John Wesley Posey (1801 - 1884)

Born 10 Apr 1801 in Abbeville, South Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died 12 Aug 1884 at age 83 in Petersburg, Indiana, United States

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Biography

John Posey is Notable.

John Wesley Posey was born April 10, 1801 in Abbeville, South Carolina, United States. He was a son of Richard Posey, Jr. and Frances Allen.

He married Sarah Blackburn about 1838. Together they had five children: John Wesley, William Harrison, Richard Alexander, Edward, and Francis Blackburn.^[1][2]

Posey owned a coal mine that served as a way station for as many as 1000 escaped slaves. (This is one of the rare instances in which the underground railroad was actually subterranean.)

Posey also helped to organize the activities of the Anti-Slavery League, which operated a spy network in Kentucky. Agents of the League masquerading as traveling peddlers would it make contact with slaves and help the slaves escape.

Posey was a medical doctor. He volunteered as a surgeon for the Union army during the American Civil War, and served at the Battle of Shiloh. He was also politically active, and was elected as a Whig to be Treasurer of Pike County, Indiana, serving from 1844 to 1848.

Posey died August 12, 1884 in Petersburg, Indiana, United States.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ United States Census, 1850, John W Posey, Petersburg, Pike, Indiana, United States; citing family 20.
2. ↑ United States Census, 1860, John W Posey, 1860; Petersburgh, Pike, Indiana, United States.
3. ↑ United States Headstone Applications for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1949, John Wesley Posey.

• United States Census, 1880: Name: John W Posey, Census Date: 1880, Place: Washington, Pike, Indiana, United States, Gender: Male, Age: 80, Marital Status: Widowed, Race: White, Occupation: Retired Physician, Birth Year (Estimated): 1800, Birthplace: South Carolina, United States, Father's Birthplace: Virginia, United States, Mother's Birthplace: Virginia, United States, Relationship to Head of Household: Self, Sheet Letter: C, Sheet Number: 344, Person Number: 0, Volume: 1
• Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
• John W Posey Self Male 80 South Carolina, United States
• William H Posey Son Male 40 Indiana, United States

• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX65-VC9 : 19 March 2020), John W Posey in entry for Richard Posey, 1870.

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHSQ-6KZ : 19 August 2017), John W Posey, Washington, Pike, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district ED 178, sheet 3

• United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865: Name: John W. Posey, Military Beginning Rank: Private, Military Final Rank: Private, Military Side: Confederate, State or, Military Term: South Carolina, Military Unit: 1st Regiment, South Carolina Rifles (Orr's, Military Company: L, Affiliate Film Number: 344C

• Application of Elizabeth Posey to DAR, July 5, 1957.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley_Posey