The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1919-02-06
PIONEER OF
KENNEWICK Is
LAID TO REST
Funeral of Thomas McKain is
Largely Attended by Friends
and Neighbors
BUSINESS IS SUSPENDED
Had Been identified with Life of Com
munity for 16 Years-Helped
to Build 81 Mills

Thomas McKain, one of Kennewick' S
earliest pioneers and most widely
known citizens, was laid to rest in the
city cemetery Tuesday afternoon. The
funeral services were conducted at two
o'clock at the home at Pacific and
Fourth, by Rev. J. G. Harvey, former
pastor of the local Methodist church,
who came here from Dayton for the
purpose.
AS q mark Of respect every business
house in the city closed it's doors be-
tween the hours of two and four and
the home was far too small to accom-
modate the crowd of sorrowing friends
who, in spite of the inclement weather,
gathered to pay their last tribute to
the dead. The casket where it rested
in corner of the living room, was al
most completely concealed by a pro-
fusion of wreaths and floral pieces, to-
kens from many friends. Six of Mr..
McKain's friends and neighbors acted
as pail bearers. They were G. M. An
mis-, Edward Sheppard, M. H. Church,
A. F. Brown, F. F. Beste and Thomas
James.
Few men in the community had more
friends or fewer enemies than did Tom
McKain and his passing brings sincere
sorrow to everybody who knew him.
He was honest, sincere and of genial
nature that cemented many warm and
lasting friendships. The circle of his
friendships went far outside people of
his own age. Because of his keen in
terest in all kinds of athletic contests
every boy in the community knew him
as friend and counsellor.
Mr.. McKain came to Kennewick
when the town was just in it's begin
ming and altho he never sought prom
inence in public life no man took a
deeper or more watchful interest in
affairs Of community life than did he.
Having seen many "bubbles" burst he
never lost his happy optimism and one
of. his outstanding characteristics was
his unshaken faith in the future of the
city and the valley. The home which
he built at Pacific and Fourth streets
soon after he came here was truly typ
ical of the man. 1t is marked by a
quaint and modest simplicity, but ev-
erywhere enhanced by touch of rest
full beauty Ia rough and rugged
frame leaf-hidden and fragrance-lad-
en-. For years it has been one of the
show" places and beauty spots of the
city. 1t was here that for years Mr..
McKain lived quietly and contentedly
for, "He ne'er had changed nor wished
to change his place."
Mr.. McKain was born in Ottowa,
Canada, January %, 1863. In 1884 he
went with his brother, Ed. McKain, to
California and soon afterward they
came to Oregon. Both We're trained
millwrights and as such their names
and their works are prominently link
ed with the early milling history OF
the Northwest. Between 1884 and 1886
they built q FIGURING mills in Oregon
and Washington. The mills at Oregon
City, Hillsboro, Pendleton, Heppner,
Yakima, Ellensburg, Sprague-in fact
nearly every one of the early mills in
the two states were built by them.
In 1901 at Cheney, Mr.. McKain was
married to Cora L. Eaton and two
years later they came to Kennewick
from Paha. After coming to Kenne-
wick Mr.. McKain followed the trade
OF builder and carpenter and scores OF
buildings in and around the city bear
at least some of his workmanship.
Mr.. McKain has always enjoyed the
best of health and his sudden death
while asleep last Thursday evening is
thought to have been due to the lodg.
ment of a blood clot in the heart OF
lungs. ..-
Besides his widow he leaves step.
laughter, Mrs. Archie Durbin, OF
hammond, Oregon. stepson, Edward
Eaton, with the U. S. army of occu.
Patton in Germany. a father. one
brother and three sisters in Ottawa
one brother in Cleveland, Ohio. ant
TWO brothers, Ed. and Jim McKain, Of
Los Angeles.
Mr. and Mrs. Durbin and Ed. ant