The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-18
MKANE'S LIFE HISTORY.
Shrewd, Open Hearted and Retiring, He
Has Made a Big Fortune.
New York Herald.

New York Herald.
Whether originally spelled with an "P' or
an "e' all the friends of the mighty auto
crat of Coney island who has now fallen
know him as John Young McKane.
Fifty-one years old, with a fortune esti-
mated at half a million, this man who was
monarch of all he surveyed cannot walk
through the paths of his big domain with
out seeing on every side his possessions;
and on what is not his absolutely he holds
a. big mortgage. 1t is said he has an an
nual income Of $4,000 in rents Of buildings
in the town of Gravesend alone.
His parents settled at Sheepshead Bay
when they came here a little more than
fifty vars ago. There were Elk children, all
boys, of whom John is the eldest. Only
one of them has died. The "Boss's' mother
is still alive at the old home in Sheepshead
Bay, but his father died about a year ago.
The elder McKane began as a farmer and
his sons helped him to thrive and lay by
something for a rainy day. Young Johns
first earned money was a half dollar paid
to him for picking Strawberries. After
ward he was apprentIced to a carpenter
and builder and saved his money.
The Sheepshead planning mill was his first
venture in his own behalf, and this was
early in the sixties. He progpered. and
many of the houses he created are there
still. Among the creations at which he can
point are the stables and grand stand OF
the Coney Island Jockey Club, the Brighton
Beach Racing Association and the BROOKE
lyn Jockey Club. He gave up the business
Ions ago, and his brothers now conduct ii.
brought up a strict Methodist, John has
clung 10 that faith, and has done much to
foster the cause. His father practically Gre
ated the old Methodist church at Sleeps
neao Bay, which has been replaced by O.
structure paid for by the Boss and
clotnier Tredwell. This is the church of
which McKane is now Sunday school su-
p~erlntendent, having been admitted TO II on
years old.
1t was in the old church. on Dec. 8. 1864.
that he was married to Miss Fannie Nos
trand, OF the well-known Long island fam
lily OF that name. The pastor, the Rev. 7.
III. Churchill. has always been one of the
BOSS ~stanchest upholders, and has TAX
en- up the cudgels for him when other
Methodists were attacking him for his in
terest in the Coney Island Athletic Club, i'm
which many prize-fghts were held. John
has always claimed that his only interest
was In the clubhouse. which he leased to
the club for a rental OF 5000.
one OF the proudest things the pastor says
Of hts Sunday school superintendent is that
he has never taken a drink of liquor or
beer, and that he has never used tobacco
in any form. And this is the Boss's boast.
also. He has taken good care of himself,
and he shows ii. Under the medium height,
he is of a very stocky build, and not many
men of his age would give as good an &C
count of themselves in a political free fight
as could he.
Sharp and shrewd, he seems 10 be adapted
by nature for the successful politician
and that he has been successful and car
WELD an immense power. even Presidents
can testify. His first step into the field OF
politics was made nearly twenty-five years
ago, when he was elected constable of the
town of Gravesend. He was a Democrat
and from that day he kept his politics and
his religion separate. the latter never. I'm
terfering with his management OF the other
he was not long q constable, and his next
step was upward, as have been nearly al
his others until his foot slipped In the las
campaign. He has been dubbed "Poobah.'
and he is. Supervisor. chief OF police and
president OF nearly every Official board in
the town Of Gravesend. Everybody danced
If he chose to whistle.
An intimate friend and political a~ssociat
for years Of Hugh Mclaughlin. the Demo
just before the presidential election of 1SS
and have never been reconciled. McLaugh
lin threw him out OF the Kings county gen
eral committee and the Board OF Super
visors made another man their president II
his place. The boss took counsel with hi
friends, then a consultation with the Re
publican leaders followed, and the resul
was that the vote OF Gravesend went q
help General Harrison and the boss
marched at the head OF his followers I'm tn
inaugural procession at Washington.
Then the Democratic Legislature took
hand In an attempt at disciplining him. Ii
February. 1890. x Dill was introduced amend
ing the election law as applied TO the count,
election districts containing more that fou