ALEXANDER McKINNEY [Cherokee and Chickasaw.]

The deceased subject of this sketch was born in Mississippi, May, 1830. His father was a white man, and his mother a Cherokee, who, drifting into the Chickasaw country at an early age, was adopted by that tribe. In 1844 Alexander moved to the present Choctaw nation and attended the neighborhood school at Boggy Depot. In the year 1857 he married Miss Mattie Collins, of Grayson County, Texas, and originally from Kentucky.

Miss Mattie was a bright, animated and adventurous young woman, fearlessly following her husband whethersoever he went in pursuits of game or adventure. After settling on their present home two miles from Stringtown, this lady was alone one morning when a deer trotted up to the gate in front of the house; hitherto she had never attempted to discharge a gun, but her eagerness to secure the animal was such that she risked everything and succeeded in killing the deer after firing the first barrel pretty wide of the mark.

During the squally years of the revolution Mrs. McKinney more than once kept invaders from entering her premises, and on one occasion disarmed a drunken Indian who was forcing his way into the house. Mr. and Mrs. McKinney had but one child, a boy, who died early. Their love for children was such that they were constantly adopting, educating and starting them in life. No less than sixteen in this manner, at various periods became the recipients of their parental care. Four children of the late Henry McKinney, and four of William McKinney's family were thus brought up.

They also raised a niece named Maggie Pursely, and at the same time an orphan boy whom they named Ben. At the ages of sixteen and thirteen years this young couple married and are now living in the Chickasaw Nation, where they have an extensive farm under cultivation and a good stock of cattle. The above named were perhaps the youngest couple ever married in the Choctaw Nation. The deceased subject of this sketch was a most popular man, off-handed, generous and strictly honorable.

Appreciating the fact that he had no offspring to hoard money for, he spent much of his means in educating, clothing and feeding the destitute children of others, so that when Alex. McKinney died at the age of fifty-three, he was sincerely regretted abroad and at home. At the time of his death, in 1883, he left a comfortable home, one thousand head of cattle, two hundred and fifty head of horses and mules, and about three hundred acres of excellent farm land.

His widow, Mrs. McKinney, still resides at the old homestead and is not the less remarkable for hospitality, benevolence and love of children. Indeed, her doors are ever open to those in need of a home or a shelter. She is exceedingly fond of fishing and hunting, and their being plenty of game and several small lakes well stocked with fish on her property, she is seldom, if ever, without a house full of visitors, whom it is her greatest pleasure to entertain.

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