My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM KINSEY, farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. Le Roy; born in Wayne Co., Ind., Aug. 31, 1837; he attended the common schools during his youth, and assisted in farming until 17 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and settled in Downs Township, in the spring of 1854, where his father, Thomas Kinsey, purchased 240 acres, upon which he moved, with his family. The subject of this sketch remained upon the farm until 23 years of age, when, upon March 5, 1862, he was united in marriage with Hannah Waddington; she was born in Williamson Co., Feb. 9, 1846; she is a daughter of George Waddington, who was born in England, June 9, 1818, and emigrated to America in 1842; he was married in Williamson Co., Ill., to Elizabeth Kershaw; she was born in England, Dec. 11, 1827, and is a daughter of Joseph Kershaw, now living in Le Roy, and whose sketch appears among the biographies of Empire Township, in another part of this work; Mr. Waddington emigrated from Williamson to McLean Co. in the fall of 1857, where he purchased 160 acres of land, upon which he settled and lived until 1874, when he returned to England upon a visit; after he returned home, he died, upon the 19th day of June, 1876; Mrs. Waddington died March 10, 1870; they are both buried in the Gilmore graveyard, in Empire Township; they were the parents of eleven children, all of whom are now livings and nine are living in McLean Co. In August, 1862, Mr. Kinsey enlisted in Company B, 94th Regt. Vol. Inf., and served the fall and winter in Missouri and Arkansas, and was wounded in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., upon the 7th of Dec, 1862, and was sent to the hospital at Fayetteville, where he remained two months, and was then sent to Springfield, where he received his discharge, in March, 1863; he returned home and engaged in farming, which business he has since successfully followed. He removed upon his present place in the spring of 1867, where he has 160 acres of land under good cultivation, and upon which he has good buildings. The children of William and Hannah (Waddington) Kinsey were five in number, of whom one is deceased; the living are — George T., born May 18, 1864; Laura J., born Oct. 29, 1865; William Edgar, born Feb. 25, 1869; Elmer C., born Nov. 7, 1872; the deceased died in infancy. The parents of Mr. Kinsey live in Randolph Township, McLean Co.