eluded Phillip, born June 1895 and died 19 Sep 1956 in Santa Ana; Grace, born 19 Sep 1887 and died 14 Jul 1977 in CA; and Charlotte, born 23 Sep 1890. Nellie McKay married Wilbur N. Bowman. She died 11 Dec 1942 in Spencer. Their children included Clifford, born 29 Jul 1889; Jessie (b. 15 Jul 1891); and Lloyd (b. 1896). Charles McKay married Gertrude Acull. He was a musician and traveled extensively.

Although I am only distantly related to these particular members of the McKay family I do share their inheritance through my relationship to Neil McKay, the progenitor of this branch of the McKay family. He is my fourth greatgrandfather. Undoubtedly there are still members of this family in IA. However all of the men departed IA for other sections of the country.

McKay, James

(Elaine Ruen Johnson)

Early settlers of Frankville Twp. were the James McKay family. Their family owned much of the land west of the corner where the McKay School existed. They sold part of their property to Henry O. Ruen for their farm in 1913. James McKay was an assessor in Frankville and Bloomfield Twps. Another portion of their property along the Frankville road was sold to James Kneeskern.

The James McKay family had 3 children: Don who moved to Wl, Sam and Cora. Cora M. Mckay was born 27 Feb 1871 in Winneshiek Co. On 15 Sep 1902 she married Henry Chamberlain. She is buried in the Frankville Cemetery. Henry Chamberlain moved to CA after his wife’s death and is buried there. Sam McKay is also buried at the Frankville Cemetery.

McLain, Fred and Virginia (Harms)

(Virginia K. McLain)

Virginia and Fred McLain taken in 1977.

Fred Raymond McLain was born 26 Jan 1922 in Sec. 34, Canoe Twp., Winneshiek Co., IA. He was the son of Theodore Grant and Ella May (Headington) McLain. His father was born 24 Aug 1877 also in Sec. 34, Canoe Twp. His mother was born 29 Aug 1885 in Sec. 29, Canoe Twp.

They were married 8 Oct 1906. Both are buried in the Russell Cemetery, Canoe Twp.

Fred's brothers and sister were: Walter Theodore, Roger William and Edna Lavina (McLain) Stromseth.

Fred married Virginia Kathleen Ann Harms 17 Aug 1942 at St. Benedict’s Rectory in Decorah by Rev. Maurice E. Nolan. Virginia was born 6 Aug 1922 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Fergus Falls, MN. She was the daughter of George William and Mildred Marie (Johnson) Harms. Virginia's father was born 21 Jan 1896 in Bloomfield Twp., Winneshiek Co. He was a World War I veteran. Her mother was born 15 Dec 1895 in East Grand Forks, MN. Virginia had no brothers or sisters. Fred and Virginia had 4 children: William Fred, James George, Barbara Jean and Michael John. All their children were born in Decorah.

William (“Bill”) went to school at Canoe #3, Decorah High School and the University of Iowa, Iowa City. Bill served in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam and then returned home to farm with father. His hobbies are reading, fishing and roaming the woods of Canoe Twp,

James (‘Jim") went to school at Canoe #2 and #8 and Decorah High School. Jim served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He was wounded 14 Feb 1968 in the TET Offensive. He then returned home and worked for the Highway Commission. On 7 Sep 1968 Jim married Catherine Louise Winter at the Burr Oak Lutheran Church, Burr Oak, IA. Their children are: Michelle Denise, James George III and twins, Vanessa Lynne and Alison Lisa. Jim now farms plus has a rural mail route for the U.S. Postal Department. His hobbies are Harley-Davidson motorcycles and repairing cars.

Barbara (“Barb”) went to school in Canoe Twp. and North Winneshiek High School. She graduated from Mt. Mercy College, Cedar Rapids and taught clerical courses at Northeast Iowa Technical Institute in Calmar, IA. Barb then taught junior high for 2 years in Maricaibo, Venezuela at an oil company school. On 12 Aug 1977 Barb married Donald John Henderson at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Decorah. They moved to Sydney, Australia. Don works as a geologist for an oil company and Barb teaches and is a computer programmer. They have 2 children: Katherine Ann Marie and Nicholas John. Barb and Don have now moved to Brisbane, Australia.

Michael (“Mike") went to school in Canoe Twp., North Winneshiek High School and Iowa State University, Ames. Mike married Carolyn Irene Quimby 10 Oct 1982 at Ft. Gordon, GA. Mike and Carol each spent 6 years in the U.S. Army and lived in Germany during part of that time. They now live in Sierra Vista, AZ where they both do communications and computer programming work.

Fred and Virginia had been married and had lived for 40 years on the McLain Family Century Farm when Fred died 12 Nov 1982. He is buried in the Russell Cemetery. Virginia still lives on the farm and does volunteer work. She belongs to St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries, Farm Bureau Choir, St.