Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1893. p. 1133. WILLIAM C. McKAY, M. D. a native of Oregon, was born in Astoria, March 18, 1824, of Canadian birth on his father's side, and Indian on his mother's. His father, John McKay, was a native of Canada, who came to Astoria at a very early day, and there married an Indian maiden of the Chinook, a niece of the old chief, Corn Comly. The grandfather of our subject, Alexander McKay, was also a native of Canada, and one of the early explorers of the Pacific coast, it being supposed at that time that there was some channel which connected the two great oceans. A large with the Hudson's Bay Company, and when they discovered the channel Mr. McKay made his way to New York and reported the fact to John Jacob Astor. A company was immediately formed, composed of two of the Stewarts, John Jacob Astor and Mr. McKay. The latter was sent back and located at Astoria as a trading post, and made it his headquarters, and was for many years connected with the company. Afterward his son, John, came on to Astoria and married the Indian girl, as before stated. After the birth of our subject he moved to Vancouver island. About this time there was a man by the name of John Bell, who had been sent out from Boston to open up schools. He established one at Vancouver, and there the Doctor received his first education. His father intended to send hire to Scotland to complete it, and started there with the boy; however, he stopped in New York with a friend by the name of Dr. Whitney, and the latter persuaded Mr. McKay to place his son in a New York school to receive an American education, telling him that if his son should be educated abroad he would receive ideas which would interfere with his love for his native country; therefore Mr. McKay left his son with his friend, Dr. Whitney, in 1838, and be placed him in the Fairfield Academy, from which he graduated in 1843. On account of his youth, being then only nineteen years old, a diploma could not be given him, but he received an honorary certificate which promised him that if he returned when he became of age, the diploma would be given him. Our subject then returned and established himself at Oregon City. About this time the Willamette College was opened at Salem, and he attended that school and received from it his diploma of M. D. Returning to Oregon City, he went into copartnership with old Dr. McLoughlin, with whom be practiced until the first gold discovery. At this time he engaged in mining and prospecting, and in company with others discovered the Trinity gold mine. There they worked for some time, but were not able to open up the mine with success, and had to abandon the claim, which turned out to be very rich afterward. Our subject then returned to Oregon City, and in 1851 came to eastern Oregon and located near the present site of Pendleton. He had a permit as Indian trader, and established a trading post on McKay creek, remaining in this business until the war with the Indians in 1855÷'56. At this time the Indians burned everything, and robbed him of all he possessed. Following this our subject was employed by the Government as a guide, and continued in that capacity until the close of the Indian war, after which he established a furnishing store to supply emigrants, and continued in this business until 1861. At that time President Lincoln appointed him Indian Doctor at the Umatilla Agency, which position he has filled ever since, with the exception of the four years of President Cleveland's administration. President Lincoln was the first president to give an Indian an army appointment. At the time that the treaty with the Umatilla Indians was made, Dr. McKay vas appointed as agent to get the signatures for the sale of the lands to the United States. The Indians became very hostile to him for accepting this position, when they began to realize that when they made their mark it meant that their land was gone. He was appointed on the Pension Examining Board of Umatilla county, when that body was organized. He has a claim against the United States for $19,000, for the destruction and loss of his property at the time of the Indian war. During the Rebellion he was an Assistant Surgeon, and now is a member of the Kit Carson Post at Pendleton. He is also a member of the Masonic order, and of the I. O. O. F. Dr. McKay was married, in 1865, to Miss Margaret Campbell, born in Manitoba, and they have three living children: Thomas, James and Lilla, the latter being a teacher in the school at the agency. The Doctor belongs to the Astoria tribe, but had a transfer to the Umatilla tribe in order to get his allotment of land. He now has 160 acres in the reservation, and owns his residence in Pendleton. He is a very radical Republican, believing that that party leas done more for his kindred, the red men, than has any other party. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2008 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.