Bill lived his life in Crawford and Neosho County, Kansas. He was the oldest of nine children. A former schoolmate in the country school recalled the McKinney children were very poor, had a hard life, and shared one mule to ride to school, taking turns. His parents divorced in about 1929 which must have been extra hard during that time period. His father, James McKinney, was a difficult man from drink and bad temper. His mother, the former Mary Catherine Westoff, was known as a sweet and good woman.
In his young years, he worked with his father at their Cold Potato Threshing Company. Bill and James also played fiddle at lots of local dances. Later Bill worked for the Neosho County Road Department, and eventually he opened and ran his own DX filling station with attached garage on North Main in Erie, Kansas. He also developed quite a lawn mower repair service in his home garage after retirement.
He had five children, one girl and four boys. His grandchildren remember him as a pleasant and quiet man himself, although earlier stories show he had to learn to control the inherited temper. There was always a bag of peanuts or a cold soda pop to be found in the DX station office.
In his young years, he worked with his father at their Cold Potato Threshing Company. Bill and James also played fiddle at lots of local dances. Later Bill worked for the Neosho County Road Department, and eventually he opened and ran his own DX filling station with attached garage on North Main in Erie, Kansas. He also developed quite a lawn mower repair service in his home garage after retirement.
He had five children, one girl and four boys. His grandchildren remember him as a pleasant and quiet man himself, although earlier stories show he had to learn to control the inherited temper. There was always a bag of peanuts or a cold soda pop to be found in the DX station office.
Bill lived his life in Crawford and Neosho County, Kansas. He was the oldest of nine children. A former schoolmate in the country school recalled the McKinney children were very poor, had a hard life, and shared one mule to ride to school, taking turns. His parents divorced in about 1929 which must have been extra hard during that time period. His father, James McKinney, was a difficult man from drink and bad temper. His mother, the former Mary Catherine Westoff, was known as a sweet and good woman.
In his young years, he worked with his father at their Cold Potato Threshing Company. Bill and James also played fiddle at lots of local dances. Later Bill worked for the Neosho County Road Department, and eventually he opened and ran his own DX filling station with attached garage on North Main in Erie, Kansas. He also developed quite a lawn mower repair service in his home garage after retirement.
He had five children, one girl and four boys. His grandchildren remember him as a pleasant and quiet man himself, although earlier stories show he had to learn to control the inherited temper. There was always a bag of peanuts or a cold soda pop to be found in the DX station office.
In his young years, he worked with his father at their Cold Potato Threshing Company. Bill and James also played fiddle at lots of local dances. Later Bill worked for the Neosho County Road Department, and eventually he opened and ran his own DX filling station with attached garage on North Main in Erie, Kansas. He also developed quite a lawn mower repair service in his home garage after retirement.
He had five children, one girl and four boys. His grandchildren remember him as a pleasant and quiet man himself, although earlier stories show he had to learn to control the inherited temper. There was always a bag of peanuts or a cold soda pop to be found in the DX station office.
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