James Wilfred McKinley

McKinley was born on April 24, 1857, in New Castle, Pennsylvania, to Samuel McKinley and Harriet Newell Simpson McKinley. He was educated in a New Castle public school, and he attended the University of Pennsylvania (1876–77) and the University of Michigan (1877–79), where he was graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. He came to California in 1883.[1][2]

He was married to Lillian Elder on October 7, 1886, and they had a son, James W. McKinley Jr. The older McKinley was a member of the Jonathan Club, the University Club, the Masons and the Knights Templar.[1][2] He was also a member of the Sunset Club[3] and the Union League clubs of Los Angeles and of San Francisco.[2]

McKinley died of a paralytic stroke in his home, 508 West Adams Street, on May 11, 1918.[1] A funeral service at St. John's Church drew hundreds of attendees. Interment was at Inglewood Cemetery.[3]

In 1881 he was admitted to the bar in New Castle, and two years later he came to California and formed a law partnership with J.F. Hutton. After Hutton's death, McKinley became a partner with W.T. Williams. McKinley was elected city attorney in 1884, was reelected in 1886 and served until 1888.[1][4]

In 1889 he was appointed judge in the Superior Court and then was elected to the post, serving until January 1897.[1]

As an attorney, he represented the Southern Pacific Railroad and the Pacific Electric Railway.[1] He was on the board of directors of the Commercial National Bank and the Market and Produce Bank.[2]

McKinley went into politics and was chairman of the California delegation to the 1904 Republican National Convention, and he was chairman of the California Republican Convention of 1906.[1]

In 1903 he was appointed a regent of the University of California.[2]