My Genealogy Hound

John M. McGinnis, undertaker and blacksmith, of Dyersburg, Tenn., was born in Montgomery County, Tenn., November 15, 1840, son of John S. and Martha (Matthews) McGinnis, the former being born in North Carolina, in 1799. He was a cabinet-maker by trade, and came to Tennessee in his youth. He worked at his trade in Clarksville, and in 1841 came to Dyer County, where he purchased 150 acres of land. He died in 1856. His wife was born in Montgomery County, Tenn., and died in 1859, at the age of forty-five years. Of their seven children six are now living. Our subject remained with his parents as long as they lived, and learned the cabinet-maker’s trade of his father. In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Fourth Tennessee Infantry, Confederate States Army, and took an active part in the battles of Chickamauga, Franklin and numerous other engagements of minor importance. After serving for some time, he had a severe attack of rheumatism, and was compelled to return home. In the winter of 1862 he rejoined the army, serving in the Ninth Tennessee Cavalry, and remained in the field on active duty until the surrender of Richmond. He was twice captured, and taken to Alton, Ill., and was retained seven days the first time and thirty days the second. After the war he returned to Dyersburg, and began working at the carpenter’s trade. December 22, 1870, he married Miss Carrie Doughty, who was born in Nashville, in 1852. They have six children: Mattie Bell (deceased), Katie, Michael, Willie Lee (who died July 12,1886, aged seven years), Ethel May and Lucy Alice. In 1876 Mr. McGinnis began keeping undertakers’ goods, and in 1878 began manufacturing wagons, and added a blacksmith shop. He is an enterprising and honest business man, and is doing well financially. He is a Democrat, and belongs to the A. O. U. W. and Masonic fraternity, Hess Lodge, No. 93. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.