John C. McKenzie is familiarly known as the senior member of the firm of Atchison & McKenzie, grain merchants and proprietors of a general flour and feed tore in Elizabeth. Mr. McKenzie is a native of this county, having been born in Woodbine Twp. Feb. 18, 1860. His parents were Donald and Sarah (Atchison) McKenzie, the father was a native of Scotland and the mother of Pennsylvania.
Donald McKenzie came to this county early in the forties, and followed mining for a number of years thereafter. During the gold fever he crossed the plains to California,and spent sometime in the mining region.Upon returning to Illinois he located in Elizabeth Township, whence he removed later to Woodbine Twp. where he owns a well improved farm. He may properly be classed among the representative pioneers of Northern IL, who came to this section with strong hands and honest purposes, and made for himself the record of a good citizen. He represented Woodbine Twp. in the County Board of Supervisors a number of years, and is now President of the Woodbine Mutual Fire Insurance Co. in the organization of which he was a moving spirit.
To the parents of our subject there were born four children, only three of whom survive, namely; John C., our subject; Mary the wifeof Frank Bryson of the county, and William who lives at home. The latter are both members of the Presbyterian Church in the prosperity ofwhich they take an active interest. The elder mcKenzie, politically is a decided Republican, a man well-informed upon passing events and one eminently intelligent.
Mr. McKenzie,our subject, has spent the greater part of his life in his native county. He was reared at his fathers' farm and received his principal education in the common schools, although for a time he was a student of the Normal School at Valparaiso IN. He gave such good attention to his books that he developed into a teacher, which profession he followed successfully some six winters in this county. He began reading law in the fall of 1887 with Judge Wm. Hodson, of Galena, and intends to prosecute this and prepare himself for examination for admittance to the bar.
The 22nd of March, 1883, witnessed the marriage of our subject to Miss Flora, daughter of Daniel adn Harriet Eaton, who were among the pioneer settlers of this county. Of this union there is one child, a daughter, Jean, born June 27, 1887. Mr. McKenzie associated himself in business with his present partner in Nov. 1887, about which time he took up his residence in Elizabeth. Like his father before him he is a Republican,politically and served for two years as Clerk of Woodbine Twp. In conversation he is agreeable and entertaining and his courteous manners, both to friend and stranger has been the means of drawing around him hosts of friends.
Portraits & Biograhpical Jo Daviess Co 1889
