Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1893. p. 266. M. J. KINNEY Resident of Astoria, and proprietor of the largest salmon cannery on the Columbia river, was born at Muscatine, Iowa, in January, 1847. His father, Robert C. Kinney, was a native of Illinois, and was reared by his uncle, Lieutenant-Governor Kinney, who was one of the early Governors of the State. In 1833 Mr. Kinney started a steamboat line from St. Louis to the northern water of the Mississippi river, and located the town of Muscatine upon his own homestead, building a hotel and other conveniences to accommodate emigrants to the new country. Mr. Kinney was married in Illinois to Miss Eliza E. Bigelow, a native of Nova Scotia. Her father was interested in cod fishing and trading with the West Indies. Locating his family at Muscatine, Mr. Kinney continued trading upon the river and also operated flour and saw mills, besides having other interests in the newly formed town, continuing until 1847. At this time he sold his interests, and with ox teams removed this family to Oregon, foreseeing the profits of the Eastern trade form the Pacific coast. The trip was without unusual incident and was safely accomplished, the company landing in the fall at Oregon City. In 1848 Mr. Kinney visited the California mines, but after six months returned to Oregon and located his donation claim in Yam Hill county, near LaFayette. He then engaged in farming and the stock business, and also improved one of the finest orchards in Oregon, shipping his fruits to San Francisco. In 1857 he purchased the McMinnville flour mills, and in 1864 the Brooklyn mills, both of which he operated until 1868, when he sold and bought an interest in the Willamette flour mills and woolen manufacturing mills at Salem. Mr. Kinney took charge of the flour mills where was carried on an enormous business with agencies at Portland, San Francisco and Liverpool. Subsequently he and his sons, M. J. and A. W., purchased the entire milling plant, which they operated until the death of Mr. Kinney, in 1875. He was a member of the first Constitutional Convention and first State Legislature of Oregon, and was active in forming the government of the new State. He was opposed to slavery in Oregon, and was instrumental in excluding the privilege from the Constitution. Another thing he advocated was, that married women had a right to hold real estate, and was also an active promoter of public schools. Our subject, M. J. Kinney, was reared upon the farm and in the mill, and received his education in McMinnville College under the instruction of Prof. J. W. Johnson, now president of the State University. After completing his education Mr. Kinney entered the milling business at Salem; later going to San Francisco, he took charge of the office established at that city, and there continued to reside until the death of his father, in 1875, when the property was sold. In 1876 Mr. Kinney came to Astoria and engaged in the canning of salmon, which was then conducted by Hapgood, Megler, Cook, Humes & Booth, each having separate canneries. Mr. Kinney built on Water street, at the foot of Washington, necessarily beginning in a small way, as he had everything to buy and the business to learn, but he increased his plant with experience and knowledge, until he has reaches the colossal output of 73,000 cases of four dozen cans each per annum, and is now the proprietor of the largest canning establishment in the Northwest. In 1890 he purchased the Devlin cannery, which he also operates, both canneries being completely equipped with labor-saving machinery. All cans are manufactured in his own building, with the most highly improved canning machinery. His fishing plant embraces upward of 150 boats, each with nets ranging from 1,500 to 1,800 feet in length, besides eighty traps with steamboat, sailing sloops and scows in attendance, giving employment during the fishing season to 425 men, while forty-five white people and 190 Chinamen are employed in the canneries. He markets throughout the city and the United States and Liverpool. Mr. Kinney is also one of the chief proprietors of the Clatsop Mill located at Astoria, which was built in 1884, with box plant adjoining. The daily output is 80,000 feet of lumber and 5,000 boxes per day, giving steady employment to 100 men. Mr. Kinney owns 1,000 acres of land on Clatsop Beach, and is laying out Gearhart park, which offers attractions as a summer residence. The hotel Gearhart numbers 150 rooms, and was opened during the summer of 1892. Mr. Kinney was married in San Francisco in 1876, to Miss Margaretta Morgan, daughter of David Morgan, a California pioneer. She died in 1880, leaving one child, Harrietta. He was married again in Kansas, in 1889, to Miss Narcissa E. White, a native of Pennsylvania, and a lady of refinement and culture, one who takes an active interest inn temperance work. For years she was connected with Miss Willard in organizing the W.C.T.U. in Washington, and was instrumental in securing the passage of straight laws favorable to temperance interests to this State. Mr. Kinney is a member of the Masonic order. In business he is quiet, methodical, always master of the situation. Farseeing in judgment and for making out his own pathway to success, Mr. Kinney deserves the esteem so generously awarded to him. Transcriber's additional notes: 1850 - November 15; Yamhill Co, OR; page 169 Robert Kinney, 37, IL, farmer Eliza E, 37, Nova Scotia Mary I, 12, IA, att. school Albert, 7, IA, att. school Augustus, 5, IA Marshal, 3, IA Alfred, 1, OT 1860 - June 18; Yamhill Co, OR; Chehalem Valley Pct, Lafayette PO, page 671 R. C. Kinney, 47, IL, farmer, $9600 / $12,000 Albert, 17, IA Augustus, 15, IA Marshall, 13, OR Alfred, 11, OR Josephine, 8, OR William, 5, OR Eliza, 2, OR 1880 - June 17; Clatsop Co, OR; Astoria, page 270 August C. Kinney, 35, IL, IL, Nova Scotia, physician Jennie, wif, 33, IA, MO, MO, keeps house Marshall, brother, ID Terr, IL, Nova Scotia, keeps fishery 1920 - January 17; Multnomah Co, OR; Portland Pct 39, 267 Pine st. Marshall J. Kinney, roomer, 72, IA, IL, Nova Scotia, Wd, proprieter, saw mill 1930 - April 17; Marion Co, OR; Salem Wd 6, Oregon State Insane Asylum, page 220 Marshall Kinney, patient, 82, IA, IL, CAN ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.