Dr. David S. Kinsey, an active and public spirited citizen of Portland, is a son of David H. Kinsey, who settled in Greene Township, Jay County, in April, 1854. The father being a farmer, our subject was reared to the same avocation. He began the study of medicine at Bargersville, Johnson County, Indiana under the preceptorship of Dr. J. S. Farris, and in the winter of 1872-73, he attended lectures at the Indiana Medical College in Indianapolis. He practiced medicine one year in Johnson County, from the spring of 1873 until the spring of 1874, when he removed to Portland, Jay County, and engaged in the practice of his chosen profession, which he followed successfully until the year 1885, when he retired practically from his medical practice, being severely afflicted with rheumatism.
Since giving up his practice the doctor has devoted his attention to the insurance and real estate business, only practicing his profession when his services are urgently required. The doctor still retains his membership in the County, District and State Medical Societies and in 1886 he was elected to fill the office of coroner.
Dr. Kinsey was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Seburn, a native of Jennings County, Indiana, her father, James Seburn, being an early settler of that county. They are the parents of six children, one son and five daughters. In politics the doctor is a Republican and takes an active interest in the advancement of his party.
David H. Kinsey, the father of our subject, was a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, born near Dayton in 1811, his father, John Kinsey, being one of the pioneers of that county. David H. Kinsey was a carpenter by trade and followed that calling in Dayton for many years.
After the death of his father he bought a part of the homestead on which he lived for several years before coming to Jay County, Indiana. He then bought 240 acres of land in Greene Township, selling twenty-five acres of his land shortly after, retaining the rest for his homestead. About the year 1876, he disposed of his farm and removed to Portland, where he made his home until his death July 22, 1886, in his seventy-sixth year. His widow, whose maiden name was Margaret E. Sourbray, is still a resident of Portland. They had a family of twelve children, four sons and eight daughters. One son and two daughters died in infancy, one son, John W. Kinsey, died in his sixteenth year and a married daughter, Mrs. Salome Mayo, died January 1, 1874. Two sons, David S. and Charles T. and five daughters still survive and are residents of Jay County, with the exception of Laura V., who has been a missionary in India since September, 1882.
Biographical & Historical Record of Jay
County, Lewis Publishing Company, 1887
Transcribed by Jim Cox