Joseph Justis McKinnon (1849-1936) was known to his friends as Joe. He was the machinist who oversaw the hoist engine, pumps, and other surface equipment for the Little Bay mine. He was described as a hardworking and intelligent fellow.

Joe had been born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to Scottish immigrant parents. He likely acquired his trade there before moving to Newfoundland with fellow Nova Scotians Joe Deluchery and John Stewart. I’d guess an arrival around 1880 when the British took over operations from the Germans as much of the mine’s management was replaced. He was married by 1883. He married a Newfoundlander named Elizabeth Merici Milley. The couple had a number of children in Little Bay.

Joe McKinnon was an active community member. He was secretary of the Rifle Club, president of the Billiards Club, and on the fire relief committee. He helped organize events for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and for Governor Blake’s visit to the town. Joe McKinnon was also an accomplished cricket player and played on Little Bay’s top team – The Pioneers. Further, he also, at least once, danced on stage as part of a public performance.

Mr. McKinnon and his family appear to leave Little Bay in 1895. They don’t seem to depart of the island immediately, however, as a daughter was born in St. John’s in 1900. Joe moved them back to Cape Breton the following year. He continued in mining work in Sydney and appears to have been a union representative there as well. He died there in 1936. The family appears to continue in Nova Scotian mining as evidenced by a sizeable number of McKinnons dying while involved in underground operations over the decades that followed.

If you know anyone from the McKinnon clan in Nova Scotia please pass this one on. I’d love to find a picture of this man. Thanks for reading!

Sources:

• Opening info on his job and personality (Daily News, May 15, 1955)
• 1849, Aug – Born at Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to Huge and Sarah (Macdonald) McKinnon (Martin-Barnes family tree on MyHeritage)
• 1871 – Living at Lingan, Cape Breton, NS (Martin-Barnes family tree)
• 1880, Dec – Birth of Francis Hugh McKinnon to Joseph and Elizabeth Merici (Martin-Barnes family tree)
• 1882 – Cecily McKinnon born to Michael and Mary J. (White) McKinnon (Massachusetts deaths) 
• 1883, April – Birth of John J. McKinnon to Joseph and Elizabeth (Martin-Barnes family tree)
• 1883, Aug – Joseph McKinnon played cricket on the married men’s team (Twillingate Sun)
• 1884, April – J. McKinnon played cricket with the Little Bay Pioneers against the Betts Cove Zulus (TS)
• 1886, June – Joseph McKinnon’s home and belongings lost to a fire (All Quiet, Wells)
• 1886, July – J. McKinnon played cricket with the Little Bay Pioneers against the Twillingate Nil Desperaandums (TS)
• 1887, Oct – Joseph McKinnon was a member of the Little Bay Rifle Club (ET / TS)
• 1888, April – Joseph McKinnon was thanked by Little Bay’s Brass Band for his help in organizing their concert for St. Patrick’s Day (ET / TS)
• 1888, Aug – Jospeh McKinnon among those to thank Governor Blake for his visit (Evening Telegram)
• 1888, Oct – Mr. McKinnon was appointed to the committee for fire relief (TS)
• 1889, March – Birth of Sarah Said E. McKinnon to Joseph and Elizabeth (Martin-Barnes family tree)
• 1889, April – Mr. McKinnon participated in the musical part of the St. Patrick’s Day performance (St. John’s Colonist)
• 1890, Jan – Joseph McKinnon was secretary of Little Bay’s Rifle Club (ET)
• 1891, Jan – Jos. McKinnon, Mrs. Jos. McKinnon, H.F. McKinnon, J.J. McKinnon, J.C. McKinnon, V.E. McKinnon, and Miss S.E. McKinnon are listed as parishioners of Her Lady of Carmel Parish (SJC)
• 1891, May – Joseph McKinnon performed the dance “Clog and Irish Pig” at a concert given by the Terra Nova Billiards Club (TS)
• 1891, May – Birth of William Victor McKinnon to Joseph and Elizabeth (Martin-Barnes family tree)
• 1891, July – Joseph McKinnon was president of Little Bay’s Billiards Club when they organized a billiards tournament (TS)
• 1892, March – Mary Ann McKinnon born to Joseph and Elizabeth (Milley) McKinnon (Civ births)
• 1892, Aug – J. McKinnon was appointed to the committee for fire relief after the St. John’s fire (Harbour Grace Standard)
• 1893, Sept – Agnus Douglas McKinnon born to Joseph and Elizabeth (Civ births)
• 1894 – McKinnon absent from the McAlpine’s list for Little Bay
• 1900, April – Birth of Mary Ann McKinnon to Joseph and Elizabeth at St. John’s, NL (NL births)
• 1901 – McKinnon family found at Sydney Mine, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia (Census)
• 1911 – McKinnon family found at Cape Breton North Victoria, Nova Scotia (Census)
• 1913 – Jospeh McKinnon engineer on the officers list for Sydney Mine No. 1 (Report of the Dept of Mine NS)
• 1921 – McKinnon family found at Sydney Mines, Cape Breton North and Victoria, Nova Scotia (Census)
• 1932 – Jospeh McKinnon represents the Mine Workers of America Union in NS (Dept of Labour Vol 21-25)
• 1936, Feb – Dies at Sydney Mines, Cape Breton, NS (Martin-Barnes family tree)