James D. McKenzie

James D. McKenzie Headstone

Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales

1. Obituary

Died
McKenzie—In this city, Sunday morning, April 20, at 7:15 o'clock, of typhoid fever, James D., son of James and Kate McKenzie, aged 9 years, 5 months and 18 days. The funeral took place the same day at 5 o'clock. The reason for burial so soon after death was because of sickness of other members of the family and by advice of the physician. The afflicted family have (sic) the sympathy of many friends.

Corpus Christi Caller of 27 April 1884, page 5, column 3
Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell

2. Biography

This young man is the son of James McKenzie and Kate Rankin who are also buried in the family plot at Old Bayview Cemetery. The parents of young James D. are both natives of Scotland who migrated to America. Markers proclaim the burial of this young man's sisters also in the cemetery: Edna McKenzie-Froh, Jesse McKenzie-McLaughlin, and Kate McKenzie-McElroy. James D. McKenzie appears in the 1800 census of Nueces County (ED 116, p. 15) as a five year old boy. However, he is already deceased by the 1900 census (ED 130, p. 5) in which his mother Kate reports that she has given birth to eight children and only four survive. Young James D. McKenzie must have died prior to the age of 25 years old. The four siblings who survive him are all daughters of elder James and Kate McKenzie—Edna, Jesse, Kate, and Lillie.

Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell