MURRAY SMITH McKINNON, of Hartsville, Darlington county, South Carolina, merchant, and twice mayor of Hartsville, was born at St. Pauls, Robeson county, North Carolina, on the 19th of March, 1872. His father's name, Archie Calvin McKinnon, indicates his Scotch Presbyterian descent; and he was the son of John McKinnon, who came from Scotland and settled near Fayetteville, North Carolina having named his son out of his reverent love for the great Presbyterian theologian of Geneva. A. C. McKinnon was a merchant and a distiller of turpentine, of whom his son writes, "his marked characteristics were his sturdy independence and his love of the Presbyterian church."

Born and reared in the country, as a boy strong in constitution, robust and full of spirits, he took a healthy and a normal interest in all boyish sports and amusements, yet he was especially fond of good reading. He was taught in his boyhood to work on the farm; and he "did chores," milked the cows and attended to the chickens, as did most of the boys born on the farms of South Carolina in the two decades which preceded the War between the States.

At a time when he would have no doubt gone to college his father lost all his property, and the son was forced to work in a store instead of taking a liberal course of study. But he had acquired in early boyhood a desire for good reading and a love of the best literature, which has stood him in good stead all his life, as a delight and a relaxation as well as a means of acquiring information.

In 1892 Mr. McKinnon took a position as clerk in a store at Clyde, South Carolina, having determined to qualify himself for the life of a merchant and storekeeper. On the 31st of December, 1903, he married Lilla McLure, daughter of Henry and Mary McLure, of Troy, South Carolina. They have had two children, one of whom was living in 1907.

After establishing himself at Hartsville, the people of his town, having seen something of his method of doing business, soon showed their appreciation of the young man who had settled among them by twice electing him mayor of Hartsville. Mr. McKinnon is a Mason, a Knight Templar, and a Knight of Pythias. He is a Democrat in politics and has always been loyal to the principles and to the nominees of the Democratic party.

In his church relations he is a Presbyterian. His favorite form of exercise and amusement is quail shooting.

Mr. McKinnon's address is Hartsville, Darlington county, South Carolina.

Portrait and Signature of Murray Smith McKinnon

Hemphill, J.C., ed. Men of Mark in South Carolina. Washington, D.C.: Men of Mark Publishing Company, 1908.