Rev. James McDonald Chaney (18 March 1831 – 18 September 1909) was a minister of the
Lafayette
Lafayette or La Fayette may refer to:
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* House of La Fayette, a French noble family
** Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757â ...
Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. He had been an ordained minister for 53 years.
Biography
Birth and early life
Dr. Chaney was born near
Salem, Ohio
Salem is the largest city in Columbiana County, Ohio, with a small district in southern Mahoning County. At the 2020 census, the city's population was 11,915. It is the principal city of the Salem micropolitan area in Northeast Ohio. It is 18 ...
, March 18, 1831. His parents were William Chaney (1803 - 1886) and Harriett McDonald Chaney (1803 - 1880). 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 is the largest city in Columbiana County, Ohio, with a small district in southern Mahoning County. At the 2020 census, the city's population was 11,915. It is the principal city of the Salem micropolitan area in Northeast Ohio. It is 18 ...
, he became a student in the Des Peres Institute, finishing his course there in 1852. He received a bachelor's 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
Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSem), officially The Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, is a private school of theology in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1812 under the auspices of Archibald Alexander, the General Assembly of t ...
. Dr. Chaney was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from King College 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, Missouri from April 24, 1858 until October, 1867; he served as Stated Supply of the church at
Kansas City, Missouri from 1868 to 1869; and Stated Supply at Dover, MO, from 1869 to 1870.
From 1871 to 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
Pleasant Hill is a city in Cass and Jackson counties, Missouri, United States. The population was 8,113 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Pleasant Hill is home for the National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleas ...
from 1877 to 1885. In 1885 he became president of the Kansas City Ladies' College at
Independence
Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the statu ...
. 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
Alma or ALMA may refer to:
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(all in
Missouri
Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...
).
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, Missouri
Jefferson County is located in the eastern portion of the state of Missouri. It is a part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 226,739, making it the sixth-most populous county in Missouri. Its county ...
; 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
Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the statu ...
, 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, former president of Westminster College in
Fulton, Missouri
Fulton is the largest city in and the county seat of Callaway County, Missouri, United States. Located about northeast of Jefferson City and the Missouri River and east of Columbia, the city is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri, Metropolita ...
, conducted the service. Dr. Chaney was buried in the Mt. Washington Cemetery near
Kansas City, Missouri.
The Princeton Seminary Bulletin, Volumes 4-6, pp. 19-20
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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.
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) â€
updated edition in print and eBook
edited by J.E. Eubanks, Jr.
* ''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)
References
Resources
*
William the Baptist
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chaney, James Mcdonald
American Presbyterian ministers
Calvinist and Reformed writers
Religious writers
Christian writers
1831 births
1909 deaths
19th-century American clergy