OBITUARY:
MADISON COURIER, Madison, IN, Monday, 2 Nov 1987, page 7
TED McKAY
Ted McKay, 70, a former resident of Madison, died Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas. Survivors include two sons: Mike McKay of Fort Worth, Texas, and T. L. McKay of San Diego, Calif.; and two sisters: Mrs. Marjorie Horner of Seaview, Wash., and Mrs. Nancy Dew of Madison. He was preceded in death by his wife, Roberta Langsdale McKay.
REMINISCENCE: MADISON COURIER, Madison, IN, 12 Dec 1987
The following article appeared in the column "It Reminds Me" written by George Miller:
"TED'S STEAM ROLLER - It is strange sometimes how two different things will happen which will remind you of a specific incident. This happened to me when I read the obituary of Ted McKay, 70, former resident of Madison who died at Fort Worth, Texas. And the day the paper brought Ted's obituary I finished cleaning out an old box of books and toys my mother, Georgia Renett a Haumesser Miller, had packed away, perhaps in the 1930's, and in with the toys was a little red iron steam roller with yellow wheels that had been given to me by Ted, probably around 1925 or 1926. This kind of toy was quite popular in the 1920 period, probably cost not more than 25 (cents).
"I had moved to Madison not more than a year before Ted gave me this steamroller. After class at Eggleston Elementary School I would go to the then Lutheran Church, northeast corner of Main and East Streets, where my Mother would be practicing on the church organ and walk home with her to 915 N. East St.
"One day when sitting on the church's side steps, waiting for my Mother to come out, this boy from across the street invited me over to play with him. He had several of those iron toys, and we made roads in the dirt between the curb and sidewalk and had a lot of fun. When Mother came out of the church and it was time for me to go, Ted said he had so many toys he would like for me to have the steam roller. Guess he felt sorry for this new kid from the country out around Manville. When I didn't jump at the offer, as I felt it was really his, he pointed out that it had a piece of the flywheel broken and after all he would probably get a couple more for Christmas which was just a few weeks off. I accepted Ted's steam roller.
"That was our first day to meet but we crossed paths many times after that. I was two years older than he was but we were in the Scouts together, when I had the paper agency for Madison for The Indianapolis News, I asked Ted if he would carry a route. He did for several years.
"I had a johnboat by that time and Ted had a kayak, probably the only kayak ever to be docked in Madison. What is a kayak? It is an Eskimo canoe, completely decked over and one occupant could be laced in. I never tried out Ted's kayak, felt safer in my johnboat.
"Again, in later years Ted played in Lincoln (Lick) Demaree's band when I hung out with that group, and we crossed paths many times around the Ohio River, he seemed to enjoy the river and so did I.
"Years later, probably the late 1960's or early 1970's, when I was doing a lot of travel for the U. S. Office of Education, I made a plane change at Houston and phoned Ted. We had an enjoyable chat and next time I was through I phoned again. Ted was out of town but I chatted with his wife, Bertie [sic] Langsdale McKay. Was never through Houston again so never renewed the acquaintance.
"But I always thought a lot of Ted, knew his older sister, Marjorie Horner, now of Seaview, Wash., and his little sister, Mrs. Nancy Dew. But I also remember Ted's father. When I was carrying papers, The Indianapolis News asked that, if possible, we pay by check. So I went into this bank, the one folks used to call the Madison Safe Deposit and Trust Co., and asked Mr. McKay, I believe his first name was Fred, if I could open an account. I believe it was a savings account and he pointed out it earned two percent interest which was money I didn't have to work for. I was making 64 (cents) a week carrying this route of 16 customers and I began to save 50 (cents) a week. Of the other 14 (cents) I always spent 5 (cents) for a Milky Way candy bar and had 9 (cents) to burn in my pocket. I had taken over this route when Billy Lawson got another job paying a bit more. And I should add that what got me in that bank was the fact that the McKays took the paper from me and I collected my 12 (cents) a week from Mr. McKay by going to the bank.
"I have good thoughts about the McKays though I haven't seen Ted since right after WW II, haven't seen Nancy for many years and last time I saw Marjorie, she and her husband stopped over one evening to visit June and I when we lived in Indianapolis around 1949.
"Now back to the steam roller. I'm not up on the descendants of Ted or his sisters, but if someone would send me an address on Ted's sons, Mike in Fort Worth and T. L. McKay in San Diego, Calif., I'll try to pass along this steam roller. And if Mike or T. L. do not have children, perhaps there is a descendant via Marjorie or Nancy. Anyway the steam roller is up for grabs to a McKay descendant, and I'll ship it at no cost. And if the photographer doesn't mess things, I'll include a picture with this column and send the original along with the steam roller.
"Ted and I sure had a lot of fun playing with those toys in the dirt."
The following is taken from George Miller's column in the MADISON COURIER dated 16 Jan 1988:
"TED McKAY'S STEAMROLLER - Might say that Mike McKay, 236 Shoreline Dr. Azle, TX 76020, was sent Ted's steamroller a few weeks ago..."
CENSUS:
1920 Census, Indiana, Jefferson Co., Milton Twp., page 161 (ED 107, sheet 13)
Name Age Birthplace Father Mother
McKay, Fred H. 32 IN IN IN
" Mae E. 25 IN IN Canada
" Marjorie 6 IN IN IN
" Theodore 2 IN IN IN