Person:William McKay (3)

MCKAY, Rev. William - born in Northwest Jefferson County o n November 19, 1817, died November 20, 1902. He was a Bapti st Minister. His father came from Kentucky. William was mar ried twice; first to Miss Wilson, whom he married in the 18 40`s, and then to Mrs. Teresa Partney, whom he married on N ovember 6, 1892. He had two sons and three daughters by hi s first wife. Uncle Billy and Aunt Adaline (nee Wilson) Mckay Adaline, eldest daughter of Jacob Wilson was united in marr iage to William McKay, son of Samuel McKay, about 1839. Aft er their marriage they settled about 1-1/2 miles southwes t of her father where Uncle Billy cleared a farm and live d until 1875 or 76. Mrs. Fiel owns the farm at present [193 7]. The old house stood on the same site as what was calle d the `Red House`. On this farm Uncle Billy and Aunt Adelin e reared their family and spent most of their married lives , which, like all pioneer fathers and mothers was one of to il and sacrifice. Uncle Billy entered the ministry, as a Ba ptist preacher in early life and preached regularly for 5 0 years. Although he had little opportunity to go to school , he had a wonderful mind and by reading and study at home , he educated himself until he was recognized as one of th e best Bible scholars of his time and community and a preac her second to none. He served as pastor to practically ever y Baptist church in Jefferson County as well as some in Fra nklin, Washington and St. Francois County. He made monthl y trips on horseback to the old Three Rivers Church in St . Francois County which is 35 or 40 miles from Grubville, a nd it was not uncommon for him too pastorate churches 10 t o 15 miles from home. At that time Baptist churches had a S aturday evening service at which time they conducted the bu siness of the church and had a sermon also. The pastor wa s supposed to be there for Saturday evening services and se ldom failed to do so. They also had services on Saturday ni ght, Sunday and Sunday night, and the preacher had to rid e home after Sunday night services or stay all night with s ome of the members and go home Monday morning. He usually w ent Sunday night so he could start work on the farm Monda y morning. Besides preaching for four churches monthly, Unc le Billy was called far and near to preach funerals, perfor m marriage ceremonies, and visit the sick. It is probable h e preached more funerals and married more couples than an y other minister of his day in the county. The life of the pioneer minister was indeed a hard one, an d for all his sacrifice and hardships he received a mere pi ttance. Since his work as a minister demanded so much of hi s time he could not operate his farm successfully, and he b ecame indebted to such an extent that he had to sell his fa rm about 1875 or 76, and leave the home that had been his s o long. The place where he took Aunt Adaline as a bride, th e place that had been home, not only to them and their chil dren, but to the homeless from every quarter. It was to thi s home that the people of the community, who were in troubl e, went to Uncle Billy for advice and consolation. In thi s home many homeless children found a temporary refuge. I t was at this home, the men of this community who went to C alifornia in 1849, met and had religious services before st arting. In 1858 or 59, Samuel McKay, Uncle Billy`s brother, died i n Texas leaving several children. Uncle Billy drove to Texa s and brought the children back to Missouri where he and hi s brother Michael, cared for them until they were able to c are for themselves. After leaving the old home, Uncle Bill y lived at different places for a few years. About 1880 t o 1885 he built a house on a farm belonging to his son-in-l aw, Frank Wideman. This farm was on Big River just above th e mouth of Old Ditch Creek. Here they lived until Aunt Adal ine`s death about 1890. About 1892, Uncle Billy married a M rs. Partney of near Hillsboro, and moved to her farm wher e he lived until his death in 1901 at the age of 85 years . He and his first wife were buried at the Bethlehem Cemete ry. The writer attended a revival service at the Ware Church sh ortly before Uncle Billy`s death. He was present that night . On being invited to make a few remarks he tottered to th e pulpit and spoke very briefly. In concluding, he stated t hat he had preached the Gospel for over fifty years in Jeff erson and surrounding counties, and that he was happy to b e able to stand before those present and testify that ther e is reality in the religion of the Lord and Savior, Jesu s Christ. He read Second Timothy 4:7-8: `I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I h ave kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a c rown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judg e shall give me that day, and not to me only but unto all t hem also that love his appearing`. To Uncle Billy and Aunt Adaline the following children wer e born: Margaret 1840, Michael Silas about 1844, Amanda abo ut 1847, Jane about 1850, Mary about 1854, Jim about 1859 , and Jake 1863. They reared Aunt Adaline`s baby sister, Wi nnie, taking her at the age of six months at the death of h er mother in 1845. 
  He was a farmer and Baptist Minister. He was widely know an  d preached in most Baptist Churches in Jefferson County an  d a large number in Franklin, Washington and St Francois Co  unties all in the State of Missouri.  The McKay family were very early settlers in the Jefferso  n County, Mo. area. They traveled by wagon  train from South Carolina in 1816. The McKee family arrive  d on the same wagon train, with the McKay  family.  WILLIAM RUEN MCKAY was a pioneer Baptist preacher throughou  t the Missouri area.  Reference: `Along Old Gravois` by Della Lang, P 66.  He was born to SAMUEL MCKAY and MARY MCKEE 19 Nov 1817 nea  r where the Old Bethlehem  Baptist Church still stands on Big River in Jefferson Count  y, Mo. William having more than ordinary ability  and ingenuity about him, took to the trade of blacksmithin  g and for many years did that in connection  with his farming. On 28 Jan 1839, having come to manhood, m  arried Adeline Wilson, daughter on JACOB  Justus WILSON and WINNIE COUCH. Granddaughter of JOHN WILSO  N and CLARISSA E WIDEMAN of  ADDevllle district, SC. They raised 3 sons and 5 daughter  s in Jefferson County. He again married on 6 Nov 1892 to TE  RESA PARTNEY. God called Him home on 21 Nov 1902 and was bu  ried in the Bethlehem Cemetery on 21 November 1902. His fun  eral was preached by Rev. Sullivan Frazier and REV. JOHN PR  ICE  Reverend WILLIAM RUEN MCKAY preached to all the early churc  hes of Jefferson County, some of  which were old Bethlehem, Sandy, Calvary, Cedar Hill, Swash  in, and Dry Creek Baptist Churches. He first  started in the missionary work And developed into an able m  issionary, having held a revival meeting at  Pilgrim`s Rest Church, assisted by Brother Sullivan Frazie  r in which there were fifty-seven conversions. He  was ordained a minister of the Gospel in 1847 at Bethlehe  m Church, Grubville, Jefferson County, Mo.  Reference: `History of Jefferson County Missionary Baptis  t from 1798-1949` by Mrs. Etta (Dan) Whipple,  pp 106,107. Also, `History of Lebanon Baptist Church of Ste  . Genevieve County, Missouri 1833-1983`,  p128.

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