JOHN LEVI KINSER 1846 - 1935

July 30, 2022

Today my maternal 2nd great-grandfather, John Levi Kinser, would have been 176 years old.

30 JUL 1846 - Born in Wytheville, VA to John Kinser, age 18 and Mary Polly Hoback Kinser, who was 16. 

I’m a little unsure about his siblings as I can’t find records to back-up some of these facts so for now this is some test information. 

His father died between 1846 -1850.

6 DEC 1849 - His mother remarried William J. Cregerr/Creiger/Crigger/Cregger/Creger, in Wythe, VA. These are the variations of how his last name was spelled. This marriage produced five other children. The 1900 census says Polly had six children, in which three were still living. I can only find five children.

1850 - Residence - District 68, Wythe, VA.

1851 - Birth of half-sister, Elizabeth [VA]. ⚠️ - She is on the 1860 census and her birth year is 1851 but on the 1870 census her birth year is 1854.

14 AUG 1853 -  Birth of half-brother, Charles Peter [Wythe County, VA].

22 FEB 1856 - Birth of half-sister, Eliza M. “Lizzie” [Virginia]. On the 1870 census she is known as Lizzie and her birth year is 1859.

29 JUL 1859 - Birth of half-brother, Joseph W. [Wythe County, VA]

1860 - Residence - District 68, Wythe, VA.

1 MAY 1862 - Enlisted in the Co C, 51st VA Infantry. Was captured 2 MAR 1865 at Waynesboro, VA. Released 20 JUN 1865 in Bristol, VA. 

From The Quillin (MacQuillin) family : The MacQuillins in Ireland by MacQuillin, Claude; Quillen, Milligan Wood; Brown, Mary Kinser

2 MAR 1865 - Imprisoned in Waynesboro, VA.

12 MAR 1865 - Confined (Fort Delaware, DE). 

20 JUN 1865 - Released (Fort Delaware, DE).

I remember my grandmother mentioned that he was an officer in the Civil War but I can’t remember what she told me. I have that he was a Captain. The only proof I have is from my 2nd great-grandmother’s obituary.

1866 - Death of half-brother, Joseph W., [Wythe County, VA] at the age of 6, from flux (Dysentery).

26 NOV 1868 - Married Mary Jane Kinser in VA when he was 22 and she was 25. Apparently she had the same last name.

SEP 1869 - According to the 1870 census they had a son, William, who was 9 months old.

1870 - Residence - Guyandotte, Cabell, WV.

APR 1875 - Birth of daughter, Cordena [Wallens Ridge, Wise, VA].

9 OCT 1879 - Death of wife, Mary Jane [Gladeville, Wise, Virginia] at age 40 from Consumption (Tuberculosis).

1880 - Can’t find him on it.

23 MAY 1881 - Married Ora Emma Quillin in Scott, VA when he was 34 and she was 26.

The Quillin’s have a book where I found the following information.

From The Quillin (MacQuillin) family : The MacQuillins in Ireland by MacQuillin, Claude; Quillen, Milligan Wood; Brown, Mary Kinser

23 FEB 1882 - Birth of daughter, Mary Lucy [Estillville, Scott, VA].

26 APR 1884 - Birth of son, Charles Quillen [Estillville, Scott, VA].

12 JUN 1888 - Birth of daughter, Myrtle B. [Gate City, Scott, VA].

20 JUL 1891 - Birth of son, John Chester [Gate City, Scott, VA]. My great-grandfather.

12 OCT 1895 - Birth of son, Elgin Hunter [Bristol, Bristol City, VA].

1900 - Residence - Bristol Ward 1, Bristol City, VA.

1910 - Residence - Justice Precinct 1, Harris, TX.

1920 - Residence - Houston Ward 4, Harris, TX.

1924 - Death of son, Charles Quillen [?].

1930 Residence [Houston, Harris, TX]. 

28 NOV 1935 - Passed away at the age of 89 from apoplexy [Houston, Harris, TX].

Burial - Hollywood Cemetery, Houston, Harris, TX, Section "C" Lot 10 Grave 1.

I'm fascinated by the fact they were one of the first settlers at Westheimer Road and Shepherd Dr. It's hard to imagine a farm there now!