James Monroe Kinnamon Sr. (1819 - 1903)

Born 15 Mar 1819 in Licking, Ohio, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Jane (Welch) Kinnamon — married 28 Dec 1848 in Tippecanoe Co., Indiana

Descendants

Died 29 Jan 1903 at age 83 in Cherryvale, Montgomery, Kansas, United States

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Biography

James Monroe Kinnamon was born on Monday, 15 March 1819, Newark Township, Licking County, Ohio, and he was obviously named for President James Monroe, who was in office at the time. The family moved to Madison County, Indiana, in the early 1820s. They would presumably have awakened to witness the great Leonid Meteor Storm of 12 November 1833 (https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2020/09/how-newspapers-helped-crowdsource-a-scientific-discovery-the-1833-leonid-meteor-storm/)

By 1840, they were living in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, and James was married in that county at Harrisonville (now called Battle Ground) on Thursday, 28 December 1848, to Mary Jane Welch (b. 29 September 1834, Pike County, Ohio; d. 23 October 1898, Labette County, Kansas), daughter of Elijah Welch and Susannah (Miller) Welch.

Their marriage record reads as follows: "Be it remembered that on the twenty eighth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight a marriage License issued to James Kinnamon and Mary Jane Welch, he being of lawful age, and she having the consent of her step father in person, and both residents of Tippecanoe County in the State of Indiana, a certificate of whose marriage was returned and filed Feby. 19th 1849 and reads as follows, Return to wit: I do hereby certify that I did join together on the 28th day of December 1848 as husband and wife James Kinnamon and Mary Jane Welch. John Shaw J.P."

The 1850 Census (page 33/65) shows them living in Tippecanoe Township, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, and his occupation is listed as ferryman. About 1858, they moved to West Jersey Township (Post Office at Toulon), Stark County, Illinois, and they appear there in the 1860 Census (page 27/793), showing real estate valued at 100 and personal property at 125 (they were obviously not well off financially).

James M. Kinnamon enlisted for Civil War duty at West Jersey on 27 December 1861, for three year's service (through enlistment officer Lieutenant Greenwood), and was mustered in at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois, the next day (although the Adjutant General's Report gives the dates as enlistment on 11 January 1862 and muster on 27 February 1862). In any case, he became a Private in Company H (of Capt. Whitson) of the 51st Regiment of the Illinois Infantry Volunteers, initially part of the 2nd Brigade (of Col. G.W. Cumming) of the 4th Division. Military records describe James as 6 ft., 3 in., tall, with light hair, blue eyes, and a dark complexion. Not long after entering service, his daughter Pernina was born in April 1862. His next child would not be born until 1866.

CIVIL WAR battles Kinnamon participated in: The 51st Regiment was on an expedition to Fort Pillow, Tennessee, from 13-17 April 1862, and moved to Hamburg Landing, Tennessee, from 17-23 April. On 24 April 1862, the 51st Illinois Infantry Volunteers (under Lt. Col. Samuel B. Raymond) were transferred to the First Brigade (of Brig. General E. A. Paine), First Division, of the Army of the Mississippi (then headquartered at Hamburg). They saw action at Farmington on 03 May and 09 May, with reconnoissance toward Corinth about May 8th. During this spring fighting, James Kinnamon contracted chronic diarrhea due to exertion, dehydration, exposure, and probably poor diet as well. But to add to all of this, one night (apparently near Murfreesboro, Tennessee) while James was sleeping, an officer accidentally rode over him with his horse, and this caused damage to his left thigh, back, spine, and kidneys. James was in a hospital near Farmington, Tennessee, during late May 1862. Pursuit of the enemy to Booneville, Tennessee, occurred from 31 May-12 June 1862. The 51st Illinois Infantry moved to Tuscumbia, Alabama, on 20 July 1862, and guarded the railroad from Hillsboro to Decatur, Alabama (stationed at Decatur) until 04 September. They marched from Decatur, Alabama, to Nashville, Tennessee, from 04-12 September 1862 (followed by the Siege of Nashville), and during this strenuous march, James Kinnamon developed varicose veins in his legs. He was examined on by the Medical Board at Nashville's Convalescent Camp Hospital on 30 September 1862, but was apparently returned to duty at that time. The Siege of Nashville continued until 06 November, with the repulse of Forest's attack on Edgefield occurring on 05 November 1862. James Kinnamon was finally allowed to recuperate from all his medical problems at Nashville's Convalescent Camp Hospital, from 10 December 1862 until he returned to light duty on 27 May 1863. The 51st Illinois Infantry had been transferred to the 3rd Brigade (of Col. Luther P. Bradley), 3rd Division (of General Sheridan), 20th Army Corps (of General McCook), Army of the Cumberland (of General William S. Rosencrans). James Kinnamon was detailed for baggage guard on 24 June 1863, and Colonel Luther Bradley's report on the Tullahoma Campaign shows that the 3rd Brigade (including the 51st Illinois Infantry) left camp (at Murfreesborough, Tennessee) at 6 A.M. on 24 June 1863, and marched on the Shelbyville Pike, having the advance of the division. They camped at Millersburg from late on the 24th through 26 June. They received orders from General McCook to march at 4 A.M. on the 27th and join the Division at Hoover's Gap (which they did at 9 A.M.). Rations were issued to the men, and after resting an hour, they marched to Beech Grove, and then on to Fairfield. They went into camp about 9 P.M. on a mountain 6 miles from Manchester, and they were in Manchester by 9:30 A.M. on the 28th of June, and they devoted the day to washing. They camped early in the afternoon on the 29th on a stream about 6 miles from Manchester. About 10 A.M. on 01 July 1863, General Sheridan ordered two regiments forward in the direction of Tullahoma, and the 42nd and 51st were sent out, advancing cautiously in support of the cavalry, entering Tullahoma at noon. They reached a ford on the Elk River about 4 P.M. on 02 July, and reached Winchester at 9 A.M. on 03 July 1863. They resumed their march in the afternoon and reach Cowan at 5 P.M., and remained in camp at Cowan through the July 4th and 5th. The Union Forces faced almost constant rain during this time, and it was almost torrential on 05 July 1863. General William S. Rosencrans, Commander of the Army of the Cumberland, decided to wait until August for the corn to ripen, support his flanks, and also repair the railroad the Tennessee River (which crossed at Bridgeport, Alabama). They were stationed at Bridgeport, Alabama, working on the railroad and the pontoon bridge across the river there. Then on 02 and 03 September 1863, they crossed the Tennessee River at Bridgeport, making their way during early-to-mid-September through the Cumberland Mountains, toward the area of Lookout Mountain and the Chickamauga Campaign to come. General Rosencrans had written to President Lincoln, "If we can hold Chattanooga and East Tennessee, I think the Rebellion must dwindle and die." And the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Campaigns were indeed the turning point of the war. The 51st Illinois Infantry apparently camped on 18 September 1863 at Pond Spring (presumably near Lee's Spring), and the unit's record at the Battle of Chickamauga is to be found in the report of its commanding officer, Lt. Col. Samuel B. Raymond, as follows: "Saturday, 19th.--A night march from the position taken near Lee's Spring brought us within about 6 miles of Crawfish Spring, to which point we moved hurriedly on the morning of the 19th, taking a short rest there to fill canteens. The sound of artillery and musketry to the left told of an engagement there. Canteens filled we marched rapidly to the left, and at about 12 m. took position in an open piece of ground and near the Chickamauga River. Meantime the engagement increased in fury, and a tremendous roll of musketry seemed approaching the right. During some considerable time occupied in shifting our position the battle increased with still greater fury, when, in obedience to orders, we moved by the right flank still farther to the left through a heavy belt of timber at a double-quick, rapidly nearing the scene of conflict. [It should be noted that other sources indicate that most of this unit's engagement probably occurred in the afternoon, 'in late afternoon, Bradley's brigade appeared in the field and advancing boldly to the front, engaged the enemy in conjunction with the others.' Bradley was badly wounded, and Col. Nathan Walworth of the 42nd succeeded him in command of the brigade]. Arriving there the brigade was formed in two lines, my command being formed in the second line and on the left of the Forty-second Illinois. Before I had completed the formation of my line the command 'Forward' was given, thus compelling my three left companies to complete the formation at a run, and while passing through the timber and underbrush and over a rail fence which had not been town down. This caused a temporary brokenness in my line, which had to be remedied after reaching the open space beyond, and on reaching which brought us under the enemy's fire. But the sight of the foe seemed to nerve every heart, and with a shout and a dash we charged upon them, driving all before us, until we had passed a skirt of woods on our left. At this point we received a murderous and enfilading fire from a fresh brigade of the enemy, thrown out for the evident purpose of turning our flank, and for a moment were compelled to fall back below the creast of the rising ground, taking shelter in a small watercourse. Here rallying the men, we again charged forward, and gained the fence lining the west side of the woods which skirted the crest of the ridge and maintained our ground in the front, while a battery in our rear drove the enemy advancing from the woods on our left. I was compelled to crowd my left toward the right, as the fire from the battery passed through it, killing and wounding several. I also directed what remained of the left wing to fire 'left-oblique', and in a few moments the enemy were flying from our front in great disorder. My ranks were too much weakened to attempt to follow them, and I so reported to Colonel Walworth, commanding the second line, now becoming the first, the front line having fallen back. I was directed by him to hold my position at the fence 'at all hazards', which we succeeded in doing. During the heaviest of the engagement a portion of my men assisted in hauling off three guns by hand, which had been captured by the enemy but a short time before. The fiercest of the conflict lasted but a few moments, but during those few moments we lost 14 killed, 75 wounded, and 5 missing. My left wing was almost annihilated, and had but a handful of men left, losing all but 3 officers. The adjutant and sergeant-major were severely wounded, and my own and Major Davis' horse shot from under us. During the night (they bivouaced west of widow Glenn's house) we erected breastworks (it was a cold night, no fires being allowed and what little sleep was to be had was spent trying to keep warm wrapped up in their blankets), and otherwise made preparations for a renewal of the attack on Sunday, 20th. This day was the second anniversary of the organization of the regiment. At daybreak I received orders to retire from my position by the left flank, and moving to the rear formed a new line upon the crest of the Missionary Ridge hills, where we remained in position till near 10 a.m., at which time the engagement opened again on the left. About this time we were moved down to the bottom again and formed along the road and directly in rear of the First Brigade, my regiment being posted on the left of the Forty-second Illinois in the first line. (At about 10:30, Gen. Sheridan had been ordered to support Gen. Thomas, and he did so by taking Lytle's Brigade and our own Walworth's Brigade from the extreme right to do so). The battle was now raging fearfully on our left and seemed again approaching the right. Again we changed position to the foot of the ridge hills and facing south, and while resting here a most terrific musketry fire suddenly broke out near the center, which rolled rapidly to the right and was followed by deafening cheers from the enemy. (What had happened was a monumental foul-up on the Union side. False information, complicated by the problems of the dense fog that Sunday morning, had led the generals to accidentally create a gap in their lines. At 11:00 A.M., just when General Wood moved out of line, and VanCleve's two brigades crowding on Wood's, and our own two brigades (of Sheridan) started at double-quick from extreme right to left, Confederate General Longstreet moved his division to attack through the gap in Union lines, and our two brigades were attacked by Hindman's Division.). At this time I received orders to move the regiment by the left flank at a double-quick, and to follow the Twenty-second Illinois, keeping well closed up. To accomplish this my men were put upon to run and were thus moved down into the timber toward the point of action, and while thus moving and before we had time to halt and form we were met by our retreating forces, hotly pursued by an eager foe, who poured into us a deadly fire on front and flank.

By 23 May 1864, James Kinnamon was at Cliffburne Barracks, in Washington, D.C., where he was honorably discharged on 08 June 1864. He then returned home, which by then was apparently in Marshalltown, Iowa. The family may have moved to Iowa, probably because William Welch (brother-in-law) deserted during the Civil War. Later in the 1860s, the Kinnamons moved to Dallas County, Iowa, and then in 1869, they made the move to Kansas.

They at first settled in Osage Township, Labette County, Kansas, where they appear in the 1870 Census (page 93; indexed as Hinnamon). But sometime during the 1870s (perhaps before 1872?), they moved a short distance away, but in Mound Valley Township. James farmed 160 acres of land there which he purchased on 11 June 1877, this land being the SE1/4 of Section 17, T.32S, R.18E, the price being $200 ($1.25/ acre), on which he initially made a downpayment of 25% ($50), apparently making the final payment in 1882. Therefore, on 20 December 1882, he received a Land Patent for this land (Certificate No. 3576; for image see the weblink in the Sources section below). His brother-in-law Isaac Welch bought the NE1/4 of the same section. Another close neighbor was apparently Perry Weakley. In 1872, James Kinnamon and Isaac Welch and others presented a petition for the formation of a school district in the north-central part of Mound Valley Township. An order for the formation of Mount Triumph District No. 63 (school in NW1/4 of Section 16) was made on 20 May 1872, and it was officially formed on 18 June 1872 (lying in both Osage and Mound Valley Townships). James Kinnamon and family appear in Mound Valley Township in the 1875 Kansas State Census (Labette County, page 10), with real estate valued at $1,000 and personal property valued at $500.

They appear in Mound Valley Township, Labette County, Kansas, during the 1880 Census (E.D. 113, Sheet 6). In 1883, James Kinnamon applied for and received a disability pension for his military service ($12.00 per month from 1883-1889, and then $24.00 per month from 1889 until his death). They appear in Mound Valley Township in the Kansas State Census of 1885 (page 56), and in the agricultural schedule which follows. It shows that he owned his farm of 160 acres, which was valued at $4500.00 (with farm implements valued at $75). All 160 acres were fenced, with 1000 rods of hedge, plus 80 rods of wire. He had sown 10 acres of wheat in 1884 and in the spring of 1885, another 90 acres in corn and an acre of Irish potatoes. He had one acre of artificial forest (walnut trees) and 2 acres of prairie grass. He had cut 4 tons of tame hay and 4 tons of prairie hay during the previous year. He had 600 bushels of corn on hand. They had a large orchard as well, with 320 apple trees, 300 peach trees, 5 plum trees, and 15 cherry trees, all bearing fruit. They also had additional trees not yet bearing fruit: 15 apple trees, 3 pear trees, 50 peach trees, and 30 cherry trees. They also had a half acre planted to blackberries. They had made 400 pounds of butter during the year previous, and sold $60.00 worth of produce and $20.00 worth of poultry and eggs. They had 7 horses, 2 milk cows, 5 other cattle, 40 swine, 2 sheep, and they had sold $150.00 worth of animals for slaughter during the year previous. They certainly didn't go hungry!

The Parsons Weekly Sun (24 December 1885, page 1) says: "United States to Jas Kinnamon, patent, se 1/4, sec 17, town 32, range 18."

In the 13 September 1888 issue of the Parsons Weekly Sun (page 1): " James Kinnaman, the father of John Kinnaman, who was arrested Wednesday on a charge of forging a signature to a note for eighty dollars given to E. W. Pflaumer for rent of a farm, was in the city Saturday investigating the charge. The Signature supposed to be forged is, he claims, genuine and he threatens to make it hot for the parties who instituted the proceedings against his son."

The Mound Valley Herald (Mound Valley, Kansas) 07 December 1888, Page 4, lists Isaac Welch and James Kinnamon (and other farmers) giving notice that hunting was forbidden on their land.

They appear in Mound Valley Township in the 1895 State Census (page 3). It shows that their 160-acre farm was all fenced and was valued at $2,500.00. It had a 56-foot water well. In 1894, he had sowed 60 acres of winter wheat. In 1895, he sowed 20 acres of corn, 8 acres of oats, and 25 acres of flax. They had made 300 pounds of butter during the past year, and had sold $70.00 worth of cattle to slaughter. They had 100 acres of apple trees (bearing fruit) and 11 stands of honey bees.

Parsons Weekly Eclipse newspaper (23 November 1898, page 3): "James Kinnamon, Sr., living west of this city, came near being killed Wednesday morning at the Richardson crossing. His horse became frightened at a Frisco train and ran away with the buggy which turning over at the crossing, threw Mr. Kinnamon out with such force as to nearly break his neck. He was badly disfigured." In the 24 October 1899 issue of the Coffeyville Daily Journal (page 1): "Several years ago a vein of coal supposed to be ten feet thick was struck near the Kinnamon farm, southwest of Dennis."

James Kinnamon appears in the 1900 Census in Mound Valley Township, Labette Co., Kansas (page 151B) without his wife Mary Jane (who had died in 1898). The 1900 Census says that James owned his farm, but whether he sold the farm before his death is not yet known. According to the Cherryvale Republican newspaper (04 May 1901, page 5): "The Misses Hattie and Etta Kinnamon were called to Big Hill to-day on account of the illness of their father."

The Coffeyville Daily Journal newspaper (24 October 1901, page 4) says: "The case of James Kinnamon sr.. vs. the Frisco railroad is to be taken up tomorrow morning. This is a suit for about $3,000 damages for personal injuries." The Coffeyville Daily Journal (25 October 1901, page 4) says: "This morning the case of James Kinnamon vs. The Frisco railway was taken up. About three years ago Mr. Kinna-mon was driving on a road near to and parallel with the Frisco track east of Cherryvale. A train came suddenly around a curve and his horse was frightened and ran away. Mr. Kinnamon claims to have been seriously and permanently injured in the runaway and wants about $3,000 in damages. He claims that the engineer failed to blow the whistle at a nearby crossing."

The Coffeyville Weekly Journal newspaper (01 November 1901), indicates that his suit against the railroad company was unsuccessful: "James Kinnamon, sr, vs St Louis & S F Ry Co. Thrown out of court." This was due to an incident related in the above paragraph, and also described in the 06 June 1900 issue of the Parsons Weekly Eclipse (page 3). Only a part could be made out in an online OCR: "James Kinnamon... against the 'Frisco railroad for damages, claiming $10,770. Kinnamon claims that while driving near the railway track an approaching train failed to".

He died on Thursday, 29 January 1903, Cherryvale, Kansas, and he was buried beside his wife at Griffith Cemetery (in the northwesternmost corner of Mound Valley Township, Labette County, Kansas), in the NW1/4 of Section 24, T.32S, R.17 (just northwest of Big Hill Creek. This cemetery is in a grove of trees, in the middle of a farmer's field. When I visited this cemetery (about 1983), it was overgrown with weeds, but it has apparently been cleaned up since then. The Oswego Independent newspaper of 31 October 1902 notes that James Kinnamon Sr. was sick at the home of his son George. The 06 February 1903 issue of that newspaper noted his death.

The Cherryvale Republican newspaper (29 January 1903) says that James Kinnamon, an old and respected citizen, died about noon that day after an illness of over 3 months. The "immediate cause of his death was dropsy brought on by heart failure." It also says that he had lived on a farm in the Big Hill neighborhood, but that he moved to Cherryvale about 8 years before his death. The funeral services were to be held at the family residence on West First Street at 10:00 o'clock Saturday morning, Rev. S.A. Ross presiding.

Sources

• Marriage: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HWNW-7SPZ

• 1850 Census, Tippecanoe Township, Tippecanoe County, Indiana.

• 1860 Census, West Jersey Township, Stark County, Illinois.

• Civil War records (from the National Archives).

• National Archives, Pension Files for James Kinnaman, Invalid Application No. 46,805, Certificate No. 254,932.

• 1870 Census, Osage Township, Labette County, Kansas (indexed as Hinnaman): https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?viewrecord=1&r=an&db=1870usfedcen&indiv=try&h=18017852

• 1875 Kansas State Census, Labette County, Kansas.

• 1880 Census, Mound Valley Township, Labette County, Kansas.

• 1882 Land Patent (Certificate 3576), Bureau of Land Management record at: https://glorecords.blm.gov/results/default.aspx?searchCriteria=type=patent|st=KS|cty=099|ln=Kinnamon|sp=true|sw=true|sadv=false

• file:///home/chronos/u-360e933de45dc393ee95afcb8b24a84d6153b9d7/MyFiles/Downloads/STA_Patent_KS1610__.108.PDF

• 1885 Kansas State Census, Mound Valley Township, Labette County, Kansas.

• Mound Valley Township in the 1895 State Census (page 3).

• 1900 Census, Mound Valley Township, Labette County, Kansas, page 151B.

• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=77340796 />

• Newspapers (Coffeyville and Cherryvale, and Parsons, Kansas).

• https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/2956/40850_620305176_0832-00054?pid=10938&backurl=https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv%3D1%26dbid%3D2956%26h%3D10938%26tid%3D%26pid%3D%26usePUB%3Dtrue%26_phsrc%3DDBj1205%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=DBj1205&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.147380977.777072726.1586213955-69617887.1575390212#?imageId=40850_620305176_0832-00054