McNAIRY COUNTY, TN - BIOGRAPHIES - JUDGE JAS. F. McKINNEY
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		McNairy County Independent March 28, 1924

			Judge Jas. F. McKinney

   One of the lawyers of Purdy, and who achieved distinction as such
in other counties in West Tennessee, was James F. McKinney.  He was
born in Fayetteville, Lincoln County, Tenn., in September, 1822. He
married and moved to Fayetteville, and there reared a large family
four sons and three daughters.
  Judge James F. McKinney was educated in the schools in Lincoln county,
and read law in the office of Col. James Fulton, for whom he was
named.  In 1846 he came with his brother, Dr. Wm. D. McKinney, to
Purdy, there to engage in the practice of his profession.  He
married Miss America Adams, a daughter of B. B. Adams, one of the
early settlers of McNairy county, and a son of Jeremiah Adams, who
was born in Virginia in 1776, the year of the Declaration of
Independence.  B. B. Adams was born in 1800, and was an uncle of
our townsman, J. R. Adams. This marriage was in January, 1884, and
took place at the home of the father of the bride, just across the
valley east of Purdy. There is nothing there now to mark the place
of this old southern home, save the piles of crumbling brick, and
the little elevation on which stood the house.
  The subject of this sketch soon won distinction in his chosen profession.
He was learned in the law, was a safe counselor, and a close and
attentive student, and a most kindly and considerate citizen.  He
held the position of Judge of the Circuit Court of his district. He
loved his family and his home, and the people with whom he lived.
On the 21st day of May, 1880, he died at his home in Purdy, just
across the street, and to the north from where stood the old brick
church.
  A fitting tribute was paid the memory of the lamented lawyer and
jurist by his friend and neighbor, Hon. M. H. Meeks, who in
addressing the Court, said:
  As nearly as could be said about a mortal, Judge McKinney lived, moved
and had a being in the world for fifty odd years and died without
an enemy.  He stood on the stormy sea of professional life for a
quarter of a century, and laid his armor down, with a character for
integrity and honesty, as pure and spotless as on unclouded sky. He
was king; as sympathetic, as inoffensive and harmless as a tender
hearted woman. He was a man of strong, comprehensive, original and
native brain. He was a good judge of law, and when consulted for
advice, always told the truth.  He was a liberal man in his views,
and prescribed no man on account of his belief and convictions on
any subject.  He was a man of pure pretensions, but when you needed
a friend, you invariably found on in Judge McKinney.  He gave more
advice, and did more actual service in his profession free of
charge than any man of his ability-he was the people's friend.  And
to honesty and integrity of purpose in all his business relations
he added the quality of an affectionate husband, a kind and
indulgent father and good neighbor.
  His remains sleep in the old Purdy cemetery, just north of the town,
wherein are the graves of many of the old citizens of the town and
county.

REMINISCENCES of the EARLY SETTLEMENT  and EARLY SETTLERS of McNairy 
  County, Tennessee by Gen. Marcus J. Wright, Published in 1882
			Pages 34 and 35
		     JUDGE JAS, F McKINNEY

was born  in Fayetteville, Lincoln county, Tenn., on the first day
of September, 1822.  His father, the late Dr. Chas. McKinney, was,
a native of Wayne county,KY. He studied his profession at Danville,
KY., and at the age of twenty years was united in marriage with
Mary A. Rupell, and in 1812, with an enterprise characteristic of
the of the old pioneer settlers, he and his young wife emigrated to
Fayetteville, where lie practiced his profession for 40 years, and
reared a family of seven  children, four sons and three daughters.

His son, the Hon. J. F. McKinney, received his education at the
Fayetteville Male Academy, read law. with Col. Jas. Fulton (for
whom he was named) three years and then applied for and received
his license, and in company with his brother, Dr. Wm D. McKinney,
removed in 1846 to Purdy., Tenn., to engage in the practice of his
profession, where lie remained until his death, which occurred on
the 21st (lay of May, 1830

In the month of January, 1848, he was married to J. A. A. Adams, a
daughter of B. B. Adams, Esq , an old and esteemed citizen of
McNairy county. In a very few years after he entered the practice;
he was recognized as a lawyer of marked ability, and more than
ordinary attainments, and a man of sterling worth and integrity

Judge McKinney had some, taste for literature, but the, study and
practice of his profession was his highest ambition, which lie
prosecuted with energy and though not an orator he had by labor and
study become learned in the success law, and was ever considered a
wise and safe counselor. As an attorney in preparing   his cases,
he did  with the view of having them stand the test and criticism
of the Superior Court, with whom he enjoyed the reputation of being
a learned lawyer and courteous gentleman.

Very soon after the war lie was commissioned Judge of the Circuit
Court of his district, And afterwards lie received the commission
of chancellor, which responsible position he filled with credit to
himself and the entire satisfaction of the Bar and parties
litigant.  At the expiration of his term of office he again resumed
the practice, and. entered with zeal and energy into all the
arduous labor consequent to a faithful discharge of professional
duties. His practice, which bad for years been lucrative, now
became so onerous that he was under the necessity of giving up big
business, except in his own and adjacent counties.

Judge McKenney, as a jurist, made himself felt all over the State;
as an attorney be possessed the unlimited confidence of all who
knew him, but more especially of the citizens of his own county,
who know him best and who can most sadly feel in his death their
inseparable loss.

As remarked of him by M. H. Meeks, Esq., in his address to the
Court: "As nearly as could be said  about a mortal, Judge McKinney
lived, moved, and had a being in the world for fifty odd years, and
died without an enemy.He stood on the stormy sea of professional
life for a quarter of a century, and laid big armor down, with a
character for integrity and honesty, as pure and spotless as an
unclouded sky. He was as kind, as sympathetic, as inoffensive and
harmless as a tender hearted woman.  He was a man of strong,
comprehensive, original and native brain.  He was a good judge of
law, and when consulted for advice always told the truth. Be was a
liberal man in 'his views, and proscribed no man on account of his
belief and convictions on any subject. He was a man of pure
pretentions, but when you needed a friend, you invariably found one
in Judge McKinney. He gave more advice and did more a actual
service in his profession free of charge than any man of his
ability--he was the people's friend. And to honesty and integrity
of purpose in all his business relations he added the quality of an
affectionate husband, a kind and indulgent father and a good
neighbor."