William W. McKune
6 Oct 1848 - 7 Jan 1927

 
Vitals

William W. McKune was a native of Bradford, McKean County, Pennsylvania, where he was born 6 Oct 1848 to Dr. David Wilson and Hannah (Conklin) McKune. William married Mary H. Atkins on Christmas Eve, 1871, in Alleghany, Cattaraugus County, NY. She was the daughter of Hiel and Susan (Foster) Atkins, born on Christmas Day in 1855. They came to Montcalm County 1 Nov 1881.

Their children were: Charles Fred(1872-); Pearl U.(1876-) wife of Ferry Hanifin; and William (1881-) husband of Mary E. Shaw.

The McKunes are of Scotch ancestry.

Mary H. McKune is found in the 1920 census in the Annex of the Michigan Soldiers Home, Grand Rapids, Kent County, MI. In 1930 there is a Mary McCune in the census for Casnovia, Kent County, MI.

William McKune was a carpenter, lumberman, farmer, real estate dealer, insurance agent, librarian, census taker and postmaster of McBride. He helped to incorporate the village of McBride, he was president of the village and also Justice of the Peace. William was an earnest temperance man and was a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars in McBride and was District Chief Templar for at least three years. In addition, he was President of the Farmers' Alliance.
Service

William W. McKune enlisted at the young age of 16 at Erie, PA, on 5 Sep 1864. He was a landsman and later advanced to coxswain in the Navy, on board the US Steamer "Victory" No. 33 of the Mississippi squad. The ship was used chiefly as a dispatch boat, but Mr. McKune took part in the battles of Johnsonville, Fort Henry, Paducah and Franklin Roads. William also served on the monitor "Neosha" and the flagship "Moose". He received an honorable discharge at Mound City, IL, 9 Jun 1865. He was listed in the paper as receiving a pension of $16.
GAR McCook Post #94, Commander
Siblings William's father was a slave holder and served as a surgeon for a time in the Confederate Army, later joining the Federal troops in the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry. C. D. G. McKune, a brother, went out in the 211th PA Volunteer Infantry and was shot through the hips at Fredericksburg.
Records 1850 Census Bradford, McKean County, PA with parents and siblings
1860 Census Bradford, McKean County, PA name spelled McCune, with mother and siblings
1870 Census Bradford, McKean County, PA with siblings
1880 Census Decatur, Van Buren County, MI Champion Street, Hiel Atkins next door
1890 Veteran Census McBride, Montcalm County, MI  
1894 MI Census McBride, Montcalm County, MI  
1900 Census Allis Township, Presque Isle County, MI  
1910 Census Onaway City, Presque Isle County, MI N. 1st Street
1920 Census Grand Rapids, Kent County, MI Company A Soldiers Home
Obit  

Portrait and biographical album of Ionia and Montcalm counties, Mich.

Chapman bros., 1891
Death
Burial Grand Rapids Veterans Home Cemetery
Grand Rapids, Kent County, MI
Find A Grave #16045337
  Some biographical information from Presidents, Soldiers, Statesmen Vol II, 1892.
contributed by Paula Johnson