Horace McKinney, son of Thomas M. and Frances A. McKinney, was born near Franklin, Pa., Oct. 3, 1869. His early education was secured in the public schools of Franklin and at the Birch School in Vernon township. He was converted and united with the State Road Church, the Rev. Manassas Miller pastor, in 1888, and the same year entered the preparatory school of Allegheny College. The year following he was licensed to preach, and during the latter part of his college course he supplied Mount Pleasant and Guy’s Mills charges.

He was graduated in 1895, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and was admitted on trial into the Erie Annual Conference that Fall. In 1897 he entered Boston University School of Theology, and was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Divinity, in 1899. While engaged in his studies in Boston his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. In 1897 he was admitted into full connection in the Conference, having been ordained deacon by Bishop Goodsell, in 1894, and in 1899 he was ordained elder by Bishop Mallalieu. During his membership in the Conference he held successful pastorates at Cooperstown, 1900-1; Conneaut Lake, 1902; Westfield, 1903-5; Sharon, First Church, 1906-9; and Punxsutawney, First Church, 1910-11.  

Horace McKinney was a true man in the highest sense of the word. He had largeness of vision, depth of thought, tenderness of heart, and consecration of soul.  He was indefatigable in labors, knowing not what it meant to spare himself. To know him was to love and appreciate him. Jan. 1, 1895, he was united in marriage with Miss Halcyon Mellen, of Burbank, Ohio, who with two children, Clarence E., aged 16, and Dorothy, aged 12, survives him. He is also survived by his parents, five sisters and two brothers one of the latter being the Rev. Thompson W. McKinney, of Philadelphia.

During the ten weeks of his fatal illness, all that medical science and care could offer was done for him at Murray Sanitarium, Punxsutawney. At times his sufferings were intense, but his Christian faith and character shone more and more to the last. Many times he repeated those beautiful lines beginning: “God’s plans, like lillies, pure and white, unfold,” and also Elizabeth Porter Gould’s words: 

“Why shadow the beauty of sea or of land

With a doubt or a fear?

God holds all the swift rolling worlds in his hand,

And sees what no man can as yet understand,

That out of life here, -

With its smile and its tear,

Comes forth into light, from eternity planned,

The soul of good cheer.

Don’t worry—the end shall appear.” 

Not long before the end came he asked the little family to kneel around his bed for a last season of family worship together, and commended them with his church and all his interests, to the Heavenly Father, “Who doeth all things well.” For him death was indeed a victory. Funeral services were conducted in the church at Punxsutawney, by District Superintendent Neff. Hymns of Christian faith were sung, and fitting words were spoken by Superintendent Neff, Rev. C. H. Quick and the Rev. T. W. McKinney. Services were also held January 3, at the home of the parents, in Meadville. Many ministers were present; a large number of his former parishioners, of Sharon, came in a specially chartered car, and J. B. Neff, W. B. Irwin, S. C. Abriel, N. A. White, J. C. MacDonald, C. E. McKinley and T. W. McKinney took part in the impressive services. The interment was in Greendale cemetery, Meadville. “Servant of God, well done,” thine is now the victor’s crown.