Charles F. Kinney
Charles F. Kinney died at his residence in this place on Thursday
the 3rd of the present month in the fortieth year of his age. Captain
Kinney was born in Knox County, Ohio 28 Sep 1833. In 1851 his father
and family removed to this county and settled in Richland Township upon a
portion of the farm where John Kinney now resides. In 1853 the father
died, leaving the subject of this sketch, then 20 years of age, at the head
of a family of children, upon a small tract of almost unbroken woodland.
The history of the privations and hardships - the struggle with the wilderness
and poverty, incident to the settlement of a new farm is to familiar to our
people to require repetition here. (* More)
Mr. Kinney filled the position of township clerk and trustee
for several years and in 1859 was elected to the office of County Commissioner
for the south district being we believe, one of the youngest ever elected
to this important office in our county.
He continued to discharge the duties of this office until September
1861, when he enlisted in the 44th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. Upon
the organization of the regiment in Fort Wayne, he was elected Captain of
Company “A”, was commissioned September 20th and November 27th
1862, was a commissioned Major of the regiment but never mustered as such.
A difficulty arose among the officers; he resigned and left the service.
Early in 1865, he met with an accident which for a time disabled
him from active labor, he accepted a position of Deputy Clerk, for which
he remained for two years. In 1866, he was elected to the office of
County Treasurer and reelected in 1868.
In 1871 he in company with another gentlemen of capital, organized
a banking association under the style of Kinney and Company. (* More)
Steuben Republican 16 Apr 1873 p.3 c.4