Russell Orr McKinley

                                         Grandpa Russell Orr McKinley feeding a bear while working on the Alcan Hiway.  One story he told was that some of the guys put honey on someone's feet and the guy woke up to a bear licking his feet and toes.  

These are a few pictures of my grandpa, Russel Orr McKinley.  He has his mother's maiden name for his middle name which I think was popular back then.  He is fishing in the top picture.  The second one was when he was in Alaska working as a cook while they were building the Alcan highway.  He said they put honey on one of the guys feet while he was sleeping and the guy woke up to a bear licking his feet.  This is grandpa feeding one of their bears.

Russell Orr McKinley on right with Ruth

Russell Orr McKinley in a field.  

Russell Orr McKinley and wife Ruth Lucille Wright 

Russell Orr McKinley on left

I received your letter and am enclosing a list of ancestors.  That you may want for your records.  I don't believe your grandmother can give you any additional ones.  I'm glad you said you didn't want to upset her by asking about an earlier marriage that no doubt was an unhappy one.  What earthly purpose would it serve but satisfying a curiosity?  Surely wouldn't add any stars to the crown of the one asking.  Sort of like stomping in the face of a person already down on his back.  I'm sure she would enjoy having you visit her.  Maybe you could do some shopping for her since you don't have to drive as far as the rest of us do to get there.  Hope you get the job you'd like to have.  after the children are grown and gone it's good to have something away from house to do.  Good to build up Social Security also.  Love Aunt Mary Louise

This was the letter mom received when she was trying to do some genealogy research.  Mom (Carol Wilson) found out her biological grandfather was not Albertus George McKinley but Lloyd Andrews, born 1884.  Lloyd was married to Margaret Ethel Orr (mom's grandmother) for a short time.  Margaret married Lloyd April 29, 1905.  She was pregnant with Russell and that is probably why it was a touchy subject.  She had both Russell Orr McKinley and Kenneth by Lloyd.  She then married Albertus George McKinley in 1908.  I have never found any adoption records for Russell or Kenneth.  Grandpa would have been about 3 and Kenneth about 1 when their mom remarried Albertus George McKinley.  

I already have this genealogy info logged but it was just part of the letter

This is an article from the newspaper.  I rewrote it so you can read what it said: 

A 54 year old workman was killed today in the collapse of a sewer excavation in Southern Jackson County.  

The victim was Russell McKinley, of 1412 A Broadway.  Although frantic efforts were made by fellow workmen to uncover McKinley, who was buried in a 12 foot ditch by heavy clay, he died during the few minutes it to  uncover his head and shoulders.

  Heard Boards Crack

The accident occurred in the Belvidere Heights addition on the southeast corner of U>S> 71 and M-150.  McKinley was working in the ditch with William Hendricks, 47, of 3033 Park avenue, and Dewey Bailey, 25, of 1708 the Paseo, Negroes.  They said they were completing installation of a joint in the tile sewer pipe and had only about 3 minutes work remaining.when the boards shoring up the sides began to crack.  "I heard the boards cracking," Bailey related.  "I yelled to get out."  

Two Get Out

Bailey and Hendricks ran from the center of the 30 foot long ditch to the east end and scrambled out.  They said McKinley started to the east, saw the dirt falling, turned to run west, but was trapped.  In a moment his body was covered with dirt.  Other workmen of the Inter-Mountain Construction company ran to the ditch and using hand shovels uncovered McKinley's head and shoulders.  A Grandview doctor arrived as the men continued to work and pronounced McKinley dead.  The accident occurred about 9:45 o'clock.  The body was removed about an hour later.  

This is the obituary for Albertus George McKinley.  

 This is grandpa's obituary and funeral info.  He was born in Kansas City, KS and buried in Fairview Cemetery in Liberty.  His funeral was at Carson Chapel in Independence.

I think this is a picture of his sister Mary Louise 

This is Russell Orr's death cert.  

Obituary for Kenneth E. McKinley.  They called him Mac also.  He was Russell Orr 

McKinley's full brother.  Merle McKinley and Mary Louise McKinley were just 1/2 siblings.  Kenneth and Russell's father was Lloyd H Andrews.  His obituary is below, and I have found very little information about him, but I have been able to trace his great-great grandparents.  

 I found an old record when he lived at 628 Stewart Street in Kansas City, MO.  It was his 

military registration.  It showed he worked for Kansas State Penitentiary.  He was single when he registered.  He answered he was medium height and medium build.  Light brown eyes and dark brown hair,  Dated June 5, 1917.  The math doesn't add up.  I show he died in 1973 but his obit stated he was 54.  He was born in 1887 so I need to research when he died.  He would have been 30 when he registered.