Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County, IL
Originally published 1885 Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL

Transcribed by: Becky Jones

La Fayette McKenzie, deceased, a former resident of Coloma Township, was born April 30, 1827 in Essex Co., N. Y. His parents removed with their family when he was young to the western part of his native State, whence he came in 1834 to Whiteside County. He first located at Prophetstown, where he was a resident for about eight years.

In 1842 he went to the township of Portland and from there, in 1868, to the township of Coloma and was a resident there until his death, Nov. 21, 1879. He was the owner of 480 acres of land when he died.

He was married in Sterling, Feb. 2, 1853, to Lucia, daughter of Nathan and Louisa (Chapin) Brewer. The father and mother of Mrs. McKenzie were born in Massachusetts. They came thence to Whiteside County in 1850 and settle[d] in Portland Township. The mother died July 15, 1859; the father survives. Mrs. McKenzie is the oldest of their ten children. She was born Dec. 23, 1835, in Massachusetts, and is the mother of four children—Nathan L., Fred E., Julia C. and Wallace L. Mrs. McKenzie owns 160 acres of improved land.

In 1870 Mr. McKenzie went to Colorado to engage in the stock business. He was accompanied by his family and made the trip overland as the methods of traveling were then called, when parties moved with their own teams. Three years later they returned to the homestead in the township of Coloma. Mr. McKenzie also went, in 1859, to Pike’s Peak, but he returned the same season. While in Colorado, associated with another man, he established the first trading post at Golden City, Colorado.

He was a member of the A. O. U. W.