CHARLES McKAY.

CHARLES McKAY.
Charles McKay, president of the Stockgrowers State Bank of Saratoga and well known as a prosperous cattle man, has a very wide acquaintance as one of the old-timers in the section of Carbon county in which he lives and is also highly regarded as one of those citizens whose activities have contributed much to the development of his part of the state. His life history will prove an interesting story to his many friends. He was born at Scotsburn, Pictou county, Nova Scotia, July 26. 1855. and is the third child and oldest son of Duncan R. and Catherine (Campbell) McKay, whose family numbered nine children, three sons and six daughters, seven of whom are yet living, namely: Joanna C., who is now the wife of John C. Campbell, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Charles. of this review; Isabella M., the wife of John Goldy. of Boston; Christiana, the widow of Charles T. Watson, living in Montana; Mary L., the wife of John McCabe, of Pictou county, Nova Scotia: Margaret. the wife of A. E. McKay. of Laramie, Wyoming; and John C., a resident farmer of Pictou county, Nova Scotia. The McKay family comes of genuine Scotch ancestry. Duncan R. McKay was a son of Charles McKay, who came from Scotland and settled in Pictou county, Nova Scotia, becoming a pioneer in that country. He took up a home in the forests and cleared a site for his first cabin of logs. He was of that sturdy type of Scotchmen whose industry and frugality are only surpassed by their religious fervor. He was a devout Presbyterian and his religion guided his life seven days in a week, being not merely a matter of Sunday observance. He reared a family of children, among whom was Duncan R. McKay. who as a young man married Catherine Campbell. a daughter of John Campbell, who came from Scotland and who was also a pioneer in Pictou county, Nova Scotia. Duncan R. McKay was a farmer, following the business as conducted in Nova Scotia at that period, and there he and his wife passed away, highly respected people who had lived according to the Scotch interpretation of the Presbyterian doctrine and in that faith had reared their family. Charles McKay attended the district schools in the locality where he was born, and being the eldest son, he was the first to be of help on the farm. Early in life, therefore, he acquired a practical knowledge of farm work and was reared according to the strict ideas of parents whose religious devotion was a part of their daily life, where devotional exercises, attendance at Sabbath school and church were practiced with a zeal that was not uncommon in that country. where the population was largely Scotch. At the time that Charles McKay was leaving there for the States, the minister of the local church, as evidence of his interest in Mr. McKay's welfare, gave him the following letter. While its value to Mr. McKay was never tested in the western country where he went. yet the significance of the letter is not lost. It reads as follows: “Scotsburn, Nova Scotia. March 23, 1878. This certifies that Charles McKay is a member in full communion with the congregation of Scotsburn in connection with the Presbyterian church in Canada, in good and regular standing. He has been a member of my bible class for years and I believe a young man of good moral conduct and affectionately commend him to the fellowship and confidence of the church where his lot in Providence may be cast. Alexander Stirling, Minister.” The opportunities for a young man in Nova Scotia forty years ago were limited, so when Alexander McGregor, who had been reared in that country, came back on a visit from Nebraska, where he was roadmaster of the Union Pacific Railroad, and told of the chances and wages prevailing in that country for young men, Charles McKay and a neighbor boy, Angus Sutherland, decided to try their fortunes in the new country. This was in the early spring of 1878 and they made their way to Schuyler, Nebraska. Mr. McKay's capital at that time was money that he had saved from working as a farm hand in Nova Scotia, and on reaching Schuyler the sum had dwindled to but a few dollars. He found work almost at once on a farm at a wage of twelve dollars and a half per month, his duties extending from daylight to dark. Hearing later of better wages being paid around Cheyenne and Laramie, he went on to Wyoming in 1879 and was employed by Charles Hutton, starting in at a wage of thirty dollars per month. While his work was general labor, yet he was steady and reliable and in the two years he worked for that man his wages were advanced to forty-five dollars per month. The frugal habits of his boyhood were practiced and he saved his money. Later he was for a time engaged in mining at what was then Cummins City, now Jelm. Getting together an outfit, he later went into the business of freighting and did a considerable business of that character for the old-time firm of Balch & Bacon. After a year or two in that connection, or in 1883, he took up a homestead on the Platte river, just below that of W. E. Tilton, and there made the first' improvements on the property. The old log buildings are yet standing. Up to that time the only evidence of civilization on the land had been grazing cattle, such as had ranged through the valley. After taking up this land and during the period before it became a source of revenue, Mr. McKay worked with his team, hauling from the sawmills in the mountains as well as doing considerable freighting for W. B. Hugus, then a merchant at Saratoga. As the work of improvement progressed on his homestead and cattle had been put on the place, he then gave his attention to the cattle business. Later he became manager of the Brush Creek Land & Live Stock Company, an organization of pooled interests in land and live stock, its members being, in addition to Mr. McKay, Dr. H. M. Bennett and Will and Susie Ballard. This company prospered but its dissolution was brought about by the owners being scattered, and when the assets of the company were distributed, the Brush Creek ranch, on which Mr. McKay resided for years afterward, together with some cattle, came to him as his share. During his residence there Mr. McKay made all of the improvements, built an excellent home as well as other buildings necessary for the shelter of grain and stock, and put in the first alfalfa along Brush creek. He developed a ranch property that is considered one of the best in the Brush Creek country. He resided there until 1916, when he disposed of his ranch property and his cattle, and since that time he has maintained his home in Saratoga when not spending the winters in California or making extended visits to friends and relatives elsewhere. Mr. McKay was one of the organizers of the Stockgrowers State Bank at Saratoga and served as a director until 1917, when he also became president of the institution, in which capacity he still continues. The growth of this bank has been of a substantial character and it has taken high rank among the sound and well managed financial institutions in Carbon rounty. Its officers and directorate are local men whose business ability and integrity have been for years of the very highest character. Mr. McKay is also vice president of the Paulson Medicinal Well Company of Saratoga. He is a charter member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 43, at Saratoga, and when the Knights of Pythias lodge at Saratoga was in existence he was also a member of that order. In politics he has ever been a republican, stanch in support of the party, but has never sought office. He is recognized as one of the substantial men in the Saratoga valley. He came to Wyoming with energy and ambition as his capital. Thoroughly self-made, he has ever been straightforward in his dealings and he has high standing as an honest man with a clean, creditable record. He has held to the principles of honor and uprightness instilled in him in his childhood days by his parents' teachings. He has lived modestly and does so today. He has what he wants and is able to gratify his desires for pleasure or travel, but is of a quiet, unassuming nature and avoids show and ostentation. He finds his recreation in motoring and owns a fine car, so that when business permits, he takes motor trips through the country. As he has prospered with the passing years he has made investments in real estate and is today the owner of some of the best business property in Saratoga. He has a wide acquaintance in the county where he has long made his home, and no man is more generally respected. He has ever been a stanch supporter of his home locality and he has been generous in his gifts to home institutions and to such enterprises as are termed of value in the upbuilding of the section of the state in which he lives.

Charles McKay, president of the Stockgrowers State Bank of Saratoga and well known as a prosperous cattle man, has a very wide acquaintance as one of the old-timers in the section of Carbon county in which he lives and is also highly regarded as one of those citizens whose activities have contributed much to the development of his part of the state. His life history will prove an interesting story to his many friends. He was born at Scotsburn, Pictou county, Nova Scotia, July 26. 1855. and is the third child and oldest son of Duncan R. and Catherine (Campbell) McKay, whose family numbered nine children, three sons and six daughters, seven of whom are yet living, namely: Joanna C., who is now the wife of John C. Campbell, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Charles. of this review; Isabella M., the wife of John Goldy. of Boston; Christiana, the widow of Charles T. Watson, living in Montana; Mary L., the wife of John McCabe, of Pictou county, Nova Scotia: Margaret. the wife of A. E. McKay. of Laramie, Wyoming; and John C., a resident farmer of Pictou county, Nova Scotia. The McKay family comes of genuine Scotch ancestry. Duncan R. McKay was a son of Charles McKay, who came from Scotland and settled in Pictou county, Nova Scotia, becoming a pioneer in that country. He took up a home in the forests and cleared a site for his first cabin of logs. He was of that sturdy type of Scotchmen whose industry and frugality are only surpassed by their religious fervor. He was a devout Presbyterian and his religion guided his life seven days in a week, being not merely a matter of Sunday observance. He reared a family of children, among whom was Duncan R. McKay. who as a young man married Catherine Campbell. a daughter of John Campbell, who came from Scotland and who was also a pioneer in Pictou county, Nova Scotia. Duncan R. McKay was a farmer, following the business as conducted in Nova Scotia at that period, and there he and his wife passed away, highly respected people who had lived according to the Scotch interpretation of the Presbyterian doctrine and in that faith had reared their family.
Charles McKay attended the district schools in the locality where he was born, and being the eldest son, he was the first to be of help on the farm. Early in life, therefore, he acquired a practical knowledge of farm work and was reared according to the strict ideas of parents whose religious devotion was a part of their daily life, where devotional exercises, attendance at Sabbath school and church were practiced with a zeal that was not uncommon in that country. where the population was largely Scotch. At the time that Charles McKay was leaving there for the States, the minister of the local church, as evidence of his interest in Mr. McKay's welfare, gave him the following letter. While its value to Mr. McKay was never tested in the western country where he went. yet the significance of the letter is not lost. It reads as follows:

“Scotsburn, Nova Scotia.

March 23, 1878.

This certifies that Charles McKay is a member in full communion with the congregation of Scotsburn in connection with the Presbyterian church in Canada, in good and regular standing. He has been a member of my bible class for years and I believe a young man of good moral conduct and affectionately commend him to the fellowship and confidence of the church where his lot in Providence may be cast.

Alexander Stirling, Minister.”

The opportunities for a young man in Nova Scotia forty years ago were limited, so when Alexander McGregor, who had been reared in that country, came back on a visit from Nebraska, where he was roadmaster of the Union Pacific Railroad, and told of the chances and wages prevailing in that country for young men, Charles McKay and a neighbor boy, Angus Sutherland, decided to try their fortunes in the new country. This was in the early spring of 1878 and they made their way to Schuyler, Nebraska. Mr. McKay's capital at that time was money that he had saved from working as a farm hand in Nova Scotia, and on reaching Schuyler the sum had dwindled to but a few dollars. He found work almost at once on a farm at a wage of twelve dollars and a half per month, his duties extending from daylight to dark. Hearing later of better wages being paid around Cheyenne and Laramie, he went on to Wyoming in 1879 and was employed by Charles Hutton, starting in at a wage of thirty dollars per month. While his work was general labor, yet he was steady and reliable and in the two years he worked for that man his wages were advanced to forty-five dollars per month. The frugal habits of his boyhood were practiced and he saved his money. Later he was for a time engaged in mining at what was then Cummins City, now Jelm. Getting together an outfit, he later went into the business of freighting and did a considerable business of that character for the old-time firm of Balch & Bacon. After a year or two in that connection, or in 1883, he took up a homestead on the Platte river, just below that of W. E. Tilton, and there made the first' improvements on the property. The old log buildings are yet standing. Up to that time the only evidence of civilization on the land had been grazing cattle, such as had ranged through the valley. After taking up this land and during the period before it became a source of revenue, Mr. McKay worked with his team, hauling from the sawmills in the mountains as well as doing considerable freighting for W. B. Hugus, then a merchant at Saratoga. As the work of improvement progressed on his homestead and cattle had been put on the place, he then gave his attention to the cattle business. Later he became manager of the Brush Creek Land & Live Stock Company, an organization of pooled interests in land and live stock, its members being, in addition to Mr. McKay, Dr. H. M. Bennett and Will and Susie Ballard. This company prospered but its dissolution was brought about by the owners being scattered, and when the assets of the company were distributed, the Brush Creek ranch, on which Mr. McKay resided for years afterward, together with some cattle, came to him as his share. During his residence there Mr. McKay made all of the improvements, built an excellent home as well as other buildings necessary for the shelter of grain and stock, and put in the first alfalfa along Brush creek. He developed a ranch property that is considered one of the best in the Brush Creek country. He resided there until 1916, when he disposed of his ranch property and his cattle, and since that time he has maintained his home in Saratoga when not spending the winters in California or making extended visits to friends and relatives elsewhere.
Mr. McKay was one of the organizers of the Stockgrowers State Bank at Saratoga and served as a director until 1917, when he also became president of the institution, in which capacity he still continues. The growth of this bank has been of a substantial character and it has taken high rank among the sound and well managed financial institutions in Carbon rounty. Its officers and directorate are local men whose business ability and integrity have been for years of the very highest character. Mr. McKay is also vice president of the Paulson Medicinal Well Company of Saratoga. He is a charter member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 43, at Saratoga, and when the Knights of Pythias lodge at Saratoga was in existence he was also a member of that order. In politics he has ever been a republican, stanch in support of the party, but has never sought office. He is recognized as one of the substantial men in the Saratoga valley. He came to Wyoming with energy and ambition as his capital. Thoroughly self-made, he has ever been straightforward in his dealings and he has high standing as an honest man with a clean, creditable record. He has held to the principles of honor and uprightness instilled in him in his childhood days by his parents' teachings. He has lived modestly and does so today. He has what he wants and is able to gratify his desires for pleasure or travel, but is of a quiet, unassuming nature and avoids show and ostentation. He finds his recreation in motoring and owns a fine car, so that when business permits, he takes motor trips through the country. As he has prospered with the passing years he has made investments in real estate and is today the owner of some of the best business property in Saratoga. He has a wide acquaintance in the county where he has long made his home, and no man is more generally respected. He has ever been a stanch supporter of his home locality and he has been generous in his gifts to home institutions and to such enterprises as are termed of value in the upbuilding of the section of the state in which he lives.