| Notes |
Dear Brother 5 Aug 1870
It has been a long time since I have ritten to you and I suppose you think I have forgotten you. But I have not. But I have been very neglectfull and might have ritten many times yet yet I often think of you and wish you was hear. Some times when I would have ritten I know not your office address. I lerned often times from Jane since then would neglect it until a few days ago. I received a letter from you with much satisfaction and now set down to answer same, hoping you will excuse the past neglect and right often as you can. As you got my office address correct, I will give it to you again, Sechlarville, Jackson county, Wisconsin. Joseph lives near Tomah, Monroe county. Jane is married and lives in Colorado Territory. This is her office address: Jane Brown, Golden City, Colorado.
William lives there too with Jane. John W. Brown is her husband's name. The rest is all here with me and all well now. Harriot is married and has got three children, her husband's name is Martin Brown.
My crops is quite light this year on account of the dry season. Give my respects and family to all. The friends right soon as you get this letter as I am about to close having nothing more to right at present, so I will close by asking sister Rebecca's office address.
Yours most respectfully
E. A. McGinnis
Sechlarville, 6 March 1870
Dear Nephew
I received your letter of Feb 19 happy to hear from you. Of course you know as you will see from this note I am always happy to hear from my friends. You are teaching school as I have seen from your letter. What is Rebecca's address, post office I mean. The accident I spoke about was when Susan Archer was killed and William Wilson's girl, and Shuble Luce son Buisnyo is not very good hear. But you better come this way and see how you like the country hear. Maybe you will like it hear and if you do not like it here I will go with you to Massina land is high here. Grain is low, wheat only 60 cents per bushel, oats 30 cents. The railroad runs to Black River Falls. That is the highest point. It is 15 miles from my place. The stage runs within three miles. So you see from this I don't live very far out in the wilderness. I rec'd only one letter from George since I came from the army. I answered it and have got none since.
Give me Aunt Fannie's Post Office address, perhaps I have forgot her number and avinew. You said some thing about her moving west, did her and her husband move west? If so when and where did they move to? I got a letter from them last fall. Jane has been hear visiting this winter, but she has gone back again. Joseph is living eight miles from Tomah on the road to Black River Falls. Harriot lives about four miles from him. A little off the road that runs to Blackriver. Aunt Sarah and all the children send their love to you all. The friends gennerly right if any of the friends is dead round thare and how they are. Dear cousin it is with much pleasure that I sit down to take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to let you now that we are well and hoping to find you the same. I am driving team for Mr Hall a drawing hay up to the pinery and lumber back for the winter. William has gone back with Jane. Dear cousin tell uncle George to wright to me and I will answer his letter right as soon as you get this letter I will quit for this time. your truly James McGinnis
E. A. McGinnis
Pole Grove, Jackson county WI
(via Charlie Meier who got this second hand from the Pattersons in Calif who were supposed to have the originals)
Elisha filed for an invalid pension in Jefferson county Colorado based on his service from 8 August 1862 to 22 June 1865 in D Compant 25th Wisconsin Infantry. He claimed he suffered a hernia from wearing the cartridge box, chronic diarhea from exposure and sore eyes from washing with a contaminated towel. One of the documents is that of Thomas and Francis Titus, county of Weld state of Colorado, in which Francis states "he is my father" which leads one to wonder exactly what was meant. The pension file contains the date and place of marriage.
On the 14th day of May 1880 personally appeared before me, H.N. Sules Judge of the county court of Jefferson County Colorado, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Elisha A. McGinnis who entered service under the name of Elisha A. McGinnis on or about 8th day of August 1862 as Private in Company D of the 25th regiment of Wisconsin Vols commanded by Captain M.E. Leonard and was discharged at Madison Wisc on or about the 22nd day of June 1865 by reason of telegram from A.G.O. May 4 1865 that his personal description is as follows: age 57 years; height 5 feet 6 inches; complexion light; hair dark; eyes blue. That while a member of the organization aforesaid and in line of duty at Marietta in the state of Georgia on or about the 15th day of August 1864, he incurred hernia of the right side caused by wearing cartridge box, Marietta Georgia Sept 1864 he contracted chronic diarrhea caused by exposure and army diet also causing piles; same place Sept or Oct he contracted dropsy of the heart and bowels caused by exposure, Harvey Hospital Madison Wisc he contracted sore eyes caused by washing with a contaminated towel. treated in hospital at Harvey hospital in Madison Wisc. He has not been employed in the military or naval service otherwise than as stated above. That since leaving the service this applicant has resided in the counties of Jackson and Monroe in the state of Wisconsin and his occupation has been that of a farmer that prior to his entry into the service above named he was a man of good, sound, physical health, being when enrolled a mechanic, that he is now ___________ disabled from obtaining his subsistance by manual labor by his injuries above described, received in the service of the United States; and he makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the invalid pension roll of the United States.
Wisconsin Land Records Record about ELISHA A MCGINNIS
Name: ELISHA A MCGINNIS
Land Office: LA CROSSE
Sequence #: 1
Document Number: 1731
Total Acres: 160
Misc. Doc. Nr.: 3257
Signature: Yes
Canceled Document: No
Issue Date: May 05, 1873
Mineral Rights Reserved: No
Metes and Bounds: No
Statutory Reference: 12 Stat. 392
Multiple Warantee Names: No
Act or Treaty: May 20, 1862
Multiple Patentee Names: No
Entry Classification: Homestead Entry Original
Land Description: 1 NW 4TH PM - 1831 MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN No 22 N 6 W
U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 <http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1555&enc=1>
about Elisha A McGinnis
Name: Elisha A McGinnis
Residence: Wisconsin
Enlistment Date: 8 Aug 1862
Rank at enlistment: Private
State Served: Wisconsin
Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company D, Wisconsin 25th Infantry Regiment on 08 Aug 1862.Mustered out on 22 Jun 1865.
Sources: Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers: War of the Rebellion
American Civil War Soldiers <http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3737&enc=1>
about Elisha McGinnis
Name: Elisha McGinnis
Residence: Tomah, Wisconsin
Enlistment Date: 8 Aug 1862
Side Served: Union
State Served: Wisconsin
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 8 August 1862. Enlisted in Company D, 25th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 8 Aug 1862. Mustered Out Company D, 25th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 22 Jun 1865.
Sources: 97
Elisha Mc Ginnis in the 1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Elisha Mc Ginnis
Age: 39
Birth Year: abt 1821
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Pennsylvania
Home in 1860: Tomah, Monroe, Wisconsin
Post Office: Tomah
Family Number: 1110
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members:
Name Age
Elisha Mc Ginnis 39
Sarah Mc Ginnis 36
Jane Mc Ginnis 16
Camil Mc Ginnis 14
William Mc Ginnis 12
Jas Mc Ginnis 10
Frances Mc Ginnis 5
Caroline Mc Ginnis 3
George W Mc Ginnis 5/12
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1821 - 1883 (62 years)
