My Genealogy Hound

JOHN McKINLAY, one of the best known residents of Lansdale, is a native of Venango county, Pennsylvania, where he was born February 14, 1848. He is the son of John and Margaret (Smith) McKinlay.

John McKinlay, subject of this sketch, was educated in public and private schools in that county. The family removed to Philadelphia, where he took private lessons. About 1868 the family settled near Line Lexington, where Mr. McKinlay purchased a small farm, remaining there until 1886, when he removed to Lansdale, where he erected one of the prettiest and most substantial homes in that borough. He has engaged in the raising of mushrooms, and has provided very extensive facilities for that purpose, and is prosecuting the business very successfully.

He raises from one thousand to two thousand pounds a year, and finds a ready market for them in Philadelphia, New York and Boston. Mr. McKinlay married, in 1894, Miss Emma Retta Vanluvanee, daughter of Richard Vanluvanee, of Bucks county, Pennsylvania. They have had no children. Mr. McKinlay and his wife are very fond of traveling. They have toured the United States, and are very familiar with their own country. They have also traveled considerably abroad, and have recently returned from a tour to Egypt and other countries of the far east. Mr. McKinlay is very fond of reading and is a well informed man on all subjects. In politics he is a Prohibitionist, and he has been placed on the party ticket for congress and other positions Mr. McKinlay is highly respected by all who know him.

The McKinlays are of Scotch origin. John McKinlay, father, was born in Scotland and was educated there. On arriving at manhood he decided to emigrate to the United States. He married, in Scotland, Miss Maragret Smith, and soon afterwards emigrated to this country, locating on his arrival in Venango county, Pennsylvania. He was an active and progressive business man, and accumulated a considerable fortune. The couple had two children born in Scotland, Alexander and William, besides John, who was born in Pennsylvania.