The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 468 GEORGE M. McKAY. George M. McKay, a successful agriculturist, owning a valuable property near Mabton, has been particularly interested in social betterment and development of his community. He has likewise been active politically and has served in public positions, discharging his duties to the great satisfaction of all concerned. He has well merited the confidence of the public and has made many friends since coining to this section of Yakima county. A native of Ontario, Canada, Mr. McKay was born in Oxford county, February 17, 1857, his parents being George and Isabella (McDonald) McKay, both natives of Scotland. The father was born in 1818 and was a son of John McKay, also a native of Scotland, who took his wife and ten children to Canada in 1822. George McKay died at the ripe old age of eighty-nine years, in 1907, having survived his wife about a decade, the death of the latter occurring in 1898. Both passed away in Canada on the old family homestead. The father followed agricultural pursuits throughout his life. George M. McKay was reared under the parental roof and in the acquirement of an education attended the public schools of the Dominion. In 1879, at the age of about twenty-two, he removed to Manitoba, taking up a homestead claim near Crystal City. where he devoted his efforts to the cultivation of his land for about ten years. In 1889 he removed to North Dakota, where he took up a homestead. For fourteen years, or until 1903, he resided in that state, becoming quite successful as a farmer. In the latter year, however, he sold out, and having thoroughly studied local conditions and opportunities, bought forty acres five miles west of Grandview, where he now owns a fine home and has also erected good barns. He has ever followed the most progressive methods and now has his land under a high state of cultivation, raising beans, corn, potatoes and hay. He likewise gives some attention to live stock, preparing hogs for the market, and also runs a small dairy. He has been successful in all of his activities and his farm is today considered one of the most valuable properties of the neighborhood. The marriage of George M. McKay and Eleanor Gosmell took place May 16, 188.1. Mrs. McKay is a native of Highgate, Ontario, Canada, and a daughter of James and Katie (Barker) Gosmell. By her marriage she has become the mother of the following named: William, a rancher near Grandview, who is married and has three children: Edward, who is married and resides in Seattle; Katherine, the wife of Ross P. Haney, a hardware merchant of Sunnyside; Eva, who is not only a graduate physician and surgeon but has also studied osteopathy and is practicing in Mabton, where she has acquired a high reputation and a large practice; and Lois, who is attending high school. The family, who are highly respected and esteemed by all who know them, are prominent members of the Presbyterian church, to which denomination they are most devotedly attached. Mr. McKay has served as elder for the past sixteen years and through his valuable efforts and timely aid has largely contributed toward the success of the local church. In his political affiliations he is a democrat, and, interested in the cause of education, has served as school director. For two and a half years he has also been road overseer. While a resident of North Dakota he served for three years as county commissioner; was township supervisor for four years; and served on the county central committee. There is great credit due him for what he has achieved as he has attained the prosperity that he now enjoys entirely through his own efforts. He has never regretted the step he took when he crossed the border into the United States and in the rich valley of the Yakima he has found the opportunities which he sought, through the utilization of which he has become one of the substantial citizens of his neighborhood. Many are the friends he has made here and all are agreed as to his high qualities of heart and mind. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.