My Great-Grandfather, Archibald McKinnon, Sr., was born June 20, 1837, as the youngest son among the 9 children of Donald McKinnon (1788-1846) and Mary McLellan (1795-1864), in Argyleshire, Scotland.

"When he was nine years old the family moved to Greenock, Scotland, only to have the father and a sister of Archibald die of typhoid fever. Three months later, the family moved on to Paisley, Scotland. He joined the L.D.S. Church July 26, 1852, and at age eighteen was apprenticed to learn the shoemaker's trade. Shortly thereafter, in 1855, he crossed the Atlantic in the ship "Samuel Curling", then crossed the plains into Utah with the Milo Andrus company."

According to Another biographical sketch that appears on pages 1604-1606 of Conquerors of the West: Stalwart Mormon Pioneers by Florence C. Youngberg, Archibald arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on October 24, 1855.

"He stayed a few weeks in Salt Lake City, then traveled to Provo where he found work as a shoemaker and in the tanning business." In 1856, he sought work in Palmyra, Utah, and enroute he met some good friends from the ship he took from Scotland, and "the family welcomed him with great rejoicing, as though a son had returned."

"By late 1859, he was back in Salt Lake City and worked for J. W. Jenkins for five months. He was then employed by Howard Egan to take charge of the mail and Pony Express Station near the Point-of-the-Mountain. Due to Indians it was quite an undertaking, but he stuck with it for three years."

"On August 9, 1861, he took 5' 2" Mary McKay, also from Scotland, as his bride."

"In May, 1871, Brigham Young counseled with Archibald McKinnon and called him to move to the Bear River Valley. He, his family, his sister, and her son, John M. Baxter, and others with whom he was associated moved to Randolph that late spring."

On July 10, 1879, Archibald married Jane Brough, in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, as his second wife.

When plural marriage was outlawed, and the church issued the Manifesto terminating the practice, Archibald was arrested for "co-habitation", and spent three months in jail, being released in March of 1889. The Randolph community welcomed him home with open arms.

Archibald was a very well beloved pioneer and settler of the Randolph, Utah community. He served as the Bishop of Randolph for 21-years, and in the Stake Presidency for 14-years. His community service included serving in the Territorial Legislature.

"Few facets of pioneer life were untouched by Archibald McKinnon's hands, heart, and mind, including the building of the first meetinghouse, in Randolph. For that he helped build the adobes and collect the finances for it."

"Archibald loved music and spent many hours teaching others to sing, both at school and in his own home. He also composed a few songs; "A Boy’s Prayer" was published in The Juvenile Instructor." There is also a picture of the sheet music on this memorial.

McKinnon, Wyoming, was named in his honor. You can read more about this, as well as learn details about McKinnon and its settlers in documents prepared by the former Bishops of the McKinnon Ward, on this site: "The Wyoming Woodticks".

As his Death Certificate attests (see it at the right), Archibald died of "Chronic Instestinal Nephritis", apparently brought on by "La Grippe" (the flu).

Randolph - A Look Back describes Archibald McKinnon, Sr.'s funeral services (in part):

Archibald McKinnon died April 18, 1915. His funeral services indicate the goodness of the man: "Funeral services over the remains of President Archibald McKinnon of Woodruff Stake, were held Saturday, April 24th, during the afternoon session of Quarterly Stake Conference. The Largest gathering of people ever witnessed in the Randolph Tabernacle was present to pay their respects to the departed."

"The floral offerings were the most beautiful ever seen in this section. All the wards and different stake organizations sent magnificent wreathes, as did also the school children of the Randolph public schools."

"President McKinnon is survived by a family consisting of thirteen sons, five daughters, and by Mrs. Mary McKay McKinnon and Mrs. Jane Brough McKinnon, his wives, also by fifty-three grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.... 'If all the loving farewells could be turned to flowers to make a pillow for his head, it would be as soft as down.'"

==== Note ====
The best source for details on Archibald's life is the truly excellent documentary book, Randolph - A Look Back, written and compiled by Steven L. Thomson, Jane D. Digerness, and Mar Jean S. Thomson, published in 1981. Parts of his biography on pages 362-365 of that book are quoted here, but you'll find his name and/or the names of his sons mentioned many many times in this book. I treasure my copy!