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R. S. McKinney, who resided in this city for many years, died at 6:15 Thursday afternoon at the Confederate Home at Higginsville, where he has resided for the past few years. Mrs. McKinney passed away in 1921. He is survived by four children, nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren. The remains will arrive in Mexico Saturday on the 1:12 C. & A. and be taken directly from the train to Elmwood Cemetery for interment. The Rev. Blake Smith will conduct the service.
Richard Shanks McKinney, a worthy Confederate veteran of Audrain County, was born in Callaway county, Mo., March 31, 1845. His parents were early settlers of Missouri and natives of Kentucky. His father, William Whitley, was born in 1816, son of Esther Whitley, the first white child born in Kentucky, as is recorded on her monument in Auxvasse church, and daughter of Col. William Whitley, who was killed at the battle of the Thames in the war of 1812. His mother, Susan Fisher, was born in 1820, the same year in which her future husband was taken by his parents to Missouri. Richard S. was the second son in his family. His elder brother, James S., was also a Confederate soldier, serving in General Shelby's brigade throughout the war.
Mr. McKinney was educated at Richland Academy, Callaway county. In 1861 he enlisted at Independence in Quantrill's cavalry command, with which he served on scouting duty over a considerable extent of territory, until it disbanded in the winter of 1861, when he joined Colonel Porter in North Missouri and fought at Kirksville and Moore's Mill. In the fall of 1862 he went to Yellville, Ark. and joined the main army. He and his company were dismounted at Mulberry and reorganized as infantry in the regiment of Col. John B. Clark. His regiment was attached to Roan's brigade at the battle of Prairie Grove in 1862 and afterward became a part of the brigade of Gen. D. M. Frost, subsequently commanded by John B. Clark. The brigade was a part of Parson's Missouri division of infantry and did gallant services on many historic battlefields as well as in minor affairs, where loss was heavy, though little fame followed the fighting. Among the engagements particularly remembered by Private McKinney, who was always on duty, were Kirksville, Mo., Chariton River, Moore's Mill, Waynesville, Prairie Grove, Catfish Bend, Gaines' Landing, Pleasant Hill, La., Jenkins' Ferry or Saline River, Ark. His company went in the latter battle forty strong, and at the next roll call, he was the only private left able for duty, Capt. George R. Brooks and Sergeant Thompson Fry representing the officers. All the others were killed or wounded. Private McKinney's services were typical of those of the Trans-Mississippi soldiers. During the campaign of 1863 he marched twelve hundred miles and participated in three general engagements, without a shoe on his feet. He was often at the starving point, and a haversack partly filled with parched corn was considered three days' rations. He remembers drawing coffee rations but three times during his service. He was thrice slightly wounded, but never in a hospital, nor availed himself of leave of absence but once, just before the surrender, and remembers with pride that he was one of the two men in his company known as the "choice file" for uniform good conduct, excellence in drill and soldierly bearing.
His command was surrendered at Shreveport, June 5, 1865, and paroled at Alexandria by Gen. E. R. S. Canby. After his return home Mr. McKinney began the study of medicine but was unable to pursue it. Instead he engaged in railroad surveying for the Chicago and Alton railroad, and gaining experience in this profession, continued in it for several years. Farming also occupied him until 1884 when he made his home at Mexico. Here he served four years as street commissioner, and in 1896 to 1916, was elected county surveyor.
He was a charter member of the United Confederate Veterans here, and has served as adjutant and Commander of the Camp Jackson post for many years. In 1872 he was married to Nannie L., daughter of William Bryan, a daughter of William Bryan, a relative of William Jennings Bryan and Henry Clay. The Ledger joins in extending sympathy to the bereaved.
Mr. McKinney has four daughters, Mrs. Susie Wayne, of Oakland, Cal; Mrs. Frank Gibson, Kansas City; Mrs. Frank Duckworth, Springfield, Mo.; Mrs. Blanche Haislip, Los Angeles. Richard McKinney, 1002 South Muldrow, this city, is a grandson.
from Mexico Daily Ledger Mexico Mo Feb. 1, 1930 6/5
In commenting on the death of the late Richard Shanks McKinney, which is widely regretted, Joe Lee Bomar informs us that Mrs. McKinney was a granddaughter of Matthew Scott, who served in Col. Richard Johnson's mounted Kentucky Cavalry, Gov. Isaac Shelby's Division, Wm. Henry Harrison, in the Canadian Invasion and fought the battle of Thames and River Raisin. Scott is buried south of Bryant Station, about 100 yards under a walnut tree and without a marker to his grave. He was an uncle of Alexander Bomar, and a grand uncle of Joe Lee Bomar, Sam Byrns, Walker Byrns, and multitudes of others. A Bomar son, Clark Bomar, married Katherine McKinney, granddaughter of R.S. McKinney, now of El Monte, Cal. They are returning here in the spring. Shanks McKinney was a nephew of Col Richard Shanks, who commanded a crack regiment in Shelby's "Old Iron Brigade". Col. Upton Hays, a grandson of Daniel Boone, first commanded this regiment. TOP
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