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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
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Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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History of Northern Wisconsin
pub: The Western Historical Company,
     Chicago, 1881


         [page 169]
         
         J. W. McKAY, District Attorney, Mondovi, was born in High-
       land Co., Ohio, Feb. 27, 1828. In 1852, he removed to Knox Co., 
       Ill., where he lived three years, and engaged in farming. He 
       then removed again to Trempeleau County, and remained until 
       August, 1857, when he went to Hastings, Minn, with his family, 
       with the expectation of getting work at his trade, either build-
       ing or wagon-making. He was unsuccessful, and finally came to 
       Alma, arriving in the night, with only fifty cents in money, 
       and no friends or acquaintances, with the exception of MR. SOM-
       ERFIELD. After a number of hardships, such as are peculiar to 
       a pioneer life, he obtained work and became prosperous. About 
       the beginning of the Rebellion he enlisted, Aug. 15, 1862, in 
       Co. G., 25th Wis. Vol., as a private, and served until June 7, 
       1865, when he was honorably discharged as a commissioned off-
       icer. He returned to Buffalo County and engaged in building 
       wagons. He sold his business in 1869, and went to Clark County 
       and went into lumbering. He made several changes from there, 
       and in 1877, he returned to this county and located in Mondovi, 
       and began the practice of law. He has held different offices; 
       for many years has been Justice of the Peace, and in 1877 he 
       was elected as Prosecuting Attorney, and in 1879 he was re-
       elected. He has been twice married, first to ISABELLA PIERCE, 
       a native of Fayette Co., Ohio; she died in April, 1855. They 
       had two children, only one of whom is living, EMILY JANE.
       He married, for his second wife, Miss EMILY WOOD, a native of 
       Cataraugua Co., N. Y. They have four children - NELLIE MELISSA, 
       LOUISA BELLE, JOHN WILLIAM and FLOYD.
       
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