James McDonald Chaney
Encyclopedia
Rev. James McDonald Chaney (18 March 1831 – 18 September 1909) was a minister of the Lafayette Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. He had been an ordained minister for 53 years.
, March 18, 1831. He made public profession of his faith in the Des Peres Presbyterian Church, Saint Louis County, Missouri, at age 19. After finishing preparatory education in Rev. Jacon Coon’s Academy of Salem, Ohio
, he became a student in the Des Peres Institute, finishing his course there in 1852. He received a Bachelors degree from William Jewell College of Missouri, a Master of Arts from King College
of Tennessee, and a Doctor of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary
. Dr. Chaney was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from King College
in 1885.
from April 24, 1858 until October, 1867; he served as Stated Supply of the church at Kansas City, Missouri
from 1868-1869; and Stated Supply at Dover, MO, from 1869-1870.
From 1871-1876, Dr. Chaney served as Vice-President and then President of the Elizabeth Aull Female Seminary in Lexington, Missouri
. Following that, he served as pastor of the church at Pleasant Hill, Missouri
from 1877-1885. In 1885 he became president of the Kansas City Ladies' College at Independence
. In 1891 he became President of Independence Academy of Missouri.
Following his service to Independence Academy, he provided supply preaching for various lengths of time in the churches at La Monte
, Hughesville
, Pleasant Hill
, Corder
and Alma
(all in Missouri
).
; she died on June 27, 1874. In 1875, Dr. Chaney married Miss Mary Parke in Lexington, Missouri
. They had a two sons and a daughter; one of their sons, J. Mack Chaney, who as an adult was an attorney in Kansas City, Missouri
.
He died at his home in Independence
, on Saturday, 18 September 1909, from a cerebral hemorrhage, after struggling for several days with digestive trouble. The funeral service was conducted on Tuesday, September 21, 1909, at 2:30pm in the First Presbyterian Church of Independence, Missouri. Rev. E.C. Gordon, form president of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri
, conducted the service. Dr. Chaney was buried in the Mt. Washington Cemetery near Kansas City, Missouri
.
The most well-known is "William, the Baptist" (1877). This was frequently reprinted. His necrology in the Missouri Historical Review notes that it owns a 12th edition. In 2009, an updated edition was published by Doulos Resources, preserving the original style and story while updating the language, including references (in footnote) for unattributed Scripture quotes, and offering a Scripture index. This edition was edited by J.E. Eubanks, Jr.
The second book is a sequel, entitled Agnes, Daughter of William the Baptist, or The Young Theologian. It was first published in 1894.
Birth and Early Life
Dr. Chaney was born near Salem, OhioSalem, Ohio
Salem is a city in northern Columbiana County and extreme southern Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. At the 2000 census, the city's population was 12,197....
, March 18, 1831. He made public profession of his faith in the Des Peres Presbyterian Church, Saint Louis County, Missouri, at age 19. After finishing preparatory education in Rev. Jacon Coon’s Academy of Salem, Ohio
Salem, Ohio
Salem is a city in northern Columbiana County and extreme southern Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. At the 2000 census, the city's population was 12,197....
, he became a student in the Des Peres Institute, finishing his course there in 1852. He received a Bachelors degree from William Jewell College of Missouri, a Master of Arts from King College
King College
King College is a private, comprehensive college located in Bristol, Tennessee. Founded in 1867, King is independently governed with covenant affiliations to the Presbyterian Church and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ....
of Tennessee, and a Doctor of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
. Dr. Chaney was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from King College
King College
King College is a private, comprehensive college located in Bristol, Tennessee. Founded in 1867, King is independently governed with covenant affiliations to the Presbyterian Church and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ....
in 1885.
Ministry
Dr. Chaney was licensed by the Presbytery of St. Louis in August, 1856, and ordained by the Presbytery of Lafayette on April 4, 1858 as a minister of the Presbyterian Church. He was pastor of the church at Dover, MissouriDover, Missouri
Dover is a village in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 108 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town.-Geography:Dover is located at ....
from April 24, 1858 until October, 1867; he served as Stated Supply of the church at Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
from 1868-1869; and Stated Supply at Dover, MO, from 1869-1870.
From 1871-1876, Dr. Chaney served as Vice-President and then President of the Elizabeth Aull Female Seminary in Lexington, Missouri
Lexington, Missouri
Lexington is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,453 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lafayette County. Located in western Missouri, Lexington lies about 40 miles east of Kansas City and is part of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
. Following that, he served as pastor of the church at Pleasant Hill, Missouri
Pleasant Hill, Missouri
Pleasant Hill is a city in Cass County, Missouri, United States. The population was 5,582 at the 2000 census.Pleasant Hill is home for the Kansas City/Pleasant Hill National Weather Service Forecast Office, which serves 37 counties in northern and western Missouri and seven counties in extreme...
from 1877-1885. In 1885 he became president of the Kansas City Ladies' College at Independence
Independence, Missouri
Independence is the fourth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Clay. It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
. In 1891 he became President of Independence Academy of Missouri.
Following his service to Independence Academy, he provided supply preaching for various lengths of time in the churches at La Monte
La Monte, Missouri
La Monte is a city in Pettis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,064 at the 2000 census.-Geography:La Monte is located at ....
, Hughesville
Hughesville, Missouri
Hughesville is a village in Pettis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 174 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hughesville is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land....
, Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill, Missouri
Pleasant Hill is a city in Cass County, Missouri, United States. The population was 5,582 at the 2000 census.Pleasant Hill is home for the Kansas City/Pleasant Hill National Weather Service Forecast Office, which serves 37 counties in northern and western Missouri and seven counties in extreme...
, Corder
Corder, Missouri
Corder is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 427 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Corder is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
and Alma
Alma, Missouri
Alma is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 399 at the 2000 census. Bob Mahony is the present mayor.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
(all in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
).
Other Interests
Dr. Chaney was an astronomer and inventor as well as a minister and teacher. Approximately 10 years prior to his death, he invented a planetarium for locating and observing celestial bodies, allowing the determination of the relative positions of all known planets in the solar system based on meridian passage or declination. The invention could also be used to indicate the movement of the planets. Dr. Chaney’s planetarium was frequently used by schools, and was commended by Professor Young of Princeton.Family, Death
Dr. Chaney married Eliza M. Dunklin on May 20, 1852, in Jefferson County, MissouriJefferson County, Missouri
Jefferson County is a county located in East Central Missouri in the United States. The county was included as the mean center of U.S. population in 1980. It is the sixth most-populous county in Missouri. Census 2010 put the population at 218,733 Its county seat is Hillsboro. The county was...
; she died on June 27, 1874. In 1875, Dr. Chaney married Miss Mary Parke in Lexington, Missouri
Lexington, Missouri
Lexington is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,453 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lafayette County. Located in western Missouri, Lexington lies about 40 miles east of Kansas City and is part of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
. They had a two sons and a daughter; one of their sons, J. Mack Chaney, who as an adult was an attorney in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
.
He died at his home in Independence
Independence, Missouri
Independence is the fourth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Clay. It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
, on Saturday, 18 September 1909, from a cerebral hemorrhage, after struggling for several days with digestive trouble. The funeral service was conducted on Tuesday, September 21, 1909, at 2:30pm in the First Presbyterian Church of Independence, Missouri. Rev. E.C. Gordon, form president of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri
Fulton, Missouri
Fulton is a city in Callaway County, Missouri, the United States of America. It is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 12,790 in the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Callaway County...
, conducted the service. Dr. Chaney was buried in the Mt. Washington Cemetery near Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
.
Legacy
Rev. Chaney is remembered for having written two books, though he also penned two lesser-known works.The most well-known is "William, the Baptist" (1877). This was frequently reprinted. His necrology in the Missouri Historical Review notes that it owns a 12th edition. In 2009, an updated edition was published by Doulos Resources, preserving the original style and story while updating the language, including references (in footnote) for unattributed Scripture quotes, and offering a Scripture index. This edition was edited by J.E. Eubanks, Jr.
J.E. Eubanks, Jr.
John Edgar Eubanks, Jr. is the Senior Pastor of Dove Mountain Presbyterian Church in Tucson, AZ. He is also the Co-Director and Principal of Doulos Resources and the Publisher with Kalos Press....
The second book is a sequel, entitled Agnes, Daughter of William the Baptist, or The Young Theologian. It was first published in 1894.
Works
- William the Baptist (first publication in 1877) — updated edition in print and eBook, edited by J.E. Eubanks, Jr.J.E. Eubanks, Jr.John Edgar Eubanks, Jr. is the Senior Pastor of Dove Mountain Presbyterian Church in Tucson, AZ. He is also the Co-Director and Principal of Doulos Resources and the Publisher with Kalos Press....
- Agnes, Daughter of William the Baptist, or The young theologian (first publication in 1894)
- Poliopolis and Polioland, or A Trip to the North Pole (1900)
- Mac or Mary, or The Young Scientists (1900)