# James McDonald Chaney > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/James_McDonald_Chaney > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/James_McDonald_Chaney.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_McDonald_Chaney > Source revision: 1336542399 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Rev. **James McDonald Chaney** (18 March 1831 – 18 September 1909) was a minister of the [Lafayette](/source/Lafayette_County,_Missouri) Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in the United States.[1] He had been an ordained minister for 53 years.[2] ## Biography ### Birth and early life Dr. Chaney was born near [Salem, Ohio](/source/Salem,_Ohio), on March 18, 1831. His parents were William Chaney (1803 - 1886) and Harriett McDonald Chaney (1803 - 1880). He made a public profession of his faith in the Des Peres Presbyterian Church, [Saint Louis County, Missouri](/source/Saint_Louis_County,_Missouri), at age 19. After finishing preparatory education in Rev. Jacon Coon’s Academy of [Salem, Ohio](/source/Salem,_Ohio), 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](/source/King_University) of Tennessee, and a Doctor of Divinity from [Princeton Theological Seminary](/source/Princeton_Theological_Seminary).[3] Dr. Chaney was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from King College in 1885.[4] ### 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](/source/Dover,_Missouri) from April 24, 1858 until October, 1867; he served as Stated Supply of the church at [Kansas City, Missouri](/source/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](/source/Lexington,_Missouri). Following that, he served as pastor of the church at [Pleasant Hill, Missouri](/source/Pleasant_Hill,_Missouri) from 1877 to 1885. In 1885 he became president of the Kansas City Ladies' College at [Independence](/source/Independence,_Missouri). 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](/source/La_Monte,_Missouri), [Hughesville](/source/Hughesville,_Missouri), [Pleasant Hill](/source/Pleasant_Hill,_Missouri), [Corder](/source/Corder,_Missouri) and [Alma](/source/Alma,_Missouri) (all in [Missouri](/source/Missouri)).[5] ### 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](/source/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,[6] and was commended by Professor Young of Princeton.[7] ### Family, Death Dr. Chaney married Eliza M. Dunklin on May 20, 1852, in [Jefferson County, Missouri](/source/Jefferson_County,_Missouri); she died on June 27, 1874. In 1875, Dr. Chaney married Miss Mary Parke in [Lexington, Missouri](/source/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](/source/Kansas_City,_Missouri). He died at his home in [Independence](/source/Independence,_Missouri), 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](/source/Fulton,_Missouri), conducted the service. Dr. Chaney was buried in the Mt. Washington Cemetery near [Kansas City, Missouri](/source/Kansas_City,_Missouri).[8][9] ## 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](/source/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](http://www.mbrem123.com/baptism/william.php) (first publication in 1877) — [updated edition in print and eBook](http://www.williamthebaptist.com), 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 1. [Missouri Historical Review, Volume October, 1908 July, 1909](https://archive.org/stream/missourihist03to04missuoft/missourihist03to04missuoft_djvu.txt) 1. [Kansas City Journal, January 13, 1910](http://www.vintagekansascity.com/100yearsago/labels/Lexington.html) 1. ["Archived copy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120225092310/http://www.doulosresources.org/books/william/assets/william_samples.pdf). Archived from [the original](http://www.doulosresources.org/books/william/assets/william_samples.pdf) on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2009-07-04. 1. [The Princeton Seminary Bulletin, Volumes 4-6, pp. 19-20](https://books.google.com/books?id=mKpJAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA19) 1. [The Princeton Seminary Bulletin, Volumes 4-6, pp. 19-20](https://books.google.com/books?id=mKpJAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA19) 1. [Kansas City Journal, January 13, 1910](http://www.vintagekansascity.com/100yearsago/labels/Lexington.html) 1. [The Princeton Seminary Bulletin, Volumes 4-6, pp. 19-20](https://books.google.com/books?id=mKpJAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA19) 1. [Kansas City Journal, January 13, 1910](http://www.vintagekansascity.com/100yearsago/labels/Lexington.html) 1. [The Princeton Seminary Bulletin, Volumes 4-6, pp. 19-20](https://books.google.com/books?id=mKpJAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA19) ## Resources - Chaney, James M. (2009). [*William the Baptist*](https://web.archive.org/web/20110402082610/http://www.doulosresources.org/books/william/william.html). Oakland, TN: [Doulos Resources](/source/Doulos_Resources). p. 160. ISBN 978-1-4421-8560-9. [OCLC 642906193](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/642906193). Archived from [the original](http://www.doulosresources.org/books/william/william.html) on 2011-04-02. - [William the Baptist](http://www.williamthebaptist.net) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [James McDonald Chaney](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_McDonald_Chaney) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_McDonald_Chaney?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.