• Home
•  | 
• Login/Register
•  | 
• Help

William McGinnis enlisted in the Civil War at Roanoke, Indiana (Wabash, Indiana??) August 6, 1862, as a 1st Leutenant of Co. H, 75th Reg, Indiana Infantry. He was 45 years old, 5 feet tall, dark complexion, hazel eyes and black hair. He was born Bourbon County, KY (July 7, 1817) and was a mechanic. He was mustered in as Captain January 15, 1863 at Murfreesboro, TN and served under Colonel J.J. Robinson. There were no previouis or subsequent marriages for either Wm. McGinnis or his wife Hester Ann Miller. They were married at Rush Co., Indiana on September 7, 1837 by Joseph Carter, Methodist Minister. Their children: Sarah Elizabeth b: September 16, 1850; William Henry b. March 19, 1855 at Wayne Co.; Lucy Ellen b. April 17, 1857 at Allen Co; Martha Jane b. April 13, 1860 at Allen Co. On November 15, 1864 Hester McGinnis applied for widow's pension, age 47, at Allen Co., Lafayette Twp, Indiana. On August 13, 1873, she applied for an increased pension and was living at age 56. She received a $20 per month pension. Wm. McGinnis died August 31, 1864 at Savannah, GA while a prisoner of war (Libby Prison-blacksmith). He had been sick in August 1863 at the Officers Hospital, Nashville, TN and then was wounded on September 20, 1863 at the Battle of Chicamauga (N.W. of Georgia) and was taken as prisoner of war until his death August 31, 1864 (almost one year later). He died of chronic diarrhea.

Witnesses to names and dates of the births of children were George H. Knowlton & Kezian (Kezekiah) Earlywin. When widow applied for pension increase on 12-11-1873 she was residing in Allen County (Fort Wayne?), but her post office address was Huntington Co., Roanoke, Indiana.

This information from the civil war records of the National Archives.

You must be logged in to post a comment regarding this story.