Charles Edward McKinnon was born April 10, 1870 at Lacrosse, Wisconsin. In 1883 he came to North Dakota and settled in Cass County. In 1886 he came to Foster County settling in what was then McKinley Township - later to be McKinnon Township in honor of the pioneer family. The McKinnons homesteaded in the township.
In 1898 Mr. McKinnon married Orpha Claflin. They were the parents of four children: Merritt, Ella, Ervin and Florence.
Mr. McKinnon was active in lodge work, belonging to the Woodmen, Odd Fellows and Elks.
Mr. McKinnon died September 1927.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 82B