New-York tribune., 1902-07-11
SKETCH OF COLONEL M,KAY,s CAREER

Colonel Nathaniel Mckay had led an eventful
life He was born at Sheburne n. S., on
March = 1881, being the seventh son and seven
teenth child in a family of Scottish descent
which numbered altogether eighteen children
In July, 1854, he was naturalized as a citizen Of
this country, and in 1856 started in business for
himself as Il manufacturer Of boilers and ma
chinery. The business rapidly extended and
became known the Mckay & AIdus Iron
Works. of East Boston, Mass. The outbreak of
the Civil War gave the concern plenty Of work.
it constructing number of lightdraught steam
ers for Southern waters. Failure TO receive
compensation for this work caused the firm to
fail in December, 1868.
Colonel Mckay soon succeeded in reha bilitat-
ing himself, and in June 1879. went to Phila-
delphia. His operations there were large He
secured four contracts for removing the goods
and stores of the bureaus of Construction and
Repair, Steam Engineering and Ordnance from
the old navy yard, then being dismantled, to
League Island He also secured a contract for
removing two ship houses from the old to the
new navy yard. Though the work done by
Colonel Mckay apparently satisfactory to
the government The Philadelphia Times" then
edited by Colonel Alexander K. Mcclure ac-
cused Colonel Mckay of taking advantage of
his opportunity to defraud the government.
Colonel Mckay sued Colonel Mcclure for libel
laying his damages at 100000
In 1893 he married Maine woman, who died
in 1910. Two years later he married again. In
1898 he tried 10 get a divorce from his wife in
Washington. the couple having lived apart for
years on account of incompatibility of temper.
Not until Colonel Mckay obtained a residence
in Oklahoma last year and brought suit for di-
vorce on the charge of desertion did he succeed
in securing a divorce. On June 26, he then be-
ing seventy-one years old, he again married.
His bride this time Miss Mabel Geyer, of
Washington. twenty-seven years old. The we'd
ding took place at Crisfeld. Md, the Rev. G. w.
Gwynne, an uncle of the bride officiating.
For many years Colonel Mckay was engaged
in efforts to secure from the government the
large sums which he said were due him and the
estate Of his brother Donald Mckay, for the
construction of ironclads in the Civil War. a
bill for his relief passed by Congress in
1888. but was vetoed by President Cleveland.
The claim subsequently referred TO the
Court of Claims by Congress. and, after
struggle lasting nearly quarter of a cen
tury he secured in 1892 a judgment for Sllo'Ooo
The Mckay claims against the government alto
gether amounted to about S1O0OoO0.
The second Mrs. Mckay was the daughter Of
Gideon Pope. one OF the organizers of the Brook
lyn Polytechnic Institute. She was member
of Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn, and intimate
with the late pastor, the Rev. Dr. Charles Hall.
and Bishop Littlejohn. Colonel and Mrs. Mckay
had lived at the house where she now lives,
No. 323 McDonough-st. for some years, until
they moved TO Washington. She had employed
General Benjamin F. Tracy TO fight the decree
Of divorce which her husband had obtained in
Oklahoma. She declares that 1t was Illegal.
and that Mr.. McKay's marriage to Miss Geyer
was. therefore. not binding. She will set up
claim TO the estate.
Mrs Mckay herself could not be seen a.
her home last night. An intimate friend of the
FAMILY from Boston, Mrs. Smith, said at the
house that the trouble between Colonel and
Mrs. Mckay had been of long standing.
THIS ROOSTER TROTS IN HARNESS.
From The Youths Companion.
A Minnesota paper tells of giant buff cochin
rooster. owned by Mr.. Plumason. Of Luverne,