www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com
25 Jul 2005
John MacKenzie, deceased, was an early settler of Whiteside County. He was born in the Highlands of Scotland, in midsummer, 1800, and was the son of Alexander and Margaret (Thompson) MacKenzie. He learned the trade of mason and builder, and was married in Aberdeenshire, Oct. 11, 1833, to Miss Margaret S. Ritchie, daughter of George and Margaret (Read) Ritchie. He emigrated to America in 1838, and settled in Virginia, where he continue to reside till June, 1843, when he came to Whiteside County and located on a farm in the township of Ustick. He worked at his trade of mason and contractor in Fulton, while his energetic and thrifty wife conducted the farm. Mr. MacKenzie built in 1848 and operated the first saw-mill at Fulton, which was a small water-power mill, and continued to conduct it to the time of his death, which occurred Sept. 29, 1854. He also worked at his trade, and among his contracts was one for the erection of the stone building now used as a planing-mill by the Langford & Hall Lumber Company, which he built for Judge McCoy & Co. He was also employed by the Government in the construction of Fort Gaines, some 200 miles above St. Paul, and spent two seasons on Government work.
While a resident of Ustick he was the first Supervisor of that township, and held other minor offices. In politics he was a Whig. Mr. And Mrs. MacKenzie had four sons and six daughter. The eldest child was Margaret, wife of James Savage, now of Oregon; Helen is the wife of William Savage, of Morrison, Ill.; Alexander died in childhood; Virginia - so named from her native State - is the wife of Augustus Johnson, of Morrison; George married Ella Houghton; and died in 1877, leaving a wife and four children; Alexander, the second of that name, married Lovina Devore, and lives in Iowa; Mary married William Trye, and lives at Morrison; John and Josephene were twins; John is a Captain on the Mississippi; he married Miss Abbie E. Devore, and resides at Fulton; Josephene married John Kyner, and lives in Nebraska; Clarissa A. Is the wife of Thomoas Janvrin, of Morrison; George and Alexander were soldiers of the late war. Mrs. MacKenzie survies her husband, and resides at Fulton, with her son, Captain John MacKenzie. She has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since her girlhood.
Transcribed from Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County - 1885, pages 339-340.
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