Biographical Sketches
ISAAC H. KINLEY
Of the firm of Kinley, Carskadon & Kinley, is a widely known and prominent lawyer of Missouri, having been a resident of Kansas City since 1889. He is a native of Richmond, Wayne county, Indiana, born April 6, 1841, a son of Edward and Mahala (Macey) Kinley, natives of Ohio and Virginia, respectively.
His paternal ancestry is traceable to the Huguenots who were forced to flee from France in the 17th century to escape religious persecution. They became Quakers in religious sentiment, and upon coming to America settled in South Carolina, where the grandfather of our subject was born. His maternal ancestry is traced to the Maceys of Massachusetts, whom the poet Whittier immortalized in verse in �The Exiles.� He was driven from his home for having harbored Quakers and protested against the persecution of Friends, whom he protected and befriended. He and his family settled in Nantucket, where they were the first white settlers. This family was among the first settlers in the Northwest territory, having located in what is now Wayne county, Indiana, where the family became prominent and where many of the descendants yet reside. The maternal grandmother of Mr. Kinley lived to be over 100 years old.
Edward Kinley was a lawyer by profession. Following the early tide of emigration to Iowa, he settled in Salem in 1846, where he successfully practiced his profession till 1859; then forming a co-partnership for the practice of law with Frank Semple, he moved to Dover, Lee county, same state, where he remained till 1867. He then went to Savannah, Missouri, entering into practice with his son, Joseph M., with whom he was associated till 1870, when he went to Brunswick, Missouri, soon after retiring from practice. He was a gentleman of fine social and legal attainments and attained a high legal degree of prominence at the bar. While living at Dover he was assessor of internal revenue under the administration of President Lincoln. To him and his estimable wife were born 3 children: Isaac H.; Mrs. Amanda E. Bailey, of Tacoma, Washington; and Joseph M., a prominent lawyer of Los Angeles, California. Mr. Kinley was accidentally killed by a moving train near Tacoma, Washington, July 17, 1893.
The early life of Isaac H. Kinley was principally passed in Iowa. His early educational discipline was secured in the public schools and the Howe Academy at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, growing to man's estate under the sturdy and vigorous influences of a new country, and gaining a due regard for the dignity of honest toil and an appreciation of the potentialities of personal endeavor. Subsequently he took a finishing course under a private tudor, and at the age of 18 he began reading law in his father's office and 2 years later was admitted to the bar.
At about that time the war-cloud broke which had so long been hanging above our national horizon, engulfing the country in a red wave of war, he immediately enlisted and was assigned to duty in company B, third Iowa cavalry. His participation was of the most active kind, taking a part in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, principally in the trans-Mississippi part of the field. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he received honorable discharge, June, 1864.
Upon his return to civil life, he at once resumed reading law, and the following September he went to Albany, New York, where he took the law course in the Albany Law School, graduating in May, 1865. Opening an office in Brunswich, Missouri, in 1865, he soon acquired a clientage, and in 1872 was elected prosecuting attorney and efficiently filled the position for one term, besides holding numerous other local positions of honor and truth. In 1880 he was a member of the state democratic central committee of the 10th congressional district. In 1889 he came to Kansas City to get into a field more commensurate with his abilities and one involving a more diversified practice. From 1875 Mr. Kinley was for 14 years associated with Captain James C. Wallace, of Keytesville, a prominent lawyer, and from 1880 to 1889, they jointly owned and conducted the Weekly Brunswicker, Mr. Kinely being the business manager and editor. From an 8-column folio it was increased to a 6-column quarto, adding all modern improvements, -- steam presses, folders, etc. From 1887 to 1888 he was president of the Missouri Press Association. Socially he is a prominent member of the Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons and of Oriental chapter at Kansas City.
As a lawyer his legal acumen and ability are fortified and embellished by a wide and thorough general knowledge. He possesses rare physical energy, commanding and conspicuous presence and a magnanimous nature. Keenly sensible of the ethics of his profession, no man loves the ardor of honorable controversy better than he, and no practitioner at the bar of Jackson county excels him in unselfish and incorruptible devotion to duty and the cause of his client.
His marriage to Miss Sarah F. Davis was consummated July 30, 1865. They have 3 children: Will H., a prominent young lawyer, Sadie and Louie.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.