Joseph A. McGinnies
Encyclopedia
Joseph Albert McGinnies was an American businessman and politician.
and settled in Ripley, New York
. After he had arranged a home, his wife came with the rest of the family in 1864 to join him.
At the age of sixteen, Joseph McGinnies began working at the drugstore of Dr. Simons in the village of Ripley, learning the pharmacist's profession, and after five years as a clerk in the store he became its proprietor. He developed the establishment into a prospering general store. Then he began to purchase fruit farms, principally those adaptable to grape
-growing. He first had his own small farm to look after, and from time to time he was appointed administrator of estates in the grape belt, becoming one of the most expert grape-growers in the region.
On May 3, 1885, he married Agnes Brockway (1862–1954). They had one daughter, Clara Elizabeth, who studied at Syracuse University
, from which she was graduated Bachelor of Arts
. In 1919, Clara Elizabeth McGinnies married Park J. Johnson, the postmaster of Ripley.
About 1897, he began organizing the Chautauqua and Erie Grape Growers' Association, based in Westfield, New York
, of which he was for many a director, secretary-treasurer and manager. Afterwards, he was chosen a director of the First National Bank of Ripley and of the Dunkirk Trust Company of Dunkirk, New York
He entered politics as a Democrat and accepted the nomination to run for the New York State Assembly
, but was narrowly defeated. In 1896, he was elected a member of the Chautauqua County
Board of Supervisors and was re-elected continuously. In 1905, he changed parties, and became a Republican, but continued to be re-elected to the County Board of Supervisors annually for more than 20 years. From 1906 on, he was clerk of the Board.
He was a member from Chautauqua County of the New York State Assembly
from 1916 to 1935, and was Speaker
from 1925 to 1934.
He was an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention
in 1924, and a delegate in 1928 and 1932.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ripley.
Life
He was the son of William McGinnies and Elizabeth Lighthouse McGinnies. William McGinnies emigrated to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and settled in Ripley, New York
Ripley, New York
Ripley is a town on Lake Erie in the westernmost part of Chautauqua County, New York, USA. The population was 2,636 at the 2000 census. The town was named after General Eleazer Wheelock Ripley. There are no incorporated villages in the town, but there is one CDP: Ripley.- History :Ripley was...
. After he had arranged a home, his wife came with the rest of the family in 1864 to join him.
At the age of sixteen, Joseph McGinnies began working at the drugstore of Dr. Simons in the village of Ripley, learning the pharmacist's profession, and after five years as a clerk in the store he became its proprietor. He developed the establishment into a prospering general store. Then he began to purchase fruit farms, principally those adaptable to grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
-growing. He first had his own small farm to look after, and from time to time he was appointed administrator of estates in the grape belt, becoming one of the most expert grape-growers in the region.
On May 3, 1885, he married Agnes Brockway (1862–1954). They had one daughter, Clara Elizabeth, who studied at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, from which she was graduated Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
. In 1919, Clara Elizabeth McGinnies married Park J. Johnson, the postmaster of Ripley.
About 1897, he began organizing the Chautauqua and Erie Grape Growers' Association, based in Westfield, New York
Westfield, New York
Westfield, New York may refer to:*Westfield , New York*Westfield , New York...
, of which he was for many a director, secretary-treasurer and manager. Afterwards, he was chosen a director of the First National Bank of Ripley and of the Dunkirk Trust Company of Dunkirk, New York
He entered politics as a Democrat and accepted the nomination to run for the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, but was narrowly defeated. In 1896, he was elected a member of the Chautauqua County
Chautauqua County, New York
-Major highways:* Interstate 86/New York State Route 17 * Interstate 90 * U.S. Route 20* U.S. Route 62* New York State Route 5* New York State Route 39* New York State Route 60* New York State Route 394...
Board of Supervisors and was re-elected continuously. In 1905, he changed parties, and became a Republican, but continued to be re-elected to the County Board of Supervisors annually for more than 20 years. From 1906 on, he was clerk of the Board.
He was a member from Chautauqua County of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
from 1916 to 1935, and was Speaker
Speaker of the New York State Assembly
The Speaker of the New York State Assembly is the highest official in the New York State Assembly, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party....
from 1925 to 1934.
He was an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
in 1924, and a delegate in 1928 and 1932.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ripley.
Sources
- The History of New York State at www.usgennet.org James Sullivan, editor: The History of New York State - Biographies, Part 43 (Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1927)
- The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Mcgeehan to Mcgourin at politicalgraveyard.com Political Graveyard
- RootsWeb: NYCHAUTA-L (NYCHAUTA) Wife of Late Joseph McGinnies Taken by Death at archiver.rootsweb.com His wife's obit, at rootsweb