Eli W. McKinney, son of William and Esther

Eli b. 1847, died when 99 years of age.

Adding some color did well.

Are you a descendant down the line of Eli W. b. 1847 in Monroe county, Ohio, and William McKenney and Esther Yarnell of Van Buren, Iowa? If you are, please get in touch with me. We need info down this line to organize genealogical ties back to Ohio and hopefully a male descendant who will take a yDNA-37 test at FTDNA. So, please, if you’re related, get in touch!

This isn’t “our” Eli W. McKenney, for those reading who are of the family line this blog is primarily concerned, instead this is of a related Eli W., son of William McKenney (1827-1862) and Esther Yarnell (1825-1891). I cover this family in another post, but my belief is that William was a brother of our George W. McKenney Sr. and Eli W. would have been his nephew. George W. McKenney Sr. named one of his own children Eli Wilson.

Eli W. McKenney was born 1847 March 2 in Monroe County, Ohio and died 1946 Feb 21 in Los Angeles, California. His wife was Melissa Ann Edwards b. 1846 Aug in Iowa. She died 1921 June 21. The two were married 1865 May 6 in Van Buren County, Iowa.

Children of Eli and Melissa were:

1. Mattie b. 1865, died 1865 Sept 7 in Bentonsport, Van Buren, Iowa
2. Lottie b. abt 1868, died 1937 March 8 in Bellfower, Los Angeles, California. She married Gideon B. Glascock born about 1867 in Iowa and had at least 3 children: Delbert, Curtis and Milfred.
3. George C. born abt. 1870 in Iowa.
4. Charles E. b. 1876 Oct 24 in Iowa
5. Maud b. 1870-1880, died in infancy
6. Kate b. 1870-1880, died in infancy

Eli served in the Civil War in Iowa’s Company K, 45th Infantry.

A bio was published on Eli, 1935 Aug 15 that fortunately gives us his Monroe County, Ohio birthplace.

Taken from 80 year Anniversary The Keosauqua Republican 1855-1935 Thursday, August 15, 1935 Page Five.

E. W. McKINNEY

E. W. McKinney, son of William and Esther McKinney, was born in Monroe county, Ohio, March 2, 1847, one of nine children. He moved with his parents and grandfather, to Columbus, in Van Buren county, Iowa, in April, 1851, the year of the big flood. His grandfather, Eli Yarnell, was a soldier in the war of 1812. His father enlisted in the Civil war August, 1862, in C. I. 19th Iowa and was killed the eighth day of December, 1862. E. W. enlisted in 1864 in Co. K. 45th Infantry, and was stationed at Marce, Tenn., at Fort Hendricks, guarding the fort and three railroad bridges and one wagon bridge. He was on guard duty 24 hours out of every three days. There were five detailed in each company as scouts. He was one of the five in his company.

Mr. McKinney writes, “we were not in every battle as the rebels were afraid to come in gun shot of our regiment. I mustered in at Keokuk May 16, 1864, and mustered out at Keokuk September 16 on account of expiration of the term of service. I was a member of Shirvere Post No. 77, at Vernon, Iowa. There were 11 names on the register and theer (sic) are only two of us living that I know of today, M. H. Carnes, of Bentonsport, and myself.

After we disbanded I joined W. C. Harper Post No. 7, at Keosauqua, and I am the only living member that I know of today.”

Mr. McKinney claims to be the oldest living member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Van Buren county. He joined the Des Moines Valley Lodge February 13, 1875, over 60 years ago.

Mr. McKinney was married on May 15, 1865, to Malissia Ann Edwards. Five children were born to them, two of whom, Katie and Maud, died in infancy. The three living are: Mrs. G. B. Glascock and C. E. McKinney, both of Southgate, Calif., and G. C. McKinney, of Casmere, Wash.

The obituary of Eli W. McKinney.

Source: Rootsweb, Van Buren Iowa obits, posted By: Volunteer – Harold Jamison

Record-Republican dated Feb. 28, 1946.

PASSING OF THE LAST CIVIL WAR VETERAN.

Eli W. McKinney, Van Buren County’s last Civil War Veteran died in California only a few days before the date on which he would have reached his 99th birthday anniversary.

A son of William and Esther McKinney, he was born March 2, 1817 (sic: should be 1847), in Monroe County, Ohio, one of nine children. He moved with his parents and grandfather to Columbus, Van Buren County, Iowa in April of 1851. His Grandfather, Eli Yarnell was a veteran of the war of 1812.

His Father enlisted in the Civil War in August 1862 in Company I, 19th Iowa, and was killed December 8 of the same year.

Eli W. enlisted in 1864 in C. K. 45th Iowa Infantry, and was mustered in at Keokuk. He was also mustered out at Keokuk after serving with the Union Army for several months on guard duty in Texas.

He was a member of Shriver Post G.A.R. of Bentonsport, and when that post was disbanded he transferred his membership to Harper post of Keosauqua.

On May 15, 1865, he was united in marriage with Melissa Ann Edwards and to them were born five children, two of whom, Kate and Maud, died in infancy.

One Daughter, Mrs. G.B. Glascock of California preceded him in death. He is survived by two sons,George C. McKinney of Cashmere, Wash., and Charles of Bentonsport.

Graveside funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon, March 1, with internment in Bentonsport cemetery, on the 99th anniversary of his birthday. He passed away on Feb., 22, Washington’s birthday.

The 1870 Bentonsport, Van Buren, Iowa website shows Eli’s family:

pg. 412
76/74 FULTON Abram 56 from Ohio with Eliza
77/75 BARBER Austin 32 b. England with Joanna
78/76 BARR James 59 b. PA with Mary b. NJ
79 —
80/77 CASTLEMAN Levi 29 b. NY
A C 24 female b. IL (Abbey)
May 3
Frank 7/12
81/78 MCKENNEY Eli 23 works in paper mill b. OH
Melisa 24 b. IN
D 3 (f) b. IA
L E? or Eli 2/12 (m) b. IA
Marriages in Van Buren County Iowa show Eli McKenney marrying a Melissa Edwards on May 6th 1865.
82/79 PARKER Samuel 23 b. IA with Catherine
83 —
84/80 BRAGG Willis 71 b. VA with Jane
85/81 BLAKELY MA 33 b. VA
86/82 FULTON WS 33 b. Ohio with Elizabeth

The 1880 Washington, Van Buren county, Iowa census:

1880 IOWA VAN BUREN WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
pg. 2 ancestry.com
J. D. or S. D. or I. D. Rergrin? on one side
16/16
McKINNEY Esther 55 Penn. Penn. Penn. (wd)
Wm S 27 common laborer Iowa Ohio Penn.
Viola 18 Iowa Ohio Penn.
17/17 BARR Esther A. 21 (daughter) married Iowa Ohio Penn
Carrie A. 3 (granddaughter) Iowa Iowa Iowa
Next McVITY Thomas and APPLETON Ann
Pg. 6
59/59 McKINNEY (no given name) 33 common laborer Ohio Ohio Penn.
Melisa A. 34 Indiana Vir Vir
Lottie 12 Iowa Ohio Ind
George C. 10 Iowa Ohio Ind
Charles 4? Iowa Ohio Ind
NOTE: I am assuming this unnamed McKINNEY is Eli, son of William.
60/60 OLINE-SMITH Luther 30 common laborer Iowa Ohio Ohio
Gertrude M. 30 Virginia virginia virginia
Bertie 7/12 b. Oct. Iowa Iowa Virg
61/61 CORNS or COMS? Martin 33 common laborer Ohio p-ohio
Mary E. 23 Iowa p-Ohio
Clara F. 1 Iowa Ohio and Iowa
62/62 BURNS or BUNS? James 37 common
laborer Iowa Ill. Ky
Mary 36 can’t read or write Iowa p-Ohio
Alice 10 Kansas Iowa Iowa
Lidia 8 Iowa Iowa Iowa
Rose 6 Iowa Iowa Iowa
Mattie 4? Iowa Iowa Iowa
Josephine 1 Iowa Iowa Iowa
Baby 1/12 April Iowa Iowa Iowa
MILLER Sarah aunt 69 (no marriage designation) KY P-VA

The 1885 census:

47/48 Eli W. MCKINNEY 36 Com. Laborer father b. Ohio
Melissa 38 father b. IN
Lottie 17 b. Van Buren
George C. 14 going to school b.Van Buren
Charles E. 8 going to school b. Van Buren

I seem to be unable to locate him in 1900.

The 1905 census:

169. Chas. D. MCKENNEY
178 Mary STRICKLIN
179. Eli W. MCKINNEY
180. Malissa MCKINNEY
181. Geo W. MCKINNEY

The 1910 census shows him in Black Hawk county, Iowa living beside his daughter, Lottie.

Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Waterloo Ward 1, Black Hawk, Iowa; Roll: T624_392; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 14; Image: 582.
512/134/153 GLASCOCK Gideon B 44 m 24 b. IA parents b. VA illegible occupation
Lottie wife 43 3 of 3 children surviving b. IA parents b. OH
Delbert 24 b. IA parents b. IA merchant auto company
Gustas? 17 laborer auto company
Milfred? son 15 laborer auto company
MCKINNEY Eli father in law 65 m 45 b. OH parents b. unknown engineer motor company
Melissa 65 3 of 3 children surviving

The 1920 census has Eli back in Van Buren county.

1920 Iowa, Van Buren County, Washington Township
Page 4B
(Given as W. C. in the census index but is Eli W.)
80/81 DAUGHTY Paul C. 28 and wife Lena and family
81/82 WEAVER Mary J. 73 b. PA and family (Irish parents)
82/83 COOPER THomas J. 73 born IL, fishing
83/84 MCKINNEY (scratched out name) C. owns home 71 b. OH parents b. OH no occupation
Melissa N. wife 74 b. IN parents b. TN
George C. son 49 b. IA father b. OH mother b. IN miner in coal mine
84/85 BENTON Martha V. 59 b. IA father b. KY mother b. OH

In the 1930 census, Eli is in Los Angeles.

Joan Olsson gives Melissa as dying 21 June 1921. The census below seems to show an older female having lived in Los Angeles with the family who was known as a mother-in-law.

1930 CA, Los Angeles Co., Long Beach
pg. 5A
121/60 MARKER Bert and Carolyn from Nevada (Danish origin)
122/161 GLASCOCK Delbert $37 rent no radio 42 md at 41 b. IA parents b. IA machinst at oil supply company
Ruth 30 md at 28 b. Washington D.C. father b. England mother b. VA
123/162 MARKER John and Georgia from Nevada (Danish origin)

pg. 12A
(U.S. only given for places of birth and over this something written that looks like “moved….no forwarding address)
281/370 GLASSCOCK, Giddion rent $32 no radio unknown age
Lottie unknown age
MCKINNEY unknown father-in-law unknown age
unknown mother-in-law unknown age

Eli’s son, George C., appears to have never married. He is in the 1930 census in Cashmere, Chelan, Washington, 59 years old, listed as single, and working as a waiter in a restaurant. He was still living in Cashmere at the time of his father’s death in 1946.

I am unable to get a fix on son, Charles E. after 1905, and don’t know whether he married and had children. He was reported living in Bentonsport, Van Buren, Iowa in 1946 at the time of his father’s death.

Lottie married Gideon B. Glascock (Glasscock) who was born 1867 in Iowa.

They were in Van Buren, Iowa, in 1900 with their three children, Delbert, Curtis and Milfred.

Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Bonaparte, Van Buren, Iowa; Roll: T623 462; Page: 3B; .
80/82 GLASSCOCK Gideon B. Jan 1866 34 b. IA parents b. VA
Lotta June 1867 32 b. IA parents b. OH
Delbert May 1885 15 b. IA parents b. IA
Curtis May 1893 7
Milfred May 1895 5

As already noted above, they were in Black Hawk county, Iowa in 1910 with Eli.

1920 found Lottie and Gideon in Montgomery county, Ohio.

1920 Ohio, Montgomery County, Dayton
Pg. 6A
Appear to be in large hotel or apartment building on Main St. #340
#124 GLASCOCK Delbert rent 33 b. IA parents b. IA Tool Maker at Tool and Die Shop
Loa E. ? 26 b. IN parents b. IN
…
#138 GLASCOCK Curtis 26 b. IA father b. KY mother b. IA machinist (can’t read employer)
Georgiana 26 b. IL father b. IL mother b. Sweden works in a garment factory
…
#153 GLASCOCK Gideon 53 b. IA parents b. VA millwright (can’t read employer)
Lottie 52 b. IN parents b. OH

Again, as noted above, in 1930 Lottie and Gideon were in Los Angeles with Eli.