
MotherMary Gottlieben Pflueger (1832-1887)
Marriage30 Oct 1887
Notes for John McKay
925JOHN McKAY
By a few general observations may be conveyed some idea of the character and worthy career of John McKay, who for many years has stood among the industrious and enterprising farmers of the Nooksack valley. He has pursued the even tenor of his way in a quiet and unostentatious manner, attending strictly to his own affairs and endeavoring to perform his full part as a citizen of this favored community. He was born on Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, on the 11th of May, 1857, and is a son of Daniel and Mary (Matthison) McKay, the father a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and the mother born on one of the islands along the western coast of that country. Daniel McKay was brought to Nova Scotia in 1830, when eight years of age, and was reared to the life of a farmer, which vocation he followed there during the remainder of his life, his death occurring November 8, 1886. His wife died February 8, 1910. Of the twelve children who blessed their union, six are living, namely: Christina and Norman, who live in Nova Scotia; Isabella, who lives in Massachusetts; John, the subject of this sketch; James, who lives at Clearbrook, Whatcom county; and Mrs. Annie Hayden, of Bellingham, Whatcom county.
John McKay received his education in the public schools of Nova Scotia and remained at home until 1881, when he came to the United States, locating first in Pennsylvania, where he was employed in the woods for about nine years. In October, 1890, he came to Whatcom county, stopping in Bellingham for a few months, and in the spring of 1891 he bought fifteen acres of raw land at Clearbrook, in Nooksack township. He immediately entered upon the task of clearing the land, though in the meantime he accepted other employment to help pay expenses. He built a house on the place in 1892 and later built an addition to it. The small barn first erected was replaced by a larger and better one in 1912. In 1896 he bought forty acres of land adjoining his first purchase, and he now now has all of the land cleared and under cultivation. He keeps from fifteen to twenty good cows, some of them pure bred, and a pure bred registered bull, and he raises good crops of hay and grain, as well as corn sufficient to fill his silo, which was built in 1917. He has been very successful in the cultivation of his corn, on which he received first prize at the Northwestern Washington fair in 1925. His farm is well improved in every respect and is considered one of the most desirable ranches in this locality.
On October 30, 1887, Mr. McKay was married to Miss Mary Rukgaber, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of Christian and Mary (Plfuger) Rukgaber, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father came to the United States about 1850, locating in Pennsylvania, where he was successfully engaged in farming. He died there January 23, 1885, and his wife passed away July 27, 1887. They were the parents of ten children, namely: Henry, Fred, Minnie, Christ, Sophie, Caroline, Washington,deceased, Mary, John and Margaret. To Mr. and Mrs. McKay have been born ten children, as follows: Mrs. Mary E. Weide, who is the mother of four children - Winifred, born May 2, 1911; Theodore, born August 18, 1912; Wesley, born January 4, 1914; and Milton, born May 30, 1921; James, the next in the family, who was born August 10, 1893; Violet, who was born March 30, 1896, died August 5, 1907; Helen, who was born April 26, 1901, and died July 14, 1908; Douglas, born December 12, 1903, who is at home; Ruth, born June 19, 1906, who was married November 18, 1925, to Jasper Stephens; and four who died in infancy. James is a veteran of the World war, having entered the Canadian army immediately on the outbreak of the war. He enlisted at Ontario in the Yorkshire Cavalry, with which command he was sent to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and in the fall of 1914 was sent to England. He was in training camp there at Champlain for three months and then entered upon active service in France. For two years he was in the front line trenches and he received wounds in two engagements. He was invalided in hospitals in France for three months and spent three weeks in English hospitals and in 1917 was honorably discharged from the Canadian army, being crippled and unfit for further service. He is now living in Michigan and is employed as a traveling salesman.
Mr. McKay is a member of the Whatcom County Dairymen's Association and takes a deep interest in everything affecting the farmers and dairymen of the county. He is a broadminded, thoughtful man, keeping in close touch with the issues of the day, and holds a place among the influential men of his community. Though quiet and unassuming, he possesses a forceful personality, which has made its impress on his fellow citizens, among whom he is held in the highest regard.
History of Whatcom County, Volume II, by Lottie Roeder Roth, 1926, pps. 133-134.
By a few general observations may be conveyed some idea of the character and worthy career of John McKay, who for many years has stood among the industrious and enterprising farmers of the Nooksack valley. He has pursued the even tenor of his way in a quiet and unostentatious manner, attending strictly to his own affairs and endeavoring to perform his full part as a citizen of this favored community. He was born on Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, on the 11th of May, 1857, and is a son of Daniel and Mary (Matthison) McKay, the father a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and the mother born on one of the islands along the western coast of that country. Daniel McKay was brought to Nova Scotia in 1830, when eight years of age, and was reared to the life of a farmer, which vocation he followed there during the remainder of his life, his death occurring November 8, 1886. His wife died February 8, 1910. Of the twelve children who blessed their union, six are living, namely: Christina and Norman, who live in Nova Scotia; Isabella, who lives in Massachusetts; John, the subject of this sketch; James, who lives at Clearbrook, Whatcom county; and Mrs. Annie Hayden, of Bellingham, Whatcom county.
John McKay received his education in the public schools of Nova Scotia and remained at home until 1881, when he came to the United States, locating first in Pennsylvania, where he was employed in the woods for about nine years. In October, 1890, he came to Whatcom county, stopping in Bellingham for a few months, and in the spring of 1891 he bought fifteen acres of raw land at Clearbrook, in Nooksack township. He immediately entered upon the task of clearing the land, though in the meantime he accepted other employment to help pay expenses. He built a house on the place in 1892 and later built an addition to it. The small barn first erected was replaced by a larger and better one in 1912. In 1896 he bought forty acres of land adjoining his first purchase, and he now now has all of the land cleared and under cultivation. He keeps from fifteen to twenty good cows, some of them pure bred, and a pure bred registered bull, and he raises good crops of hay and grain, as well as corn sufficient to fill his silo, which was built in 1917. He has been very successful in the cultivation of his corn, on which he received first prize at the Northwestern Washington fair in 1925. His farm is well improved in every respect and is considered one of the most desirable ranches in this locality.
On October 30, 1887, Mr. McKay was married to Miss Mary Rukgaber, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of Christian and Mary (Plfuger) Rukgaber, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father came to the United States about 1850, locating in Pennsylvania, where he was successfully engaged in farming. He died there January 23, 1885, and his wife passed away July 27, 1887. They were the parents of ten children, namely: Henry, Fred, Minnie, Christ, Sophie, Caroline, Washington,deceased, Mary, John and Margaret. To Mr. and Mrs. McKay have been born ten children, as follows: Mrs. Mary E. Weide, who is the mother of four children - Winifred, born May 2, 1911; Theodore, born August 18, 1912; Wesley, born January 4, 1914; and Milton, born May 30, 1921; James, the next in the family, who was born August 10, 1893; Violet, who was born March 30, 1896, died August 5, 1907; Helen, who was born April 26, 1901, and died July 14, 1908; Douglas, born December 12, 1903, who is at home; Ruth, born June 19, 1906, who was married November 18, 1925, to Jasper Stephens; and four who died in infancy. James is a veteran of the World war, having entered the Canadian army immediately on the outbreak of the war. He enlisted at Ontario in the Yorkshire Cavalry, with which command he was sent to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and in the fall of 1914 was sent to England. He was in training camp there at Champlain for three months and then entered upon active service in France. For two years he was in the front line trenches and he received wounds in two engagements. He was invalided in hospitals in France for three months and spent three weeks in English hospitals and in 1917 was honorably discharged from the Canadian army, being crippled and unfit for further service. He is now living in Michigan and is employed as a traveling salesman.
Mr. McKay is a member of the Whatcom County Dairymen's Association and takes a deep interest in everything affecting the farmers and dairymen of the county. He is a broadminded, thoughtful man, keeping in close touch with the issues of the day, and holds a place among the influential men of his community. Though quiet and unassuming, he possesses a forceful personality, which has made its impress on his fellow citizens, among whom he is held in the highest regard.
History of Whatcom County, Volume II, by Lottie Roeder Roth, 1926, pps. 133-134.