Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893. p. 266.
M. J. KINNEY
Resident of Astoria, and proprietor of the largest salmon cannery on the
Columbia river, was born at Muscatine, Iowa, in January, 1847. His father,
Robert C. Kinney, was a native of Illinois, and was reared by his uncle,
Lieutenant-Governor Kinney, who was one of the early Governors of the State. In
1833 Mr. Kinney started a steamboat line from St. Louis to the northern water of
the Mississippi river, and located the town of Muscatine upon his own homestead,
building a hotel and other conveniences to accommodate emigrants to the new
country. Mr. Kinney was married in Illinois to Miss Eliza E. Bigelow, a native
of Nova Scotia. Her father was interested in cod fishing and trading with the
West Indies. Locating his family at Muscatine, Mr. Kinney continued trading
upon the river and also operated flour and saw mills, besides having other
interests in the newly formed town, continuing until 1847. At this time he sold
his interests, and with ox teams removed this family to Oregon, foreseeing the
profits of the Eastern trade form the Pacific coast. The trip was without
unusual incident and was safely accomplished, the company landing in the fall at
Oregon City. In 1848 Mr. Kinney visited the California mines, but after six
months returned to Oregon and located his donation claim in Yam Hill county,
near LaFayette. He then engaged in farming and the stock business, and also
improved one of the finest orchards in Oregon, shipping his fruits to San
Francisco. In 1857 he purchased the McMinnville flour mills, and in 1864 the
Brooklyn mills, both of which he operated until 1868, when he sold and bought an
interest in the Willamette flour mills and woolen manufacturing mills at Salem.
Mr. Kinney took charge of the flour mills where was carried on an enormous
business with agencies at Portland, San Francisco and Liverpool. Subsequently
he and his sons, M. J. and A. W., purchased the entire milling plant, which they
operated until the death of Mr. Kinney, in 1875. He was a member of the first
Constitutional Convention and first State Legislature of Oregon, and was active
in forming the government of the new State. He was opposed to slavery in
Oregon, and was instrumental in excluding the privilege from the Constitution.
Another thing he advocated was, that married women had a right to hold real
estate, and was also an active promoter of public schools.
Our subject, M. J. Kinney, was reared upon the farm and in the mill, and
received his education in McMinnville College under the instruction of Prof. J.
W. Johnson, now president of the State University. After completing his
education Mr. Kinney entered the milling business at Salem; later going to San
Francisco, he took charge of the office established at that city, and there
continued to reside until the death of his father, in 1875, when the property
was sold. In 1876 Mr. Kinney came to Astoria and engaged in the canning of
salmon, which was then conducted by Hapgood, Megler, Cook, Humes & Booth, each
having separate canneries. Mr. Kinney built on Water street, at the foot of
Washington, necessarily beginning in a small way, as he had everything to buy
and the business to learn, but he increased his plant with experience and
knowledge, until he has reaches the colossal output of 73,000 cases of four
dozen cans each per annum, and is now the proprietor of the largest canning
establishment in the Northwest. In 1890 he purchased the Devlin cannery, which
he also operates, both canneries being completely equipped with labor-saving
machinery. All cans are manufactured in his own building, with the most highly
improved canning machinery. His fishing plant embraces upward of 150 boats,
each with nets ranging from 1,500 to 1,800 feet in length, besides eighty traps
with steamboat, sailing sloops and scows in attendance, giving employment during
the fishing season to 425 men, while forty-five white people and 190 Chinamen
are employed in the canneries. He markets throughout the city and the United
States and Liverpool. Mr. Kinney is also one of the chief proprietors of the
Clatsop Mill located at Astoria, which was built in 1884, with box plant
adjoining. The daily output is 80,000 feet of lumber and 5,000 boxes per day,
giving steady employment to 100 men. Mr. Kinney owns 1,000 acres of land on
Clatsop Beach, and is laying out Gearhart park, which offers attractions as a
summer residence. The hotel Gearhart numbers 150 rooms, and was opened during
the summer of 1892.
Mr. Kinney was married in San Francisco in 1876, to Miss Margaretta Morgan,
daughter of David Morgan, a California pioneer. She died in 1880, leaving one
child, Harrietta. He was married again in Kansas, in 1889, to Miss Narcissa E.
White, a native of Pennsylvania, and a lady of refinement and culture, one who
takes an active interest inn temperance work. For years she was connected with
Miss Willard in organizing the W.C.T.U. in Washington, and was instrumental in
securing the passage of straight laws favorable to temperance interests to this
State. Mr. Kinney is a member of the Masonic order. In business he is quiet,
methodical, always master of the situation. Farseeing in judgment and for
making out his own pathway to success, Mr. Kinney deserves the esteem so
generously awarded to him.
Transcriber's additional notes:
1850 - November 15; Yamhill Co, OR; page 169
Robert Kinney, 37, IL, farmer
Eliza E, 37, Nova Scotia
Mary I, 12, IA, att. school
Albert, 7, IA, att. school
Augustus, 5, IA
Marshal, 3, IA
Alfred, 1, OT
1860 - June 18; Yamhill Co, OR; Chehalem Valley Pct, Lafayette PO, page 671
R. C. Kinney, 47, IL, farmer, $9600 / $12,000
Albert, 17, IA
Augustus, 15, IA
Marshall, 13, OR
Alfred, 11, OR
Josephine, 8, OR
William, 5, OR
Eliza, 2, OR
1880 - June 17; Clatsop Co, OR; Astoria, page 270
August C. Kinney, 35, IL, IL, Nova Scotia, physician
Jennie, wif, 33, IA, MO, MO, keeps house
Marshall, brother, ID Terr, IL, Nova Scotia, keeps fishery
1920 - January 17; Multnomah Co, OR; Portland Pct 39, 267 Pine st.
Marshall J. Kinney, roomer, 72, IA, IL, Nova Scotia, Wd, proprieter, saw mill
1930 - April 17; Marion Co, OR; Salem Wd 6, Oregon State Insane Asylum, page 220
Marshall Kinney, patient, 82, IA, IL, CAN
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.