My Genealogy Hound

George McKinnis, a farmer and lumber merchant in the Seventh District, is the son of Neal and Elizabeth (Anderson) McKinnis, and the sixth of a family of seven children, and was born July 29, 1843. Neal McKinnis was born April 1, 1803, in North Carolina. He came with his father in company with Gen. Jackson, and settled first at Fort Blount. His father, James McKinnis, was born in Edinburg, Scotland, and when six years old came to North Carolina. He, with five brothers, served in the war of 1812. He was also in the Indian war under Gen. Jackson in 1813-14, and in the war of 1836 in Florida. He died April 24, 1868. Mrs. McKinnis was born about 1816, and died October 18, 1877. George McKinnis received most of his education while lying wounded in the hospital during the late war. He served in Company D, Ninth Kentucky Infantry. He was elected first corporal, then first sergeant. After he joined the Eighth Tennessee Regiment he was appointed adjutant, which promotion was given him unsolicited — most excellent testimony as to his efficiency as a soldier. He served in all the principal engagements in which his regiment took part, except when wounded and in the hospital. Mr. McKinnis began life with only $250, but by good management and industry has made himself and family quite comfortable. Through the solicitation and influence of the leading men of Jackson County, he was appointed sheriff by Gov. Brownlow at the organization of said county. Among the officers of the newly organized county after the war he was very influential. He was several years United States storekeeper and gauger in the Fifth Revenue District. His principal business successes have been in the lumber business and in farming, paying the most attention to the former. In politics he is a Republican. August 7, 1865, he married Miss Amanda J. Holland, by which union one child was born, Mary (deceased). He served as magistrate with much success in the district where he then resided. He has been delegate four times to the State convention, and was alternate to the Republican National Convention at Chicago in 1884. Mr. McKinnis has two adopted children: Lena Josephine and Oliver Futt. Himself and wife are worthy members of the Baptist Church.