Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-01-19

study for the career OF civil en-
gineer. When 21 years old he had q
machine shop in his native town He
studied machinery and his opportunity
came when the shoe stitching machine.
invented by L. r. Blake. proved to be
an utter failure. He bought the patent
outright and perfected machine
which has revolutionized the shoemak-
ing industry. This machine did away
with the little cobbler shops. with their
pegs and wax ends. and opened up big
factories. In few years every man.
woman and child in America, who
wore shoes, paid tribute to him, and
Mckay gained millions.
McKay's partner was Robert Fl.
Mathes. a practical man Of inventive
genius. When the war broke out in
1861 they offered to the government,
something unheard of, machine made
shoes for the army. In less than ten
years IL is estimated that more than
pairs Of boots and shoes In
America had paid royalty to Mckay
and his companies. In 1873 he formed
the Mckay Sewing Machine Associa-
ton. and in a series of lawsuits de-
feated all rivals, established his
patents and became the central power
in one of the greatest monopolies.
Gordon Mckay married Miss Minnie
Treat, of Cambridge, many years
younger than himself. They lived to-
gether only a few years. There were
two sons. who have always been with
their mother. Mrs. KcKay finally Sc
cured a divorce, and became the wife
tache Of the German embassy at
Washington. and now charge d'affaires
of the German legation to the Sultan
Of Morocco. Mckay. who had always
been attached to his wife. sent her
jewels and other gifts on her wedding
day. and. it is said, gave her a check
for $1O0,0O The Kaiser became
angered at such attention, and the
young man was in the background for
several years. Then. through family
influence In Germany, he was restored
to favor. after having returned to Mr..
Mckay the money given his wife.
Mr.. Mckay did much good with his
He educated a number Of
young women abroad in music. gave
to Harvard college and
a training college in Rhode
Island for negroes, which college bears
the name Of the Mckay institute. He
was a good violinist and left a large
collection of musical instruments. It
8 Understood that the greater part Of
lis estate will go to Harvard Univer-
'ity, including his large library. His
next to kin are Mrs. Dexter and Miss
Catherine Dexter. Of Boston.
Gave Him Away.
Two young fellows at Liverpool,
,artners In the tea trade, were the best
f friends, and their intimacy extended
O personal as well as to business mat
ers.
One of them, simple-minded fel-
ow, was a bachelor, and was In the
abit of reading to his partner ex-
racts from letters of an ardent and
ffectionate nature from lady In the
North Of England, who signed herself
Susie"
The married one went to China for
welve months, and returned just in
ime to attend the wedding of his part
Ter.
II hardly feel like a stranger" he
aid, in his sweetest tones, addressing
he bride. "In fact, feel as though
ought to be we'll acquainted with
ny partners wife. since he has often
one ME the honor to read to me ex-
racts from his dear Susie's letters"
The faces Of the husband and the
wife were studies, as the bride drew
lersef up and said, emphatically and
distinctly, Il beg your pardon-my
lame Is HelenP'