Pioneer Sketches

Joseph and Rachel (Mercer) Kinnick Family

Compiled by William L. (Bill) Smith

Introduction
Part One - the Narrative

Return to Pioneer Sketches

Introduction

This sketch was originally written August, 1996, as Progress Report No. 5 for The Kinnick Project, and updated from time to time during 1997. In February, 1998, I have decided that this report should be posted to the Internet, to be made available to all who are interested, without the need to pay printing and postage costs.

Bill Smith, Compiler, 24 Feb 1998

Return to Top of Page

Part One
The Narrative
The Joseph and Rachel (Mercer) Kinnick Family Moves West
Ohio to Illinois to Iowa to Montana
1839 to the present

Background
The Kinnicks
The Mercers
The Joseph Kinnick Family in Illinois
The Joseph Kinnick Family in Iowa
The Joseph Kinnick Family in Montana
The George Butler Kinnick Family
Endnotes

Return to Pioneer Sketches

Return to Top of Page

Background

Joseph Kinnick was born 9 Mar 1839 in Belmont Co [1], OH, the fourth child and second son of Walter W. and Susan (Schwyhart) Kinnick. He is included with his family in the 1840 census for Wheeling Twp, Belmont Co, OH. In the spring of 1844, they boarded a boat [2] and traveled down the Ohio River, to the Mississippi River, where they went up river to Muscatine, IA. There they crossed over to move to Bureau County, IL.

Rachel Ann Mercer was born 15 Mar 1839 in Harrison Co, OH, the first child of William and Mary (Fletcher) Mercer. The Mercer family also moved from Ohio to Bureau Co, IL, in the spring of 1844.

Return to Top of Page

The Kinnicks

The Walter W. Kinnick family lived on a farm in Dover Twp in Bureau Co, IL. There had been three more children born after Joseph in OH. Walter and Susan lost their youngest child, William (b. 2 Feb 1844, OH), in their second year in Illinois (Oct 1845). He was only a year and a half old. Three more children were born in IL. Tragedy struck again on 5 Jun 1851 when Walter and Susan's oldest son, John S. (b. 14 Sep 1834 in OH), died, at age 16. Cause of death is unknown.

Joseph was just 12 years old, but was now the oldest living son. He had two older sisters, two younger brothers and three younger sisters.
Less than two years later, Joseph's father, Walter W. Kinnick, died at the farm in Dover township. It was 28 Feb 1853. He died at the age of 43. Walter was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Wyanet, IL, beside his first son, John S. When his father died, Joseph was age 14, Mary, 18, Sarah Ann, 17, Walter Watson, 13, Catherine, 11, Jacob, 7, Maggie, 3, and Fanny Susan, one year old.

The two older daughters married during the two years following their father's death. Mary E., during 1853, married George W. Harrison and Sarah Ann married Thomas Richmond 11 Feb 1854.

Susan, Joseph's mother, married Ephraim Yarrington, age 57, on 20 Mar 1859, at age 50.
Joseph, shortly before his 21st birthday, married Rachel Mercer on 26 Feb 1860.

Return to Top of Page

The Mercers

John and Rachel (Matson) Mercer were natives of Virginia. John had migrated with his family from Winchester, Virginia, to Short Creek Township, Harrison Co, Ohio, in 1812. The Mercer family operated a woolen mill near Georgetown. John married Rachel Matson on 25 Sep 1812. When the wool business ceased to be profitable, the family moved to Bureau Co, IL, in the spring of 1844.

The second son of John and Rachel Mercer, William, married Mary Fletcher 27 Sep 1836, Belmont Co, Ohio. Mary was a native of Ohio and a daughter of Townsend and Susan (Ready) Fletcher, natives of Virginia (who also moved to Bureau Co in an early day [2]).

John Fletcher, a younger brother of Mary Fletcher, in 1859 married Catherine Kinnick (the sister of Joseph Kinnick) [see Progress Report No. 2, The Fletcher-Kinnick Connection: Bureau Co, Illinois, and Washington Co, Iowa, 1850s to the Present].

William and Mary (Fletcher) Mercer had five children before Mary died in 1844, in Bureau Co, IL. Their first born daughter, Rachel Ann, was born 15 Mar 1839, in Belmont Co, Ohio. On 26 Feb 1860, shortly before her 21st birthday, Rachel Mercer married Joseph Kinnick.

Return to Top of Page

The Joseph Kinnick Family in Illinois

Joseph and Rachel Ann Mercer were married 26 Feb 1860, in Bureau Co, IL. Each became 21 years old in March. They are listed in the household with his mother, Susan, and her husband, Ephraim Yarrington, in the 1860 census of the southern part of Dover Twp, Bureau Twp, IL.

The first child of Joseph and Rachel was a daughter, Amanda Elenora, born 23 Nov 1860.
On 3 Jan 1861, Joseph Kinnick became indebted to Ephraim Yarrington for $300 on mortgage of land. Later, on 14 Sep 1861, Thomas and Sarah Ann (Kinnick) Richmond sold their interest (actually one-eighth interest) in a 160 acres farm (purchased by the older Walter, but left to the eight children when he died) to Joseph Kinnick for $115.

On 18 Aug 1861, Joseph enlisted in Company D, Seventh Regiment, Kansas Volunteers, Cavalry. He served in Captain C.S. Merriman's Company of Wyanet. Joseph served as a teamster in the Quartermaster Department [6]. He was promoted to Sergt. 3 Nov 1861 [5]. In January and February, 1862, he was reported absent and deserted. Rolls for June, July, and August, 1862, show him present [6]. Reduced to ranks, 12 Aug 1862. [5] Returned 14 Aug 1862, reinstated by General Granger [6]. A second daughter, Margaret Susana (Maggie), was born to Joseph and Rachel on 5 Jan 1863 [] {strongly suggests where he was in March and April, 1862}.

For July and August, 1863, absent sick at Regimental Hospital. For September and October, 1863, present. For November and December, 1863, absent, but, assigned to the 3rd Michigan Cavalry, S.O. 15 Hdqtrs Cav Div 16th A. C. For September and October, 1864, absent, with leave in Camp. [6] Joseph served until being mustered out at St. Louis, MO, 10 Mar 1865. [5]

Reported in the Rock Island ARGUS, 14 Mar 1865: "a little daughter {Amanda} of Mrs. KINNICK, living about 6 miles above Sheffield in Bureau County {Concord Twp}, died in a fire last Thursday aged about 5y. She was alone in the home at the time with another child, aged 18m. {Margaret Susana}. Mr. Kinnick is a soldier." {names inserted by the compiler}.

A son, William Walter, was born to Joseph and Rachel on 15 Mar 1866, followed by a second son, John Leach Cook, born 22 Mar 1868.

By 1867, all of the Kinnicks, including Susan, Joseph and his family, as well as the Richmonds and the Fletchers were living on or very near the 160 acres Walter W. had bought fifteen years earlier in the northeast corner of Concord Twp., about twelve miles west and a few miles south of the Dover Twp. farm where they had been.

In November and December of 1869, Joseph petitioned the Chancery Court, Bureau County, for a partition of the one hundred sixty acres left by his father. Susan Kinnick (his mother) did not contest the division based on her rights of dower, but, rather, reached an agreement with the other parties to the case. In essence, Joseph retained the five-eighths he claimed (his own, and those originally owned by Sarah, Jacob, Margaret (Maggie), and Susan), and one-eighth each by Catherine, one-eighth by Thomas Richmond (obtained from Walter) and one-eighth by the two Harrison children (granddaughters of the older Walter). The agreement seems to have allowed Susan to continue to live on the land, along with the two Harrison children. They are there together in the 1870 census. Jacob is involved in doing the farming, and continues to after Joseph and his family move to Iowa.

Joseph and Rachel became the parents of Mary Eppenetes (Mate) born 23 May 1870, while still living in IL.

Return to Top of Page

The Joseph Kinnick Family in Iowa

Two years later, Joseph and Rachel and their family moved to Madison Co, Iowa [6]. Joseph (b. 1 May 1874) and Jessie H. (b. 5 Apr 1875) are born there. The family moved to Adair County, IA, in 1877 [6]. Their youngest son, George Butler (b. 2 Aug 1878) is born there. Their oldest surviving daughter, Maggie, age 19, married William H. (Bill) Edick, in Greenfield, Adair Co, IA, on 13 Apr 1882. The other children at that time were William, 16, John, 14, Mate, 12, Joseph, 8, Jessie, 7, and George, 3 1/2 years old.
Joseph's pension file [6] says they lived in Adair Co, IA, at Arbor Hill, as of 11 Nov 1885.

In 1885, son William Walter, then age 19, moved west to Park City, MT. Maggie and Bill Edick also moved to Park Co, MT, during 1885. A year later, in 1886, second son, John Leach Cook, age 18, also moved west to Park City. Joseph's pension file [6] states that the family lived in Des Moines, IA, from 1886 until 1888. The rest of the family followed the boys to Montana (Yellowstone Co), in 1888.

Return to Top of Page

The Joseph Kinnick Family in Montana

(The details of the families of William Walter and John Leach Cook are reported on their own pages)

Maggie and Bill Edick had a son, Mark Edick, born 14 Jan 1886 in Clyde Park, Park Co, MT. Mark married Elizabeth (b. 1889, MT) and had a second wife, Nan, who was with him when he died 23 Jun 1970 at Chehalis Hospital, Chehalis, Lewis Co, WA. He had been a Chehalis resident for 18 years, moving from Livingston, MT (in 1952). Mark Edick, a retired rancher, had been a 60-year member of the Livingston Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite Masons (since 1910, at age 24). In the 1920 federal census, Mark and Elizabeth lived in School District 42, Park Co, MT, where, at age 33, he was listed as a general farmer. {There is no indication that he ever had any children of his own.}

Maggie and Bill Edick also had a daughter, Helen, born in about 1887. She married Jesse W. Nelson in about 1905. They had two children, John Wade Nelson, born about 1907, and Dorothy Nelson, born about 1910. John Wade Nelson had five children when he died in an automobile accident near The Dalles, Oregon, 20 Oct 1979: Lisa, Mary Jane, Susan Myrna, John W., and Charles D. Nelson. {any further information on this family would be appreciated}

Joseph Kinnick died 24 Sep 1917 in Park City, Stillwater Co, MT. Rachel survived him by less than three months. She died 10 Dec 1917. Based on unconfirmed family records, they are buried in "the family plot," in Park City, MT.

Joseph and Rachel's son, Joseph, and daughter, Jessie H., had died by 1897 (per Joseph's pension file, obtained 18 Nov 1996). In 1923, when Jacob, brother of Joseph, back in Illinois, died, Joseph's surviving children were listed as follows:

William - Park City, MT
John - Laurel, MT
George - Park City, MT
Mrs. Margaret Edick - Fry, MT
Mrs. Mate Jones - Cody, WY

When John Leach Cook Kinnick died in MT in 1935, his children were located as follows: son, John, Jr., Missoula, MT; daughters, Mrs. W.B. Altimus, Laurel, MT, Mrs. A. F. Scheidecker, Laurel, MT, Mrs. L.B. Moore, Oakland, CA, and the address of the other daughter, Myrtle, was missing due to a typo-error in the newspaper. Brother George lived in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and, brother William W., Livingston, MT. Two sisters survived, Mrs. Margaret Edick, Livingston, and Mrs. M.K. Jones, Cody, WY. {any further information on this latter family would be appreciated}

William Walter Kinnick died 17 Apr 1946.

George Butler Kinnick died 27 Oct 1972, in Fort Lauderdale, Broward Co, FL, where he had resided since 1915.

Return to Top of Page

The George Butler Kinnick Family

In 1872 Joseph and Rachel Kinnick and their family moved to Madison Co, Iowa [6]. The family moved to Adair County, IA, in 1877 [6]. Their youngest son, George Butler (b. 2 Aug 1878) was in Adair County, IA.



1920 Federal census Soundex for Florida, Broward County, has George Kinnick, white, age 41, born IA (Vol 4, E.D. 11, Sheet 7, Line 41) with wife Winnie B., age 41, b. IA, daughters, Ruth, 14, b. Montana, and Bella, 2 11/12, b. Florida.

George Butler Kinnick died 27 Oct 1972, in Fort Lauderdale, Broward Co, FL, where he had resided since 1915.

Obituary from the Ft. Lauderdale New & Sun-Sentinel, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Sunday, 29 Oct 1972:
George B. Kinnick, age 94, of 101 NE 16th Court, Fort Lauderdale, passed away Friday following an extended illness. He was a pioneer citizen of Broward County having moved to Davie, from Montana, in 1915. Moved to Fort Lauderdale following the 1926 storm. He was a carpenter, a member and held several offices in the carpenters Local 1394, Member of Doric Lodge 140 F&A.M. and Park Temple United Methodist Church. Survived by two daughters: Mrs. Ruth Shull, and Mrs. Rettabelle Cookus, of Fort Lauderdale; grandsons, Dan Shull of San Francisco, Jerry Cookus, Fort Lauderdale; grand-daughters, Mrs. B.B. Baker, Statesville, North Carolina, Miss Sue Cookus of Cullowhee, North Carolina; four great-grand-children. Services will be at 1:30 p.m.; Monday at the Fairchild North Federal Chapel with Doctor Millard C. Cleveland of the Park Temple United Methodist church officiating. Interment will follow in Lauderdale Memorial Gardens. Friends may call from 7-9 p.m. Sunday.

Return to Top of Page

Endnotes

[1] Joseph said Richland Co on Pension Applications in later years, though that seems unlikely; will continue to check further.
[2] According to family tradition, based on information supplied by the Fletchers, see P.R. # 2. It is likely the Mercers were also on the same boat, or, at least, moved during the same season.
[3]"Laurel's Story, A Montana Heritage," by Elsie P. Johnson, 1979.
[4] Obituary, Elma Mae Moore, Mountain Democrat, May 13, 1987.
[5] Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kansas, 1861-1865, Vol. 1.
[6]Pension file of Joseph Kinnick

Return to Pioneer Sketches

Return to Top of Page

This page created 24 Feb 1998. Last updated 8 Mar 1998, by William L. (Bill) Smith.