My Genealogy Hound

COL. JOSEPH McCULLOUGH KINKEAD, station agent, post office Turtle Creek, was born in Pittsburgh, May 7, 1825. His maternal great-grandfather, John McCullough, located on the land now including Turtle Creek station when it was still held in reserve for the benefit of the Indians, and the consideration mentioned in the patent for 200 acres is five pounds sterling. The estate was called “Armagh,” after his native county in Ireland. His son of the same name succeeded him in its possession, and his youngest son, Joseph, a carpenter, engaged in house building at Pittsburgh, where he died in 1841, being upward of ninety years old. Joseph was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of that city, and he and his wife helped organize the Second, in which he was an elder. Their daughter, Jane, married David Kinkead, a native of Huntingdon county, a son of Robert Kinkead, of Irish stock. Both Joseph McCullough and Robert Kinkead were members of the 4th regiment of the Pennsylvania Line during the Revolution. Joseph McC. Kinkead is the eldest of six children, and the only one now living, born to David Kinkead. He was reared in Pittsburgh, and finished his education at the Western University of Pennsylvania. He learned the trade of printer, which he followed until 1876. He was a member of an independent military company, on whose roll his name is still carried, known as the “Duquesne Greys,” and with other members joined the 1st regiment P. V., in 1846, and entered the Mexican war as corporal. After assisting in the bombardment of Vera Cruz, he was prostrated by the climate on the march toward Cerro Gordo, and remained in hospital at Vera Cruz until July, 1847, when he was sent to New Orleans, and there discharged in December of the same year. In 1861 he again responded to the call of his country, going out with the first body of men from Pittsburgh; was made adjutant of the 13th P. V., with “Patterson’s Column.” This body marched from Chambersburg to oppose Gen. Joseph Johnston, crossed the Potomac at Williamsport, Md., and took part in skirmishes at Falling Waters and Bunker Hill. After Bull run they retreated and crossed at Harper’s Perry in the night. By that time the three-months enlistment of the regiment expired, and Adjt. Kinkead helped to reorganize it, going out as lieutenant-colonel, its number now being 102d. Serving in the Army of the Potomac, the regiment participated in the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, seven days’ fight, Antietam, Malvern Hill and both engagements at Fredericksburg. In January, 1863, Mr. Kinkead became colonel, and led the regiment until his resignation in May of that year.

In 1860 our subject bought a part of the “Armagh” estate, which has since been his home. In 1876 he became the agent of the Pennsylvania railroad at Turtle Creek, which position he continues to fill to the satisfaction of the company and the people. He assisted at the organization of the republican party in La Fayette Hall, Pittsburgh, and has never changed his allegiance to its principles. In 1857 he married Catherine Keeper, a native of Pittsburgh, and daughter of William and Catherine Keeper, natives of Ireland. Three daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kinkead: Mary Jane (wife of John S. Stewart, weighmaster at Hampton Coal-works, North Versailles), Belle Howley (wife of Homer L. Castle, attorney, Pittsburgh), and Nellie (Mrs. Thomas Reniers, of Pittsburgh).