McKinstry Family Genealogy

Comment

Comment by Meghan Dewhurst-Conroy on January 9, 2011 at 9:02pm

Kansas Biographical History, 1879

James McKinstry, Hutchinson

The ancestors of the subject of this sketch were originally from Scotland. On account of having participated in the Scotch revolution they immigrated to the north of Ireland, and in the year 1760, William McKinstry, the grandfather of our subject, came to America and settled in Virginia. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and, at its close removed to Hamilton County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming for several years when he finally settled in Indiana. In connection with farming he established and conducted the first nail-factory west of Cincinnati. He remained in Indiana, until his death, which occured in 1825. Hugh McKinstry, his son, and one of a family of eleven children, was the father of our subject. He was born in Hamilton County in 1804; afterwards moving to Indiana he conducted a merchant tailoring establishment and became a successful businessman. In 1854, he moved to Coles County, Illinois, and there engaged in farming. He died in 1873. The mother of our subject was Miss Cecilia Lewis, whose father emigrated from England to Louisiana and died there of yellow fever in 1810.

James McKinstry was the eighth of ten children born to Hugh and Cecilia McKinstry. He was born in Putnam County, Indiana, November 10, 1845. His education was obtained in common schools, attended during the winter months and in the summer laboring on his father's farm. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. C, 68th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and, in the Army of the Potomac, participated in various engagements until September 1863, when, being disabled from exposure, he was discharged and returned home. Here he regained his health, and in the Spring of 1864 again entered the service. He enlisted this time in Co I, 135 th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for three months service, and until the expiration of the time was stationed in Southern Missouri, guarding the railroads against guerillas. At the expiration of the time returned to Coles County where he again engaged in farming. He then became desirous in obtaining an education, and leaving the farm in 1866, he went to Georgetown, Missouri, and for two years pursued his studies in Forest Grove Academy, when he returned to Illinois and entered the Normal University at Bloomington, where he remained until 1870. After his return to Coles County, he accepted a position of pricipal of the West Side public school at Charleston, and for three years held the position, giving entire satisfaction. He employed his spare moments in the study of law, and by perseverance and energy succeeded in being admitted to the bar in 1873. He then moved to St. Louis an began the practice of his profession. He met with unusual success and soon became attorney for the Cairo Short Line Railroad. The climate not being favorable he gave up his practice and started for the San Juan county in November, 1876 but finding the route across the Rockies blockaded with snow, he returned as far as Hutchinson, Kansas, where he settled and engaged in the practice of law. Here he has since remained, establishing an extensive and lucrative practice in the judicial district, and is recognized as a lawyer of unusual attainments.

In politics Mr McKinstry is a democrat, and takes an active part in the issues of the day. He has been elected delegate to the different state and congression conventions in Kansas, as well as Illinois and Missouri.

He is liberal in his religious views, and is a man of unquestioned integrity. Positive in character, he naturally wields considerable influence and is looked upon as a man who is bound to rise in his profession and attain still greater eminence. Being persevering and energetic in whatever he undertakes, and a close applicant to the duties of his profession, the legal fraternity feel assured of his future brilliant career and continued success.

Mr McKinstry has a fine physical development, is nearly six feet in height, with a robust frame, dark hair and blue eyes, high forehead and fair complexion. Pleasant and affable in manner, and socialable in disposition, he always wins friends, and has gathered about him numerous acquaintances who justly appreciate his many estimable abilities.

This was the sketch for James T McKinstry, son of Hugh McKinstry.  Hugh McKinstry was a brother of John McKinstry who married Charity Gard.  Would really like to see if anyone has more detail on this William.

Comment by Dora Smith on January 9, 2011 at 8:32pm

Megan, I'm just gathering information in case my brother in law's line and yours prove to be linked. What do you know about where in Scotland this William McKinstry of Virginia and Kentucky was from, and how do you know that JOhn who married Charity Gard was his father? Online researchers are acting as if they don't all agree on that.

Thanks!

Yours,
Dora

Comment by Dora Smith on December 26, 2010 at 9:53pm

Forgot to mention where Margo published this research - at Rootsweb Worldconnect.

Comment by Dora Smith on December 26, 2010 at 9:52pm

Meghan, someone in the SMGF database who claims descent from this line was Y DNA tested.   The thing is, Margo McKinstry, who is a researcher at LDS, researched this line, and she repeatedly raises questions as to whether the entire direct line consists of men who are really their fathers' sons.   That line is I think, John who married Charity Gard, Joseph, a Mahershal, and then James.  If I have it right.   

 

I'd really appreciate this article if you can find it.   

 

Yours,

Dora

Comment by Meghan Dewhurst-Conroy on December 25, 2010 at 10:55pm

Hi Dora,

My John McKinstry was from Kentucky born about 1790 - his wife Charity Gard was born in Pennsylvania in 1792.  They married in Butler County, Ohio about 1810 and had many children.

I have to find the article I read on John's lineage.  His father was supposedly William (wife Catherine) - was supposedly from Scotland, fought in the American Revolution for Virginia and may have received bounty land in Kentucky.  Eventually settled and died in Indiana about 1825.

I have not found any ties to the Massachusetts McKinstrys.

Are you aware of any John and Charity desendants that have had DNA testing?

Comment by Dora Smith on December 25, 2010 at 10:31pm

Megan, are you saying that John McKinstry who married Charity Gard was the son of a McKinstry from Virginia?

Comment by Dora Smith on December 25, 2010 at 10:29pm

I am doing Y DNA testing on my brother in law's father, who is of the line of William McKinstry who settled in Sturbridge, Massachusetts in the 18th century and married Mary Morse.  Willis, who published a family genealogy, thought the three McKinstry families of New England were related.  The area they are from is small and it is conceivable they are all related, even if the name does mean "Son of the Family".   

 

I am curious if Nathan has been Y DNA tested, even at SMGF.  Someone of his line - John McKinstry and Charity Gard- has been tested at SMGF (and seems to have partial results); this is the only McKinstry I can find who has been Y DNA tested.  

 

I would also like ot know whatever information Nathan can provide on his roots.  I don't understand what he wrote.

Comment by Nathan Drew McKinstry on August 1, 2009 at 5:39am

Meghan is where I have learned a lot of my information and come from the same line. John McKinstry and his wife Chartity Gard.

Comment by Liza P. on July 19, 2009 at 6:40pm

Descended from Nathaniel McKinstry (abt 1843-aft 1911) married Jane Mulvenna) of Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. He's possibly the son of William McKinstry who may have come over from Scotland.

Comment by Meghan Dewhurst-Conroy on July 8, 2009 at 7:56pm

My McKinstry research has taken me to William McKinstry. He was supposedly from Scotland and served in the American Revolution in Virginia. He moved to Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. I believe his wife was Catherine. They supposedly had 12 children - I know of at least John, Hugh, Mary, and Sarah - hoping to find other lines. I am descended from John McKinstry and his wife Charity Gard.
I know there is a large McKinstry line that came from Ireland and settled in Massachusetts and had many descendant lines. I do not believe that my line is connected - my line appears to be from outer space :)

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page