Person:Joseph McKinsey (1)

Which Joseph McKinsey?

At least two Joseph McKinseys enlisted to fight in the Civil War from Indiana, both born about 1844 and easily confused. Two old family photographs of Joseph's sister Mary help distinguish the two. Mary McKinsey McConnell can be linked to Joseph and Mary's mother, Sarah Reese McKinsey, since Sarah is buried in the same family plot as Mary and her husband Alexander. Mary is also identified as "Jo's sister" on the back of an early photograph taken with her husband.^[20]

Another photograph of an older Mary (McKinsey) McConnell, with her birth and death information, has "Joseph McKinsey, Covington, Indiana, 1903" typed or stamped on the back,^[21] perhaps by one of the many National Military Homes where he spent time. The two photograph's provide links between Mary, Joseph, and Covington, Indiana.

In 1900, the census year closest to the date on the back of the photograph, a Joseph McKinsey was enumerated twice, once with the Elston family in Covington, Indiana;^[11] the second time in the Marion, Indiana branch of the National Military Home.^[19]

On 25 September 1890, about three years before his sister Mary died, Joseph checked himself into the Military Home in Marion, Indiana.^[14] For the rest of his life, Joseph was in and out of Military Homes in Indiana, Tennessee, Kansas, and Illinois.^{[14] [15] [16] [17] [18]} Most of that time, he gave his brother William M(ordica)'s name as nearest kin, but sometime before 1910 he changed the reference to that of his friend, Benjamin Elston.^[17] (His brother died in 1906.) The change of name of nearest kin provides a link between this Joseph McKinsey and Benjamin Elston, with whom he was reported as living in both Covington, Indiana^[11] and in Kansas.^[13]

The National Military Home Registers also indicate that Joseph served from 1861 through 1865, consistent with his guardian's statement in 1863 that Joseph was in the army.^[8] They also indicate that he enlisted in Lebanon, near where he would have been living, and resided in Cyclone, Indiana after his discharge, the same place his sister Mary lived. Joseph's choice of the Military Home in Marion, Indiana, may have been influenced by his brother, who sometime between 1880 and 1900 become a doctor and moved to Marion. Based on both his Pension Application and the Military Home Registers, this Joseph McKinsey served in Company A in both the 10th and 58th Indiana Infantry.

The other Joseph McKinsey was born in Montgomery County, Indiana, where he enlisted in Company B in the 10th Indiana Infantry, and later transferred to Company B in the 58th Indiana Infantry. He married at least three times, his marriage records, his pension application record, and the 1850 and 1880 Census records linking together to differentiate him from this Joseph McKinsey. Based on his Pension Application record, he probably died in July 1895, so could not be the Joseph McKinsey who is buried in the Danville National Cemetery, nor could he have been one of the Joseph McKinseys enumerated in the 1900 Census.

Unanswered Question

When Joseph died in 1924, his personal effects (or their monetary equivalent) were sent to Claude McKinsey, of Columbus, Ohio, who is listed in the Register as Joseph's son.^[18] There is (or was) a Claude McKinsey who lived in Columbus, Ohio in 1920, who claimed that his father was a Joseph McKinsey and his mother a Mary Brogan. He was born sometime between about 1874 and 1880, possibly in Clinton County. (He was not particularly consistent when reporting information regarding his birth.) There is no indication that Joseph McKinsey, son of Alfred and Sarah McKinsey, ever married. Was Claude a natural child of Joseph?

Joe McKinsey (middle) and friends

back of photo of Alex and Mary McConnell

back of photo of Mary (McKinsey) McConnell

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Jackson, Clinton, Indiana, in United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432)
   HH 232, Fam 232; FHL #0007752.

   McKinsey, Mordecai, 66, m, farmer, RE=3900, b. NC
   , Catherine, 66, f, b. SC
   , Sarah, 40, f, b. OH, insane
   Alexander, Catherine, 21, f, b. KY
   McKinsey, Sarah A., 32, b. IN
   , Mordecai, 7, m, b. IN
   , Joseph, 5, m, b. IN
   , Mary E., 1, f, b. IN

2. ↑ Clinton, Indiana, United States. Probate Order Book
   Vol. 3, p. 204; FHL ##2229992.

   See Mercer McKinsey Appointed Guardian for text

3. ↑ Jackson, Clinton, Indiana, in United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M653)
   HH 159, Fam 159.

   Joseph McKinsey, 15, male, farmer, b. IN, at school
   in home of Jacob Hodgen, 28, farmer, w/ Mary 21, Laben 1 month, Magdalene 80, Sarah E. Hodgen 13

4. ↑ Probate of Mordecai McKinsey, in McKinsey Family Probate.
5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Nationwide Gravesite Locator.

   MCKINSEY, JOSEPH
   INFANTRY
   DATE OF DEATH: 04/21/1924
   BURIED AT: SECTION 11 SITE 3377
   DANVILLE NATIONAL CEMETERY, IL
   1900 EAST MAIN STREET VA MEDICAL CENTER DANVILLE, IL 61832

6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Illinois, United States. Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947.

   Joseph Mckinsey
   death date: 21 Apr 1924
   death place: Danville Twp., Vermilion, Illinois
   gender: Male
   age: 79
   birth date: 11 Dec 1844
   birthplace: Indiana
   occupation: Fireman
   residence: National Home
   burial date: 23 Apr 1924
   burial place:
   cemetery: N.H.D.U.S. Cemetery
   FHL film number: 1452448
   volume/page/certificate number: 16073

7. ↑ ^7.0 7.1 American Civil War Soldiers.

   Joseph McKenzie
   Residence: Boone County, Indiana
   Enlistment Date: 18 Sep 1861
   Side Served: Union
   State Served: Indiana
   Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 18 September 1861.
   Enlisted in Company A, 10th Infantry Regiment Indiana on 18 Sep 1861.
   Transferred into 58th Infantry Regiment Indiana on 8 Sep 1864.
   Transferred out of Company A, 10th Infantry Regiment Indiana on 8 Sep 1864.

8. ↑ ^8.0 8.1 McKinsey Family Probate
   Mercer McKinsey Petitions, Petition to sell land.

   Petition, 15 June 1863
   Joseph is in the Army and is 18 years of age

9. ↑ United States. Veterans Administration. General index to pension files, 1861-1934. (Washington, District of Columbia, United States: NARA).

   McKinsey, Joseph,
   Co A, 58th Reg, Ind Inf
   Co A, 10 Ind Inf
   Date of filing: 9 Dec 1879
   Invalid Application #329450, Certificate No. 205, 857

10. ↑ ^10.0 10.1 Alfred McKinsey Guardianship Box 322A, file 15, Clinton County Court Archives, Frankfort Community Public Library, Frankfurt, Indiana.

    Note - Upon final settlement with my guardian Mercer McKinsey I have this day received of him two hundred & fifty eight [and] 46/100 dollars in cash being the balance in my favor as shown by final report of said guardian in Clinton Common Pleas Court
    Dated this day of [blank] 1866
    Joseph McKinsey

11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3} Covington, Troy, Fountain, Indiana, in United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T623)
    HH 115, Fam 116, 5 June.

    Liberty Street
    McKinsey, Joseph, boarder, b. Dec 1844, age 55, single, b. IN, both parents b. IN, day laborer
    In HH of Benjamin Elston, clergyman, 32, and family (Della 36, Ruby 5, Irene 2, Luke 4 mo, Elizabeth 75)

12. ↑ Ward 4, Harper City, Harper, Kansas, in United States. 1910 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T624)
    HH 374, Fam 377.

    Elston, Ben J., 42, m1 16 yrs, b. MO, owns House free of mtg
    , Della 46, b. IN; Ruby, 15, b. IN; Irene, 12, b. IN; Luke, 10, b. IN, Esther, 8, b. IN
    McKinsey, Joseph, friend, 65, single, b. IN, both parents b. IN

13. ↑ ^13.0 13.1 National Military Home, Leavenworth, Kansas, in United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625).

    Company G
    McKinsey, Joseph, 75, widower, b. IN, both parents b. IN

14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4} Marion, Grant, Indiana, in U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Historical Register of National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938
    Register M, p. 459.

    Joseph McKinsey
    Enlisted 10 Aug 1861, private, in Co A, 10 Ind Inf, discharged 3 Jan 1864, Chattanooga, TN
    Enlisted 4 Jan 1864, private, in Co A, 58th Ind Inf, discharged 25 Jan 1868, Louisville, KY
    b. IN, ag 45, 6 ft 1 in tall, dark complexion, hazel eyes, dark hair, occupation laborer, residence after discharge: Cyclone, IN, single, nearest relative is William M. McKinsey, Marion, Grant, IN
    Admitted 23 Sep 1890, [discharged, readmitted, transferred many times - last entry, 22 Dec 1920]

15. ↑ Johnson City, Washington [Carter] County, Tennessee, in U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Historical Register of National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938
    Register O, p. 4585.

    Joseph McKinsey
    Enlisted 10 Aug 1861, private, in Co A, 10 Ind Inf, discharged 3 Jan 1864, Chattanooga, TN
    Enlisted 4 Jan 1864, private, in Co A, 58th Ind Inf, discharged 25 Jan 1868, Louisville, KY
    b. IN, ag 45, 6 ft 1 in tall, dark complexion, hazel eyes, dark hair, occupation laborer, residence after discharge: Cyclone, IN, single, nearest relative is William M. McKinsey, Marion, Grant, IN
    [Originally] admitted 23 Sep 1890; [discharged, readmitted, transferred many times - last entry, 21 Mar 1918]
    Pension Certificate 205851

16. ↑ Leavenworth, Leavenworth, Kansas, in U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Historical Register of National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938
    Register T, p. 10617.

    Joseph McKinsey
    Enlisted 10 Aug 1861, private, in Co A, 10 Ind Inf, discharged 3 Jan 1864, Chattanooga, TN
    Enlisted 4 Jan 1864, private, in Co A, 58th Ind Inf, discharged 25 Jan 1868, Louisville, KY
    b. IN, ag 45, 6 ft 1 in tall, dark complexion, hazel eyes, dark hair, occupation laborer, residence after discharge: Cyclone, IN, single, nearest relative is William M. McKinsey, Marion, Grant, IN
    [entry date covered over by additonal entries]; [discharged, readmitted, transferred many times - last entry, 4 Dec 1923]
    Pension Certificate 205851

17. ↑ ^17.0 17.1 Leavenworth, Leavenworth, Kansas, in U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Historical Register of National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938
    Register S, p. 1721.

    Joseph McKinsey
    Enlisted 10 Aug 1861, private, in Co A, 10 Ind Inf, discharged 3 Jan 1864, Chattanooga, TN
    Enlisted 4 Jan 1864, private, in Co A, 58th Ind Inf, discharged 25 Jan 1868, Louisville, KY
    b. IN, ag 45, 6 ft 1 in tall, dark complexion, hazel eyes, dark hair, occupation laborer, residence after discharge: Cyclone, IN, single, nearest relative is William M. McKinsey, Marion, Grant, INdecd; Benj. J. Elston, of Harper, KS [correction in original]
    [Originally] admitted 23 Sep 1890; [discharged, readmitted, transferred many times - last entry, 2 May 1910]
    Pension Certificate 205851

18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3} Danville, Vermillion, Illinois, in U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Historical Register of National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938
    Registers M, p. 351.

    Joseph McKinsey
    Enlisted 10 Aug 1861, private, in Co A, 10 Ind Inf, discharged 3 Jan 1864, Chattanooga, TN
    Enlisted 4 Jan 1864, private, in Co A, 58th Ind Inf, discharged 25 Jan 1868, Louisville, KY
    b. IN, ag 45, 6 ft 1 in tall, dark complexion, hazel eyes, dark hair, occupation laborer, residence after discharge: Cyclone, IN, single, nearest relative is William M. McKinsey, Marion, Grant, IN
    [Original entry covered over by later entries]; [discharged, readmitted, transferred many times - last entry, 11 Dec 1923]
    Pension Certificate 205851
    died 21 April 1924, Grave Location: Sec 11, Row 4, Grave No. 3377
    Effects ($26.05 cash, personal valued at $19.50), appraised 19 May 1924 for settlement with son Claud McKinsey, 1311 [?]tesky Ave, Columbus, OH

19. ↑ ^19.0 19.1 Marion, Grant, Indiana, in United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T623)
    Sheet 21B, 16-24 June.

    Marion Branch, National Military Home
    McKinsey, Joseph, 55, single, b. IL, Place of Destination: Plymouth, IN [birth place of father crossed out, birth place of mother blank]

20. ↑ back of photo of Alex and Mary McConnell
21. ↑ back of photo of Mary (McKinsey) McConnell