Aaron S. McKenzie

Aaron S. McKinzie, farmer, was born January 22,1820 in Hamilton County, two miles from his present home. He is the son of George and Betsy Ann (Vickers) McKinzie. The father, born in 1771 in Canada, and a farmer by occupation, went to Tennessee when a young man, married, and his wife died leaving one child. He appointed a guardian for the child, gave it $1,000, all he possessed, and came to White County, Ill., to clear and build a home. All the settlers in a radius of eight miles were needed to raise a house, and wild animals and Indiana infested the wilderness. In 1819, he came to Hamilton County, Mayberry Township, and in 1834, sold and established a dairy in Marion County, but his health caused him to soon return and buy property in the same township, where he died in 1836. He was a Pioneer, a man of good sense, a skillful deer hunter, and a good business man. For thirteen years he was justice. His second wife was born in 1783 in Tennessee, and died in 1843. Four of their ten children are living. Our subject, the fourth, was educated in subscription schools, and after the death of his father, had the care of his mother, one brother and three sisters. November 12, 1841, he married Elizabeth Brill, born in White County in 1825. Eleven of their fourteen children are living: William M.; Clarissa, widow of Henry Beck; George S. Julia. wife of George P. Phelps; Susan A., wife of W. Lasater; Samuel M.; Clarinda, wife of H. Campbell; Daniel P.; Amanda E., wife of J. S. Fairweather, Alexander and John H. In 1842 he bought forty acres in Section 36, Mayberry Township, his present home, and increased his possession until at one time he owned 1,300 acres, the largest land holder in-the county, and one of the largest in the country. He divided it among his children so that he owns 290 acres now. He is an old and esteemed citizen, and a Democrat, first voting for Polk. He and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, he being a member for thirty two years.

Albion Cemetery
Hamilton Co., IL.

From: The History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin and Williamson Counties, Illinois
Goodspeed Pub. Co., 1887; p. 725-26