Source: The Biographical Record of Whiteside County, Illinois, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company - 1900
Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin, Tampico Historical Society
www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Page 412

MARLOW CROSBY MCKENZIE, a prominent citizen of Hume township, who is now living retired upon his farm on section 28, has been a resident of this county since July, 1865, and by shrewd judgment, excellent management and fair dealings, has acquired a sufficient property to enable him to give up business cares and enjoy the result of his former labors.

Mr. MCKENZIE was born in Essex county, New York, August 26, 1823, and is a son of William MCKENZIE, a native of the same place, and a grandson of Squire Bill MCKENZIE, a pioneer settler of that county, where he died at the age of forty-eight years. There the father grew to manhood and married Levisa RICHMOND, an aunt of George P. RICHMOND, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. William MCKENZIE followed farming upon a part of the old homestead in Essex county until called from this life in 1841. His wife survived him for --- time. They had five children, namely: William R., one of the early settlers of Whteside county, Illinois, where he opened up a farm and spent his last days, dying here in 1890; Katherine, who married and settled in Ticonderoga, Essex county, New York, where her death occurred; Milton, now seventy-nine years of age, who owns and operates the old home farm; Marlow C., our subject; and Laura, who married George T. MCKENZIE and died in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

During his youth Marlow C. MCKENZIE was given rather limited school advantages, so that he is almost wholly self-educated. He remained with his father until the latter's death, and then, in 1842, came to Whiteside county, Illinois, where he worked on a farm for three years and a half. He then went to Wisconsin, where he worked on the pineries one season, and also in a sawmill. Subsequently he returned to Essex county, New York, where he was employed in a sawmill for a time, and later boated on the canal and lake one season, and then tended a lock for a time. In Cohoes, New York, he was married, in 1849, to Miss Marion M. HAVEN, also a native of Essex county, and a daughter of George H. HAVEN. They began their domestic life on the HAVEN farm, which Mr. MCKENZIE operated for three years, and then, in 1852, they went to California by way of the Panama and Isthmus route. They took a steamer on the west coast and proceeded to San Francisco. Our subject engaged in mining and purchased an interest in mines. He also worked by the month in a livery stable, and later was interested in several different enterprises, all of which proved successful with the exception of his mining ventures. After eight years spent on the Pacific coast he returned east in 1860 by the same route. For two years he was engaged in the meat and butcher business in Port Henry, New York, and then sold out and again came to Whiteside county, Illinois, arriving here in July, 1865.  The following month he purchased a slightly improved place of fifty-six acres, and as there were no buildings upon it, he erected a house eighteen by twenty feet, and began to make further improvements. He has since enlarged his residence, has built a good barn and other outbuildings, and made many other improvements which add greatly to the value and attractive appearance of the place, which now comprises one hundred and sixty acres under a high state of cultivation.

Mr. MCKENZIE has been called upon to mourn the loss of his estimable wife, who died April 26, 1897, and was laid to rest in Prophetstown cemetery, where a near monument has been erected to her memory. Their only daughter, Martha May, died at the age of eighteen years. In 1893 he and his wife returned to New York, and spent four months very enjoyably in visiting old friends and scenes. In 1898, he again spent a month in that state. He has practically lived retired from active labor since 1889, devoting his time to looking after and keeping up his place.

Politically, Mr. MCKENZIE was an old-line Whig, later a Know Nothing and supported FILLMORE in 1856; in 1860 he voted for Abraham LINCOLN, and has since been a stanch supporter of the Republican party. He has taken quite an active interest in public affairs and has been elected to official positions of honor and trust, having served as highway commissioner, and a member of the county board of supervisors two yeaars, during which time he was a member of the equalization and other committees. He was initiated into the mysteries of the Masonic order while a resident of New York, and now belongs to Prophetstown lodge, F. & A. M., and also Prophetstown chapter, R. A. M. Wherever known he is held in high regard, and those who know him best are numbered among his warmest friends.