White County INGenWeb

COUNTIES OF WHITE AND PULASKI, INDIANA, HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL, Published by F.A. Battey & Co, Chicago, 1883, pg 247

JAMES V. VINSON was born in this county February 2, 1845, find is one of the five living children of the thirteen born to Isaac S. and Rebecca P. (Johnson) Vinson, natives of Ohio, who came to this county about the year 1838. James V. was reared in the backwoods of White County until sixteen years old. Then, in July, 1861, he enlisted in Company -K, Twentieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was at Cape Hatteras, Fortress Monroe and Newport News; he participated in the engagement between the Congress and the Merrimac and Cumberland, and the next day witnessed the fight between the Monitor and Merrimac. He assisted in the reduction of Norfolk and Portsmouth, was then transferred to the Army of the Potomac, and was with his regiment in all its engagements. At Chancellorsville, he was slightly wounded. At this point the Sixth New Hampshire battery lost nearly all its men, and a call was made for volunteers from the ranks to fill the battery, Mr. V. being one of the first. He served with it at second Bull Run, where be was taken -prisoner, but luckily was paroled on the field. He served out his parole at Annapolis, and rejoined his regiment just before the battle of Gettysburg, in which he was an active participant At the battle of the Wilderness, he was shot by a minie ball through the left leg, from the effects of which he still suffers. After his final discharge, dated in July, but not received until September, 1864, he came back to White County, and, being disabled, learned telegraphy; since 1866, he has occupied the position of agent for the Pittsburgh, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad Company, at the Pan Handle depot,. Monticello. Mr. V. was married, in 1865, to Margaret A. Burns, who has borne him two children-Charles R. and Frank E. In politics, Mr. V. is a Republican ; be is a Mason. a Knight of Pythias and also a member of the G. A. R.

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