James McDonald Chaney (18 March 1831 – 18 September 1909) was a minister of the Lafayette Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in the United States.

He made public profession of his faith in the Des Peres Presbyterian Church, Saint Louis County, Missouri, at age 19.

Jacon Coon’s Academy of Salem, Ohio, he became a student in the Des Peres Institute, finishing his course there in 1852.

From 1871 to 1876, Dr. Chaney served as Vice-President and then President of the Elizabeth Aull Female Seminary in Lexington, 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 (all in Missouri).

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.

He died at his home in Independence, on Saturday, 18 September 1909, from a cerebral hemorrhage, after struggling for several days with digestive trouble.

The second book is a sequel, entitled Agnes, Daughter of William the Baptist, or The Young Theologian.